Just hours after wrapping up the Miami Grand Prix, Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton made a bold entrance at the 2025 Met Gala in New York City. Joining co-chairs Colman Domingo and Anna Wintour, Hamilton once again proved that fashion is more than just clothing—it’s a canvas for storytelling, culture, and heritage.
A Personal Ode to Style Icons
In his recent Vogue cover story, Hamilton revealed how his love for fashion was shaped by the icons he admired growing up: Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Eddie Murphy, and later, cultural figures like Cab Calloway, James Baldwin, Nelson Mandela, and André Leon Talley. “I lived vicariously through magazines, music videos, and films,” he shared. “I saw how their image was so important to them, and how they presented themselves through fashion.”
The Look: Crafted with Purpose
For this year’s Met Gala, Hamilton collaborated with British designer Grace Wales Bonner to create a striking ivory ensemble inspired by Black heritage and spiritual symbolism. The look featured:
- A cropped jacket and high-waisted tuxedo-striped trousers
- Coattails and a white bow tie
- An embroidered ivory sash draped elegantly from the waistband
- A beret by Stephen Jones Millinery to complete the statement
Wales Bonner infused the outfit with layered meaning. “We brought together influences from Barkley L. Hendricks’s art, Black spiritual dress, and the craft signatures of my brand,” she told Vogue. Elements like cowrie shells, mother-of-pearl buttons, and baobab flower motifs were intentionally selected to honor African traditions and ancestral connections.
Three Months of Research, Two Months of Creation
The ensemble was months in the making. “My stylist Eric McNeal and I took our time,” Hamilton explained. “We’re both intentional when it comes to fashion. It’s never just about how it looks—it’s about what it says.”
According to McNeal, the process involved in-depth research and cultural consultation. “What makes this look powerful is its purpose,” he said. “Every trim, gem, and silhouette carries a story.”
Symbolism in Every Detail
- Cowrie shells on the sash symbolized protection in African culture
- Garnet gemstones represented Hamilton’s January birth month
- Baobab brooches, made with SNOW Diamonds, celebrated growth and legacy
- Whirligig African Daisy-shaped cufflinks evoked memory, identity, and resilience
These symbolic touches paid tribute to trailblazers like Cab Calloway, particularly his fashion in Harlem Nights, as well as Barkley L. Hendricks’s white-on-white portraiture—where restraint becomes a powerful visual message.
Honoring Black Legacy at the Met
Hamilton is no stranger to the Met Gala stage. Since debuting in 2015, he’s used the event to spotlight Black designers and historical figures. At the 2021 Gala, he hosted a table of emerging Black designers. In 2024, his ensemble honored John Ystumllyn, the first Black gardener in 18th-century Wales.
This year, he continued that legacy. “Lewis wanted every detail to have meaning,” said Wales Bonner. “It’s about celebrating where we come from—and where we’re going.”
