Regardless of how you look at it, wearing leather to a formal event is...a risk. No matter what, it's an expert-level style move with very little margin for error. Nail it and sartorial glory is all yours; brick it and the failed fit may haunt you for years to come. Zayn Malik and his neatly tailored leather blazers are a great example of the former, while the too-long leather coats of 1990s-era Steven Seagal fall into the latter. This weekend, at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, hip-hop extraordinaires Migos took on the challenge of leather formalwear—and knocked it out of the park. For their troubles? A spot in the small category of “extremely good leather outfits.”
If you want to look good in leather, then you should probably turn to someone who is an expert with the material, which is exactly what Migos did. The trio looked to designer Matthew Williams, the man behind the skyrocketing label 1017 Alyx 9SM. Williams is no stranger to animal hides, and some of his label’s most recognizable products are pricey, high-end leather jackets and bags. The suits come from Alyx’s Fall-Winter 2019 collection: slim-fitting blazers in bold colors and skinny pants with eye-catching stripes. A quick glance at the footwear reveals Williams’s handiwork as well, from Offset’s red-printed Chelsea boots (with a detachable Vibram harness) to Takeoff’s glossy, rugged-sole kicks. The end look is sleek, futuristic, and plenty formal—and it’s one that Takeoff, Offset, and Quavo wear exceptionally well.
Time and time again, Migos have proven to be trailblazers when it comes to contemporary men’s fashion. The trio’s mentality seems to be that no fit is too daring, and their risks often result in looks that are second to none. Whether it’s bomber jackets and track pants or leather pants and a diamond blouse, the guys know how to wear the hell out of some clothes. In some ways, only a group like Migos could have pulled off suits as bold and boy-band-esque as these on the red carpet. And the fact that they did it to an awards show best known for covering its guests in neon green slime just makes it that much better.