The Meaning Behind Joaquin Phoenix's Oscars Suit

Joaquin Phoenix is nominated for Best Actor for his role in Joker at the 92nd Academy Awards and tonight (February 9), he could walk away with his first statuette. For the occasion, the actor hit the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo, featuring a single-button blazer and bow-tie to match, and it also was designed by Stella McCartney.


However wait, have we seen this look before?


Yes, in fact: The actor wore the same suit to the Golden Globes on January 5. That night, in his second turn at the awards show, Phoenix accepted the statue for Best Actor in a Motion Picture for his titular role in Joker and delivered a expletive-filled speech calling for aid to the bushfires in Australia and shading actors who fly in private jets. This came immediately following the actor and his partner, actress Rooney Mara, pushed for the awards show to serve vegan meals.


In a powerful statement about maintainability, the Joker actor vowed to wear the same custom suit for every show this awards show this season to cut down on waste. Tonight, he stayed true to that pledge.


“This man is a winner… wearing custom Stella because he chooses to prepare choices for the future of the planet. He has also chosen to wear this same Tux for the whole award season to decrease waste. I am delighted to join forces with you,” McCartney wrote on Twitter on January 6, day after the Golden Globes, plus a photo of Phoenix accepting his award.


The style industry is now accountable for more greenhouse gas emissions than maritime shipping and international flights combined, and Stella McCartney is among a crop of designers reformulating long-held practices in a task to tidy up. Maintainability was a running theme on the red carpet, with several attendees, like Birds of Prey star Margot Robbie, opting for vintage gowns over couture.