With this year’s theme specifically highlighting Black style and fashion history, I thought it was really cool that Gigi Hadid pulled off such a well-researched look that honored Black fashion pioneer Zelda Wynn Valdes, who was the first Black designer to open her own boutique in New York City.
Hadid is wearing a gold custom Miu Miu gown, which was styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and it mirrors a custom Balmain dress that the late great Josephine Baker wore in 1951 while performing her song “Black Magic.” Valdes often styled famous women like Baker.
Speaking to E! News about her look, Hadid said, “It’s an homage to Zelda Wynn Valdes. Everyone, go look her up. She was an amazing dressmaker who made some really special pieces in the late ‘40s. She was trained by her uncle in his men’s tailoring shop, and she took those codes and skills to really mix them together in order to let people express themselves with what she made.”
I love Met Gala outfits that have intention, and that really goes a long way this year with so many non-Black folks clueless about what to wear to honor the theme. Take a look at how Hadid channeled Baker’s gown in the X post below.
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