Are you ready for the formal bucket hat? The gloriously bonkers menswear at the Golden Globes

If The Great Return To Work this morning felt a little arduous, after a festive lull period of pyjamas and leftover pigs-in-blankets, spare a thought for the fellows facing the red carpet at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles. For most of us, putting on anything more formal than a dressing gown was something of a bump back into reality, particularly in this bracing weather. But the current crop of leading men had to forgo the roast potatoes over the Christmas period and submit themselves to an army of stylists frantically “moodboarding” (don’t ask) and grooming gurus, scrubbing, buffing and trimming on January 5 to get them ready. The poor darlings.

Men’s style on the red carpet has evolved seismically in the last decade, fuelled by two elements; a greater degree of (or to be more historically accurate, a return to) self expression and experimentation in how men dress, and the importance of social media in making an impact. Yes, Giorgio Armani black tie is always going to look exceptional, but something striking and boundary-pushing will get the Instagram accounts – and column inches – chattering. Which is perhaps why the men on the red carpet at this year’s Golden Globes were more outre, more daring and more meme-worthy than ever.

Leading that brigade were our boys in blue; Irish actor Andrew Scott in Tiffany-toned Vivienne Westwood, Succession’s Jeremy Strong in mint velvet Loro Piana and Jeff Goldblum in crystal-dusted Amiri duck egg blue. Scott and Strong were heard comparing notes on the red carpet; the latter termed their in-sync ensembles “the colours of the sea… maritime chic”. Your average salty seadog in Cornwall might have something to say about that. Goldblum continued his particular verve for standout, eye-catching peacockery at 72. It’s pleasing that a man of his vintage is expressive and joyful in his approach to dressing.

Pastels on men are tricky to negotiate, and can look a little bit “barbershop quartet”, a tad costumy, like an am dram rendering of a 1950s prom date. Jeremy Strong’s bucket hat was perhaps a blue mood too far, when paired with the sepia, 70s shades and that stonking great Richard Mille watch, but he increasingly takes a “go bold or go home” approach that’s commendable. Even if the bucket hat looks as if he might be wading for cockles off the coast of Norfolk in another life.

Elsewhere, there was an encouraging degree of dandyism on the Golden Globes red carpet. American actor Colman Domingo embraced a touch of the Beau Brummell richness in his pussybow shirt courtesy of Valentino, alongside eye-catching details designed to glint in the glare of the flashbulbs; a sweeping feather brooch in white gold with pave diamonds and green emerald ring from Boucheron.

Then there was Brit boy Eddie Redmayne in checked Valentino tailoring; a strong-shouldered, wide lapel suit covered in cream and black checks for a 70s-inflection. Redmayne might look like a Regency fop but he enjoys a touch of boundary-pushing exuberance in how he dresses; exaggerated Saint Laurent bows, see-through sheer and jazzy prints. It certainly makes life more interesting. Another entrant into the “best dandy” category was Robbie Williams, attending thanks to his biopic Better Man, wearing a crystal encrusted grey suit from Dolce & Gabbana in his typically low key manner, rather razzmatazz but on-brand for the consummate showman.

Even if they didn’t take the full sartorial assault of Robbie Williams route, there were touches of expressive personality by way of subtle detail and decoration. See British up-and-comers Jack Lowden of Slow Horses and Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, both in classic, sombre Dior Men black tie but with sparkling touches via a brooches on the lapel, likewise the striking Adrien Brody, who wore a wending sculptural creation on his Thom Browne suit. Watches used to be the one area where men added a touch of personal decoration – there were plenty of those on display, courtesy of Eddie Redmayne in Omega, Andrew Garfield in Jaeger Le-Coultre and Goldblum in diamond-covered Vacheron Constantin – but perhaps brooches are the new timepiece for black tie dress codes.

As for Andrew Garfield, Hollywood’s most likeable man has been a standout on the red carpet for a while now – see his penchant for colourful tailoring – and for the Golden Globes he kept it to his own distinct formula; nothing too outlandish, but a forest green tuxedo with giant lapels and an undone shirt. Timothee Chalamet’s Tom Ford suit – as reed thin as him – was worn with a silk scarf thrown over the shoulder, a nod to his turn as Bob Dylan in the recent biopic. As for the tickle on his top lip, perhaps that’s one accessory he can untangle himself from in 2025.

One of the surprises of the evening from the men’s style contingent was Daniel Craig, who eschewed the renegade Loewe looks he’s been wearing lately as the “face” of the house and opted for a classic Armani double-breasted suit with a tie. No theatrics (apart from the shades), just excellent tailoring. Sometimes, like the Hollywood contingent of the 90s and early 00s before this wave of avant-garde experimentalism took hold, it’s the classic, timeless Armani that wins the day.