A great pair of blue jeans is the easiest foundation for putting together an outfit, but every so often, the unsung hero knocks it out of the park. That’s precisely what Oscar Isaac pulled off late this summer. The vintage wash jeans—another big moment for Celine denim—were a thing of beauty, but the real magic was how he wore them: plainly and coolly with a textured blazer, penny loafers, and a plain white tee. Proof that the humble blue jean, when handled correctly, can absolutely earn a red-carpet moment.

Luxe leather

Leather pants have long lived in the closets of menswear’s more adventurous dressers, but this year the buttery-soft staple graduated to full-blown headline status. Plenty of guys made the case, but none more memorably than Pedro Pascal, who paired black leather pants with a pair of leather wader boots and promptly ricocheted across the internet. The boots from Anthony Vacarello’s Saint Laurent proved contagious, too. Two months later, Alexander Skarsgård took them out for a spin himself—proof that in menswear, an attention-grabbing look travels fast, especially when it’s made of leather.

Unbeatable browns

Andrew DeYoung, Tim Robinson, and Paul Rudd in March.

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