The hottest accessory on the 2023 Brownlow Medal red carpet was the black bow tie
On footy's night of nights, the game's biggest stars kept it classic. Really classic.
FOLLOWING A COUPLE of years where it seemed like AFL players were becoming more experimental with their style choices, the 2023 Brownlow Medal was a very pared back affair. While I hesitate to use the buzz-term ‘quiet luxury’, it certainly felt like footy’s most dexterous stars were taking cues from the trend, dressing almost exclusively in black dinner suits and the unofficial accessory of the evening: a black bow tie.
Even guys like Gold Coast Suns’ Touk Miller and Collingwood’s Darcy Moore (who made his first public appearance with girlfriend Dee Salmin)—two players who tend to push the envelope with their off-duty fashion choices—played it safe with classic tuxedos. Though Miller’s white blazer was definitely one of the evening’s most directional choices.
But a classic is a classic for a reason, and in this economy, it pays to be more conservative with our fashion choices. And while we’re all for a fun colourful jacket, or a velvet tie, this year’s Brownlow red carpet reminded us of an age-old truth: dudes look really good in sharp suits.
Take Lachie Neale, who surprised punters by storming home to claim the 2023 medal by two votes, for example. He mightn’t have been at the main event—due to grand final preparations, Brisbane live-streamed in from their home town—but it wasn’t hard to see the man of the moment looked as good as he plays.
Also, there was plenty of really good grooming on show. St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair let his long mullet flow, while we’ve never seen so many excellent moustaches in one room (Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher and Tom Liberatore were sporting especially luxurious facial hair). Our best dressed man vote goes to Josh Daicos, who adhered to the unofficial black bow tie, white shirt and black blazer rule while keeping it fresh by going for a black jacket in shiny velvet.
For the rest of the evening’s best dressed men and women, scroll on.
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