Tonight, Grace Wales Bonner made her Met Gala debut, dressing FKA twigs, Lewis Hamilton, Omar Apollo, Jeff Goldblum, Tyler Mitchell and Antwaun Sargent. Bonner, who is known for her own unique blend of sportswear and tailoring, kept it classic for her first year designing for one of the fashion industry’s biggest events by capturing the true essence of Black dandyism for this year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
There was smart tailoring, playful detailing and brooches throughout Bonner’s Met Gala looks. She created a black bespoke suit for herself to wear to the event and dressed Jeff Goldblum in a fur-trimmed overcoat. Omar Apollo wore a cropped tux with a leopard print layer made from Swarovski crystals underneath, and Tyler Mitchell arrived in a cream and white suit with leather gloves, feathers over one shoulder and a brooch in the shape of a flower.
On Instagram, stylist Eric McNeal expressed “endless thanks” to Bonner for Lewis Hamilton’s custom suit, with a cropped ivory jacket and tuxedo trousers. “The colour of ivory denotes purity and status; cowries pass from hand to hand, the regal sash turns shamanic,” he wrote. For twigs, Bonner created an elegant custom crystal dress with a brown feathered mid-calf hem. The pair have previously collaborated on similarly sparkly, jewel-encrusted stage outfits.
On Saturday night, the London-based designer hosted the second edition of her travelling concert series, “Togetherness”, at the Guggenheim. Before her Met Gala debut, Bonner said she wasn’t looking to “stand out” this year. But, as always, her timeless approach did. It also marked a new peak moment in US fashion for the UK designer – this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition features eight Wales Bonner looks, after all. The included pieces span across the past 10 years, from many of her different collections.