Meet the Stylist Who Got Matthew Rhys Out of His 10-Year-Old Tuxedo
Keri Russell's longtime stylist and veteran costume designer Frank L. Fleming explains why women over 40 are sliding into his DMs about 'The Diplomat' star’s effortlessly cool style.
As the talent behind Keri Russell’s edgy yet comfy and totally confident red carpet looks — and now, by association, her partner Matthew Rhys’ — plus the ’90s-inspired costumes in Netflix’s Nemesis, Frank L. Fleming has been a BIG presence in my life this past month. I imagine quite a few of yours, too, dear WNVM-ers.
So I convinced Fleming to jump on Zoom with me to chat about all of the above — and yes, we absolutely discussed that viral moment of Rhys straightening Russell’s train at the SAG Actors Awards.
Also, who’s watching Widow’s Bay right now?
xo Fawnia
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I have attended countless panels and script readings featuring fellow Brooklynites, Keri Russell and her former The Americans co-star and life partner, Matthew Rhys — not just because I love their work and they seem like a chill couple that would be really fun to go bar hopping with, but also because I always glean some outfit inspo. Like, I 100% keep recreating this easy sweater, jeans, and pumps combo from my own wardrobe (it’s the fishnets that really make it, I think) and felt deeply validated when Russell wore long shorts — like me! — to a The Diplomat screening and Q&A last year.
“Thank you,” her stylist, Frank L. Fleming, jokes. “The invoice is in the mail.”
But seriously, I’m onto something. “A lot of my new Instagram followers are women over 40 relating to Keri in that way,” he says. “Like, ‘[Her style] feels attainable for me.’”
Russell’s tailored blazers, leather jackets, sculptural silhouettes, subtle experimental details, and minimalist palette evoke an effortless mix of classic elegance, risk-taking, confidence, and ease. But mostly, it’s the overall sense that she’s having the best time on her own terms.
“That core thing of just being like, ‘Oh, this is who I am. It’s easy. I’m comfortable. It’s cool,” says Fleming. “‘I don’t necessarily want to disrespect the rooms that I’m walking into, but I also need to feel true to who I am in that space.’”
Like many a Gen X-er, Fleming first became interested in fashion as a Baltimore teenager watching MTV — particularly Madonna’s early videos and Nena’s “99 Luftballons.” To this day, Sade continues to influence his costume design and styling careers, which I can see come through in Russell’s distinctive looks.
“The simplicity, the beauty, the elegance, and the quiet style — a calm and a cleanliness — are very much a part of the work that I do,” says Fleming, reminiscing about frequenting a local restaurant at age 14 with his cousin. “They had a jukebox, and we would just play the Sade albums over and over again, and plot how we’re going to get out of Baltimore to create this bigger life for ourselves. There’s a classic element that I always appreciate, but it still radiates strength.”
Styling is actually his side hustle, as Fleming has a prolific costume design career — beginning under two-time Oscar winner, Ruth E. Carter on Spike Lee’s 1992 film, Malcolm X. His impressive resumé includes Damages, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, 50 Cent’s Power, the Power Book franchise, a not-very-Coach-like Kyle Chandler in Bloodline, and most recently, the Netflix hit Nemesis, which opens with an ode to one of my all time favorite movies, New Jack City.
That’s also how he met Russell — he was the costume designer on her 2007 film, August Rush.
“We have a very similar personal energy and philosophy — and probably style,” says Fleming.
So when Russell needed looks for the Mission: Impossible III red carpet, she called her former costume designer, leading to a two-decade-long (and going) collaboration.
“She said, ‘Would you mind helping me?’” Fleming recalls. “I enjoy it because it’s a different process than putting together film or television. I wasn’t necessarily interested in styling in a big, commercial way — I just love her. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it adds to my life. It doesn’t take away.”
Conveniently, their personal lives aligned as well. “We actually were neighbors up until last year,” says Fleming.
Whatever Nevermind celebrates Gen X-ers doing cool things, explores stories and trends that define our generation, and dives into pop culture, fashion, and beauty from our perspective. Read more stories like this here.
So when Rhys needed a wardrobe assist to pull double duty promoting his terrifying turn in The Beast in Me and his comic stylings in horror-comedy Widow’s Bay, while also supporting Russell’s The Diplomat press rounds, Fleming stepped in. Or rather, Russell asked him to.
“Matthew is very Welsh, like ‘I’m a serious actor, and I’m not so caught up in that game about how I look,’” says Fleming, fondly. “Matthew wore the same tuxedo that I’d gotten him for 10 years, and he was fine with it. ‘I don’t need to change, I don’t care.’”
