Actor Mr Omari Douglas Walks Us Through The Best Menswear Looks Of The Season

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Actor Mr Omari Douglas Walks Us Through The Best Menswear Looks Of The Season

Words by Teo van den Broeke | Photography by Mr Marc Hibbert | Styling by Ms Rose Forde

30 August 2021

You might know Mr Omari Douglas from his starring role in Mr Russell T Davies’ seminal miniseries It’s A Sin, in which the young British actor played lithe-hipped sexpot Roscoe, with an exuberant personality and a wardrobe to match. “It was interesting because I hadn’t ever shown that much skin in a show before,” Douglas tells me as we sit down for a conversation to discuss this shoot. “Even for going out. I do T-shirts, but not shorts. And obviously Roscoe bared a lot of his skin. I found it really liberating to embody that aesthetic, embracing wearing tight things.”

Failing that, you may be better acquainted with Douglas for his turn in Mr Nick Payne’s play Constellations, which was given a recent queer re-imagining at the Vaudeville Theatre – though you’d have been lucky to bag a ticket. Either way, Omari Douglas is a name to be aware of, as much for his bold presence on stage and screen as for his excellent way with clothes, which we spend just under an hour chatting about on Zoom. “I like a loose silhouette,” he says. “I like to be able to move. I like to feel fluid.” Here, he walks us through some of the finest looks of the season.

01.

The knitted polo

This knitted polo from Dries Van Noten looks every bit as suitable for Roscoe’s wardrobe as it does Douglas’s. Teamed with slim-cut matte leather trousers, the effect has a low-key Notting Hill-in-the-1970s appeal. “This is my favourite look, just because of what it evokes,” says Douglas. “A lot of my references tend to come from Black historical archives that I follow on Instagram. This look is similar, it feels evocative of my heritage, there’s a sort of island vibe to it, which I love. The hat is great too; it’s very relaxed, very chic, very lithe.”

02.

The double-breasted blazer

If you’re both long and lean of frame like Douglas, one of this season’s sharply cut double-breasted blazers – such as the one on the left from Californian brand Fear of God – will look excellent dressed up with a shirt, or down with a sweater. “Double-breasted blazers are my favourite,” says Douglas. “They just create a powerful, strong silhouette, really accentuating the shape of the upper body.” For a bolder look, opt for something equally oversized in a bright acid or neon shade teamed with neutral trousers on the bottom, such as this Bottega Veneta look. “I love this combo because it’s a bit more unconventional than the other double-breasted look and the detail on the trousers is super fun.” He continues. “That’s what’s cool about Bottega, it’s great at this sort of elegant tailoring thing, but then it’s really not afraid to mix it up with fun stuff. The brand also has this futuristic vibe, which I love.” A thoughtful pause. “Green also looks really good on me!”

03.

The new double denim

Combining this season’s trend for worn-in jeans and the shift towards textured, bouclé-style fabrics, this double-denim look from Californian brand 1017 ALYX 9SM is emblematic of the label’s off-kilter aesthetic. “Marc Hibbert, the photographer [of this shoot], is so brilliant. It’s interesting when you work with different photographers and then start to realise how they want their different subjects to work.” Douglas says. “This is also such a beautiful outfit. It’s like a distressed bouclé denim, and I’m holding an accessory that can be worn as a necktie. It’s the most ornate look.”

04.

The 1970s redux

“This was so fun, I absolutely love this look,” says Douglas of the 1970s-infused Gucci polo shirt – complete with epic, Boogie Nights-esque collar – he’s wearing for here. “My stylist Rose Forde and I are constantly sending references to each other. I like looks that suggest bygone eras and this look is very 1970s.” He continues. “I feel like all the Gucci stuff is very playful. It’s got this sense of being quite serious, but not taking itself too seriously at the same time.”

05.

The off-duty deluxe

This ultra-elegant yet low-key look from the master of low-key elegance himself, Mr Tom Ford, is a perfect weekend outfit, so long as you’re not coming into contact with any grass. Note the matching pale socks and loafers. “I don’t have any TOM FORD in my own wardrobe sadly,” says Douglas. “The first show that I ever did from drama school was High Society at the Old Vic. Ellie Bamber, who was 16 at the time, was also in the show. We finished one day and she said to me, ‘Tom Ford was in the audience!’ After that he cast her in Nocturnal Animals.”

06.

The pioneer look

Thanks in part to Mr Harry Styles and his kilted turn on the cover of US Vogue and in part thanks to the sterling work of gender-fluid pioneers such as actor Ms Tommy Dorfman and designer Mr Harris Reed, it’s never been more acceptable for men to sport skirts, dresses and kilts. This look is really fun. Very playful, quite cool,” says Douglas. “I’ve not got any skirts or dresses in my wardrobe, but if it was the right thing I might do it. I loved doing this look in an editorial setting, but I don’t know. It’s all about bravery. Maybe it’s the beginning of something new for me.”

07.

The sophisticated shearling

Every man needs a high-quality shearling in his mid-winter wardrobe, and this option from Madrid-based luxury goods brand LOEWE, which is overseen by British creative director Mr Jonathan Anderson, is the ultimate investment piece. “This look is very 1980s, but a different kind of aesthetic. A bit 1970s, too,” Douglas tells me. “I haven’t got a shearling coat in my wardrobe, but I would love a piece like this one. It’s practical for the season.”

08.

Tailoring 2.0

The new mood at Mr Matthew William’s Givenchy marries sharp-edged tailoring with heavy-duty hardware pieces, case in point this oversized blazer, teamed with wet-look leather trousers and a printed rollneck. “This was definitely the campiest look we did,” Douglas says. “I would say even campier than the kilt. It’s just fabulous and very cool. I was really drawn to the trousers and I would love to have that blazer. You could do a lot with it.”