Tomorrow, The Crown, Netflix's marquee saga of palace intrigue will return. The eve of the Thatcher premiership looms, all quasi-baritone and welfare cuts. Princess Diana has arrived (hopefully in some really mad knitwear). A man even manages to break into Lizzy W's bedroom. Such japes! Anything could happen! And as Josh O'Connor reprises his role as the ever-so-polite if emotionally-stunted Prince Charles, fans can rejoice. Because he can do an awfully good impression of a noble with the world on his shoulders, yes. But also because the return of the Windsor psychodrama has seen a return to very good red carpet style.
It's been a bad year for it, hasn't it? Though despite premieres on ice, The Crown season four kicked off with a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony – and continued 2019's swing to punchy menswear for these such events. We can see O'Connor's Loewe co-ords in real life. We can see ourselves in it. But it isn't the obvious choice. Where suits and classics once commanded the big sparkly premiere circuit, famous men are choosing famous brands that like to do things a little differently. The 30-year-old is comfortable with Loewe, too; since his breakout role in the not-so-grim up North love story of God's Own Country, the label's creative director Jonathan Anderson (yes, the JW one) knew the actor was a perfect fit.
Over the last season, matchy co-ords are at once workwear-y, and permissible for the tricky smart-casual dress code. Like O'Connor, stick to navy for a safe, clean bet. Alternatively, you turn up the volume in Versace, or Dolce & Gabbana. Or anything other than blue, really.
O'Connor, once again, is cementing his place in the rising starocracy. Talent has put him there. But in the new tradition of new gen actors, informed menswear is pushing the Loewe frontman to the fore. Can't wait for the next season of The Crown, then (and not just because it'll include the bit when the Queen starts paying income tax).
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