It was one of those cold, gray April days in New York that still feels like winter, but Keith and Kenny Lucas, Oscar nominees this year as part of the Judas and the Black Messiah original team of writers, clearly demarcated, dressed in daring and bright evening outfits for Hollywood journalistthe Oscar show.
They looked sharp as photographer Flo Ngala put them to the test in the shade of Williamsburg Bridge, near the South Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood they call home, with Kenny in a jacket Zegna tuxedo jacket in off-white silk and wool jacquard and black trousers and Keith in a light blue Burberry wool tuxedo jacket with contrasting ivory trousers.
“We really like to dress up and it’s fun to see us in a different light,” Kenny said a few hours later. “And when you look good, you feel good.” Keith steps in to support the thought, “I love walking around Brooklyn, and it’s even better walking Brooklyn when you look stupid.”
The dapper yarns – topped with their iconic baseball caps in a Zegna personalized version – came together under the watchful eye of THRMenswear Editor-in-Chief Andrew Weitz, a seasoned Hollywood wardrobe executive with his eponymous consultancy, The Weitz Effect.
And with the thought “How often do you go to the Oscars?” Leading the way, the Lucas Brothers, 35, were more than ready to see what Weitz, who put together two sets of Oscar night looks, had come up with.
Their typical wardrobe – including on stage as a comedic duo – tends towards what Keith calls “the hoodie, hat and jeans outfit,” with a casual suit thrown over the mix and accented with their baseball caps. ever-present novelty, picked up from local stores and their matching all-black Lindberg glasses.
“We felt like we were ready to experiment and try different things,” says Keith. “It was an opportunity for us to show a more creative side in the way we dress. And Andrew was a master at choosing what to make us feel comfortable.
For Weitz, the Oscars are all about making a distinction between making a fashionable impression and not overdoing it. “When you’re first nominated you want to make sure you have a presence, but in the right way,” he says. Another consideration: Oscar night is much later than usual in the calendar (due to the pandemic), and well into the spring. “You want to play the season because it’s late April, but you don’t want it to go like, ‘I can wear hot pink and lime and all those crazy, fun spring colors,” Weitz explains. “But wearing a cream jacquard tuxedo jacket or ivory pants, like we’ve done here, is not out of place. Or the blue Burberry, that makes sense. I don’t think I would have done this in February.
Neward, New Jersey natives Kenny and Keith dropped out of NYU and Duke Law School, respectively, just before graduation to pursue stand-up as comedy duo The Lucas Brothers. They have intentionally highlighted their twinning over the years by dressing alike.
Frequent guests on Tonight’s Show with Jimmy Fallon, the duo created the animated series Fox Lucas Bros. Moving Co. and starred in the 2014 feature film 22 rue du saut. In 2017, they titled their first TV comedy special, Lucas Brothers: drug addicts, on Netflix. In recent months, they have announced two upcoming writing projects, one Revenge of the nerds reboot with Seth MacFarlane and a semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy with Judd Apatow.
For the brothers’ first set of Oscar looks, Weitz opted for contrasting combinations. To go with Kenny’s cream Zegna jacket, Weitz selected a classic bow tie and tuxedo shirt, but added a stylish sequined evening slipper. For Keith, he opted for a formal ivory shirt with the punctuation of black diamond studs and David Yurman cufflinks; the shirt was worn without a tie with a silk scarf that was just a little darker tucked underneath.
“I just thought it was a good idea because, thinking about the pandemic and how it was all laid back last year, you maybe don’t always have to be too stuffy,” says Weitz. “Still, overall the look was very subtle, and the fact that everything was tone in tone made it more formal. I wouldn’t have liked the look if it had been in a contrasting color.
For a second round of options, Weitz went by default for a timeless black tuxedo for guys, but each choice was a couture take on the classic.
Kenny tried on a lavish Dior Men version that, like his cream jacket in the first round, was cut with a jacket style that some fashion pros call a button and a half. It follows the silhouette of a traditional double-breasted jacket but has only one button to close it, placed a little off-center. (Designers Kim Jones at Dior and Alessandro Sartori at Zegna, among others, are both strong supporters of the trend, which has appeared more frequently on the red carpet in recent seasons.) “It’s so modern and chic, and it’s a different take that I like, “says Weitz.” And it works great for most men. “To emphasize the” super-clean “lines of the tuxedo, Weitz opted for a straight black silk tie. , a white formal shirt and simple laces.
Keith’s black tuxedo features a knife-thin silhouette and a narrow silk lapel adorned with Berluti’s signature Scritto motif, a pale motif inspired by the art of calligraphy. A matching bow tie, a crisp formal shirt with hidden buttons and patent tassel loafers were all that was needed to complete the ensemble.
The Oscar night marks the culmination of a long journey for the Lucas brothers, who first discovered the Black Panther story Fred Hampton when they were in college in 2004. The story. So we felt a huge obligation to tell Fred’s story when we entered the industry, ”says Kenny. “So this situation now, with six Oscar nominations, blows my mind,” he adds. “I am so honored to have been able to be part of a film that honors the legacy of a man who was taken from us too early but whose impact is still reverberating today.”
Contemplating what they’ll pick for the Oscars, Kenny and Keith say that as much as they appreciate suave black tuxedos, they lean towards the most eye-catching contrasting tuxedo jumpsuits.
“I felt like the first look was more my style,” Kenny says. “I just fell in love with the jacket and pants and the shoes were just on the next level. It was so distinctive. Keith adds that the first look was his favorite too. “That blue jacket just burst,” he said. “I never thought I would wear Caroline Blue because I went to Duke and I hate Caroline Blue. But he felt good. It felt good.
***
Tuxedo Tips
TUX BOARD NO. 1 How to wear a blue tuxedo – “It can make you look like you’re going to a ball or be really stylish,” says consultant Andrew Weitz. “But paired with the cream pants, it looks classy.”
TUX BOARD NO. 2 How to wear an off-white tuxedo – “A white tuxedo is a classic,” Weitz says. “But choosing an off-white or ivory jacquard is more elevated and luxurious.”
TUX BOARD NO. 3 How to Make Tuxedo Pants – “A slightly tapered leg without a break will give a clean, elongated look,” advises Weitz. “And wearing an invisible sock gives the look some personality.”
TUX BOARD NO. 4 How to Add a Pocket Square – “Add an extra touch by showing off the border of a silk pocket square with polka dots or a pattern,” Weitz says, “instead of the traditional ottoman – which looks outdated. “
Main Image: Keith Lucas (left) wore a Burberry tuxedo jacket, $ 2,090, and a Charvet silk clutch, $ 85; both at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills; satin striped silk trousers, tuxedo shirt, silk evening scarf and silk twill cap; all made to measure (price on request), at Ermenegildo Zegna, Beverly Hills; patented moccasins, $ 795, at giuseppezanotti.com; Sterling silver shirt studs with black diamond pavé, $ 2,900, at David Yurman, Beverly Hills. Kenny Lucas wore a silk tuxedo, mohair pants and cap, all custom made at Ermenegildo Zegna; evening shirt, $ 225, at etonshirts.com; satin bow tie, $ 100, at scbocaraton.com; Thame slipper, $ 575, at Jimmy Choo, Beverly Hills.
This story first appeared in the April 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.