What Awards Season Tells Us About Men's Accessories in 2026

The Red Carpet Has Become a Menswear Runway

There was a time when men's red carpet fashion was background noise. A sea of identical black tuxedos, differentiated only by which designer's label was sewn inside. The conversation belonged to the women. The men were furniture.

That era is over.

The 2026 awards season — from the Critics Choice Awards through the Golden Globes, with the SAG Awards and Oscars still ahead — has confirmed what the fashion industry has been signaling for years: men's formal dressing is now a space of genuine creative expression. And the details matter more than the silhouettes.

What We've Seen So Far

The Golden Globes Set the Tone

Esquire's roundup of the best-dressed men at the 2026 Golden Globes highlighted a night where classic codes were respected but not blindly followed. Glen Powell's Brunello Cucinelli tuxedo featured a velvet shawl collar — a texture play that elevated an otherwise traditional silhouette. Jacob Elordi, in custom Bottega Veneta, demonstrated that understated confidence often resonates more than spectacle. Wagner Moura's Maison Margiela suit was praised for looking considered and completely at ease.

The common thread wasn't a single designer or color. It was intentionality. Every man who landed on a best-dressed list looked like he had chosen his outfit with purpose, down to the smallest detail.

Critics Choice: The Rise of Oxblood

Michael B. Jordan's double-breasted Louis Vuitton suit at the Critics Choice Awards made oxblood the men's color of the season, as L'Officiel reported. It was a choice that registered as both classic and commanding — proof that stepping outside the navy-charcoal-black comfort zone doesn't require abandoning sophistication. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Louis Vuitton dominated the evening, dressing nine attendees.

SAG Awards: A Theme That Demands Accessories

The upcoming SAG Awards have announced a first-ever red carpet theme: "Reimagining Hollywood Glamour From the '20s and '30s," in partnership with ELLE. HELLO! Magazine reported that menswear from that era was defined by its heavy focus on accessories — ties, pocket squares, cufflinks, and tie pins were not optional finishing touches but integral components of the look.

This is significant. It signals that the industry itself is recognizing accessories as central to men's formal identity, not peripheral to it.

Why Accessories Are Defining Men's Style in 2026

The Quiet Details Win

The shift toward quiet luxury — documented by CNN's January 2026 feature on men's fashion — means that status is no longer communicated through logos or price tags. It's communicated through the quality of details. The weight of a cufflink. The texture of a lapel pin. The way light catches a subtly engraved surface.

On the red carpet, this translates directly. The men who generate the most attention are rarely those in the most expensive suits. They're the ones whose details cohere into a total impression of thought and taste.

Cufflinks as the Invisible Power Move

Here's what most people miss about cufflinks on the red carpet: you almost never see them in the photographs. They're hidden by jacket sleeves in the standard poses. But the men wearing them know they're there. And that knowledge — that every element of their appearance has been considered, even the ones the cameras won't catch — is exactly what quiet luxury is about.

The best-dressed men at the Golden Globes didn't wear cufflinks for the photographers. They wore them for themselves. That distinction is everything in 2026.

The Return of the French Cuff

The broader resurgence of formal dressing — ties returning, tailoring sharpening, sneakers giving way to leather shoes — has naturally brought the French cuff back into conversation. A French cuff shirt is one of the few garments that requires an accessory to function. Without cufflinks, it's incomplete. This built-in necessity makes the cufflink not just decorative but essential, giving it a utility that most men's jewelry lacks.

As suiting returns to prominence in professional and social contexts, the French cuff becomes a subtle differentiator. It says: I didn't just put on a shirt. I dressed.

Translating Red Carpet Style to Real Life

You Don't Need a Tuxedo

The mistake most men make when drawing inspiration from awards season is thinking it requires a complete wardrobe overhaul. It doesn't. The lesson from the 2026 red carpet is about attention to detail, not costume replication.

A well-chosen pair of cufflinks worn with a navy blazer and dress shirt carries the same principle as Glen Powell's Cucinelli tuxedo: every element was considered. You don't need velvet shawl collars to embody that philosophy. You need the discipline to care about the parts of your outfit that most people overlook.

Building an Accessories Foundation

For men looking to raise their formal game in 2026, the starting points are straightforward:

One versatile pair of cufflinks — something that works with both silver and gold tones in your wardrobe. Avoid novelty designs unless your personality genuinely calls for them. A classic shape with distinctive craftsmanship will outlast any trend.

One statement pair — for occasions that invite personality. This is where handmade, artisanal pieces shine. A pair with unusual texture, unexpected materials, or visible evidence of craftsmanship becomes a conversation piece precisely because it doesn't look mass-produced.

Complementary but not matching accessories — your tie bar doesn't need to be identical to your cufflinks. Coordinating tones and sensibilities is more sophisticated than matching metals exactly. The goal is harmony, not uniformity.

The Material Question

Awards season tends to spotlight precious metals and gemstones, but real-world elegance often comes from more nuanced material choices. Brushed finishes read as more contemporary than high polish. Mixed materials — combining metal with stone, wood, or enamel — create visual interest without ostentation. And handmade pieces, with their slight imperfections and individual character, carry an authenticity that machine-made luxury cannot replicate.

What Comes Next This Season

With the SAG Awards' 1920s-30s theme and the Oscars still ahead, expect men's accessories to receive even more attention in the coming weeks. The era being referenced was one of the most accessory-intensive in menswear history — a time when cufflinks, collar pins, tie bars, and pocket squares were considered indispensable.

The modern interpretation won't be literal recreation. It will be about capturing the spirit: that accessories aren't embellishments but essentials. That the details you choose define the man more than the suit itself.

FAQ

What cufflinks are trending in 2026?

The 2026 trend leans toward quiet luxury — handmade cufflinks with distinctive craftsmanship, brushed metal finishes, and subtle textures. Oxblood and warm-toned metals complement the season's color palette. Novelty designs are giving way to artisanal pieces that communicate quality through materials and making.

Do celebrities wear cufflinks on the red carpet?

Yes, though they're often concealed by jacket sleeves in photographs. Stylists for major red carpet events routinely select cufflinks as part of the complete look, particularly with French cuff shirts. The cufflink choice reflects the overall intention of the outfit even when not directly visible.

How do I dress like a red carpet celebrity in everyday life?

Focus on the principle, not the specific garments. The lesson from 2026 awards season is intentionality — choosing every element of your outfit with purpose. Start with well-fitting clothes, then add considered accessories like quality cufflinks, a simple tie bar, or a refined watch. The goal is coherence, not extravagance.

What is the SAG Awards 2026 red carpet theme?

The 2026 SAG Awards have partnered with ELLE to set "Reimagining Hollywood Glamour From the '20s and '30s" as their first-ever red carpet theme. For menswear, this era emphasized tailored suiting with prominent accessories including cufflinks, tie pins, and pocket squares.

What men's accessories are essential for formal events?

The modern essentials are quality cufflinks (for French cuff shirts), a watch with an appropriate strap, and optionally a tie bar or pocket square. In 2026, the emphasis is on fewer, better accessories rather than layering multiple pieces. Choose items with genuine craftsmanship over brand recognition.

Internal linking suggestions: Link to Fils Unique's formal cufflinks collection, any editorial content on styling cufflinks with suits, and the brand's about/craftsmanship page.

For cufflinks that embody the same philosophy as the best-dressed men on the 2026 red carpet — handmade, unique, and designed with intention — visit filsunique.com.