David Oyelowo’s tuxedo pays homage to Martin Luther King Jr.
When David Oyelowo took to the red carpet at the 20th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards last week, the bespoke tuxedo the lead actor nominee was wearing included a nod to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whom the British-born actor portrays in the film “Selma.”
According to the folks at Huntsman, the Savile Row tailor shop that cut the suit for him, the lining is embroidered with the words to one of the late civil rights activist’s favorite hyms “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.”
In the red carpet arrivals photo above, for example, the following lyrics are visible inside the left side of Oyelowo’s one-button, notch-lapel jacket: “When the darkness appears and the night draws near / And the day is past and gone / At the river I stand / Guide my feet, hold my hand / Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”
The description of the suit sent our way says the actor worked with Huntsman’s creative director Roubi L’Roubi on the custom lining. Others who had their hand in the process included head cutter Patrick Murphy (who is credited with giving the jacket narrower lapels for a more contemporary look) and coatmaker Jordan Heard.
Huntsman, which dates to 1849, has provided bespoke men’s tailoring to the likes of Gregory Peck, the Duke of Windsor, Bill Blass and Cecil Beaton.
Oyelowo also took things up a notch by going with a less-common band collar tuxedo shirt. The combination makes him a sartorial standout -- and creates a look that’s impossible to snub.
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