Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, appeared at the 2025 Met Gala red carpet in a custom ivory suit by Grace Wales Bonner, complemented by a matching beret and vintage jewelry.
As co-chair of the event, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Hamilton’s attire paid homage to Black cultural heritage.
The ensemble featured symbolic elements such as cowrie shells and mother-of-pearl buttons, reflecting his African roots.
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The Formula One star collaborated closely with designer Grace Wales Bonner and stylist Eric McNeal over several months to craft this meaningful look.
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In an interview, Hamilton expressed his honor in co-chairing the event and highlighted the importance of representing Black designers and culture on such a prestigious platform. He recalled his journey from buying a table to support Black designers in 2021 to now working directly with Anna Wintour to shape the Gala’s future.
“Firstly, it’s a real honour and privilege and something that I’ve been working on for a long, long time to get into that position. Just getting to go to the Met Gala was always something special,” he told Vogue in a cover story published ahead of the event. “Having seen the hosts before, I remember I would look on and think ‘it would be cool one day to be a host’. Anna’s been so gracious as to include me within that group.”
In 2021, amid his championship fight with Max Verstappen, Hamilton invited a group of Black designers to the Met. “Of course, I always wanted to go to the Met Gala, and I got invited for the first time in 2015. It’s always been a privilege to attend, but in 2021, I no longer wanted to just be another person in the room,” he recalled.
“I was working with Law Roach, who is a dear friend, and I was like, ‘What if we created a table together where we invite a few up-and-coming Black designers, have them dress some guests, and we all show up together—so it’s about creating space and opportunity?’ And also, I was going to buy the table myself,” he went on.
“Of course, everyone looked great, but I felt like that night opened up a dialogue about amplifying underrepresented voices and talent … If you think about where we are in the world—and particularly in the States, in terms of people pulling back on diversity—I think this Met Gala sends a really strong message that we must continue to celebrate and elevate Black history.”
