Happy Met Gala Tuesday– let the visual feast begin. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” dives deep into the artistry, identity and cultural legacy of Black fashion, with the Black dandy at its center.
It’s not a theme to approach casually. Steeped in heritage and meaning, it calls for reverence, not reduction. Tonight, the line between homage and costume was tested and in many cases, triumphantly crossed. The men, in particular, delivered: dazzling in inventive accessories, bold jewellery, and most notably, a heavy-handed, and highly effective, brooch game.
From A$AP Rocky and Lewis Hamilton — both of whom co-chaired the event — to Bad Bunny, Manish Malhotra and a slew of other standout attendees, the gentlemen embraced the performative power of embellishment in celebration of dandyism and unapologetic glamour. This year, it was the men who schooled the ladies in the art of decorative flair.
Here are some of the standout embellishment trends that turned heads, and yes, we’re more than ready to borrow (or steal) a few for ourselves.
The Year of the Brooch
The brooch was everywhere — appearing in a myriad of shapes and styles, from Art Deco crests to bejewelled diamond flowers. Lewis Hamilton embraced the motif with intention, wearing one on his lapel and another on his hat for a doubled-up statement. Adrien Brody, meanwhile, took a more minimalist route: a single emerald-encrusted flower dangled elegantly against his all-black suit, worn with his signature élan and ease.
Elsewhere, Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra took a decidedly maximalist approach, layering a constellation of brooches over an intricately embroidered cape — a bold “more is more” statement in the art of embellishment. It was refreshing to see this playful and experimental expression to…
