Dwayne Johnson attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Awards season has its rituals: the predictive whispering, the early-morning screeners, the inevitable “is this their year?” debates. But the Governors Awards—Hollywood’s annual soft launch for the months ahead—quietly doubles as something far more interesting: a red-carpet stress test.
Now, they aren’t the flashiest stop, we know; but they’re an early read on where Hollywood’s style is pointing. The Academy may frame the night as an honorary affair—lifetime contributions, humanitarian work, industry stalwarts getting their due—but the carpet tells its own story.
This year, the men showed up with a clear brief: keep it clean, keep it intentional, and let the minimalism talk. There were no wild colours or gimmicks. Just solid suits, strong lines, and a hell lot of polish.
Jeremy Strong leaned into custom Louis Vuitton with his usual unbothered exactness. Rami Malek brought out a red velvet jacket that proved texture can still feel modern when the silhouette stays simple. Austin Butler, unsurprisingly, stuck to Saint Laurent’s brand of sleek restraint. And Jacob Elordi—mullet, collar, Cartier—reminded everyone that Wuthering Heights is coming soon (so buckle up, please).
Meanwhile, the night’s honours went to Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton and Wynn Thomas, grounding the event in its usual mix of nostalgia and respect. But on the carpet, the energy felt more straightforward.
Well, if this is the opening note for the season, we can’t wait.
Best Dressed Men At Governors Awards
Here are the men’s looks we loved.
Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Jonathan Bailey
Jonathan Bailey arrives at the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, CaliforniaLee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Rami Malek
Rami Malek attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Allen White arrives at the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Joe Alwyn
Joe Alwyn arrives at the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan attends the 16th Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California.