Friend of Whatever Nevermind and Keri-Matthew superfan Emma Fraser immediately ID’d the tux as the slim-fit Rag & Bone one Rhys wore to accept his 2018 Emmy win for The Americans. (Cute.) Because a good tuxedo should last for years!
I then conducted a forensic study of Getty Images: the 2019 Directors Guild Awards; the 2021 Emmys; and the 2024 Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice, alongside Russell, in one of my favorites: a Stéphane Rollande couture white reverse-capelet gown with a long train and sculptural ruffles down the front.
But by the end of 2025, Russell and Rhys — both booked and busy — found themselves walking an increased number of promotional and awards-season circuits together.
“Keri was like, ‘But you’re on the carpet with me, I can’t deal with this anymore,’” says Fleming, and I’ve never found them more relatable. “She’s like, ‘Frank, can you just help him out a little bit?’ And I love him. He’s the most thoughtful, and he’s so kind.”
Cut to the January 4 Critics’ Choice Awards: a new year, and a brand-spanking-new black monochrome Armani tux for Rhys. Next to him, Russell wore another fearlessly cool look I want: a Tom Ford tuxedo with a cropped jacket and an easy white mock-neck top.
“Together they were a stylish couple,” wrote Red Carpet Fashion Awards, with a stamp of approval.
“He’s become more open to it, to be honest with you,” says Fleming, who also points out that Rhys always wears red socks to awards shows for good luck.
For his Actors Awards outing with Russell — both nominees — Rhys originally mused about a red or green velvet suit with embroidery (which sounds kinda Ethan Hawke). “It wasn’t aligned with the men’s team at Louis Vuitton, but he definitely has a thought and a passion for the fashion,” says Fleming. “There is the personality and the fun.”
Well, the joy definitely came through in Rhys’ custom monochrome-brown double-breasted suit with jaunty flared trousers, and accessorized with a silk ribbon tie and fancy brooch.
“He put on the suit, and he put his hip out, and did his little pose. I was like, ‘I’ve never seen you do that in all the years.’ He was like, ‘But I like it. This is fun,” says Fleming, with a smile. “Then he started going down a Tom Jones reference. I was like, ‘No, no.’ But he really embraced the creativity behind what the team had put together for him. So he is open to being pushed.”
But Rhys knew his real responsibility that night and made sure Russell — who went on to win — enjoyed her moment in her asymmetrical Louis Vuitton gown. Although he briefly and unintentionally stole the spotlight (and went viral) for eagerly straightening her long train on the carpet.
“She wanted the train to hit at a certain angle — very much at 11 o’clock — and the placement of it had to be quite specific,” says Fleming. “He did it beautifully. You show him once, and he’s good.”
Now that Rhys is a fashion enthusiast, he’s even throwing Fleming some challenges — and to particularly inspired results.
“He’s a huge boat enthusiast, and the show shot in Northeastern coastal towns,” says Fleming, about dressing Rhys for the premiere of the remote island-set Widow’s Bay. “So he was like, ‘Frank, can you help me with this, but I have to wear these boots.’ So how am I telling a story where this could somehow make sense, and it’s not so visually arresting?”
Unsurprisingly, Fleming nailed the assignment with Rhys’ colonial-period–meets–quiet luxury look: a Loro Piana cashmere cardigan, white cravat, high-waisted pleated trousers, and seafaring Xtratuf boots. The unexpected, on-theme outfit also countered — but coordinated in spirit with — Russell’s architectural ensemble: upside-down long shorts and a leather-belted bra top by Hodakova and an oversized Saint Laurent blazer. (Another comfy-edgy shorts look I need and Rhys is clearly is enjoying his “I’m on a Boat” theme with a few promo looks.)
Meanwhile, Fleming is slowly and selectively growing his styling arm, most recently working with Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar nominee, Rocky Horror Picture Show Tony Award nominee, and one of the most talented humans to exist, Stephanie Hsu.
“I’m just trying to get through the Tonys,” says Fleming.
He also wrapped the upcoming bank robbery comedy Anxious People, starring Angelina Jolie, who was spotted during filming in London wearing an all-ivory cape-and-gown ensemble.
“Working with Angelina was actually a great experience,” says Fleming. “I can’t unsee what we did on the costume, or say we should have done anything differently, which is great — even after 30 years of work, to still recognize you always have room to grow.”
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Love this! “But mostly, it’s the overall sense that she’s having the best time on her own terms,” - exactly this! Keri always looks completely comfortable in her red carpet looks, and obviously has fun, too, when make-up artists experiment with her smoky eyes and hair up looks. And love that she got Fleming on board to to work with her husband, Matthew! 🌟🌟
Always here for a Baltimore success story!