Fans of the supermodel Gigi Hadid have jumped to her defence after she faced criticism for her Met Gala outfit.
The 30-year-old arrived on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a gold sequinned dress, featuring drop waist ruching, from the Italian fashion house Miu Miu.
However, Hadid quickly faced criticism for not adhering to the dress code “Tailored For You”, which was inspired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s forthcoming spring exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, focusing on menswear and suit tailoring, with an emphasis on Black dandyism.
While some fans complained on TikTok that Hadid’s look “felt off theme,” many others have defended Hadid for “paying homage to Josephine Baker,” the first black woman to star in a major motion picture film, Siren of the Tropics in 1927.
Meanwhile, other onlookers pointed out that paying homage to Baker didn’t fulfil the theme. “Referencing a Black woman doesn’t mean she’s on theme, even though it’s THE Josephine Baker The theme is Black Dandyism, not just Black history,” said one person, with another adding: “Great for Black history but it isn’t dandy.”
Hadid’s look was styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who was the first Black woman to style an American Vogue cover, as a celebration and homage to the 1951 Balmain dress made by fashion designer Zelda Wynn Valdes for the dancer, actor and singer Baker.
Baker, who shot to fame as a dancer in 1920s Paris, was a famous civil rights campaigner, famously speaking with Martin Luther King Jr at the 1963 March in Washington. She also served as a spy for the French Resistance during the Second World War, using her celebrity status to gather intelligence.
Karefa-Johnson also styled looks worn by Kendall Jenner and Ashley Graham.
Zelda Wynn Valdes was known for designs that shaped, changed and styled the female form. From being trained in her uncle’s tailoring shop during the peak years of Jim Crow segregation, the fashion designer gained a reputation as a seamstress and went on to open her own boutique.
It was there that she defined her signature style of effortless glamour, the art of tailoring and incorporating it into the female form. She designed for Baker and Dorothy Dandridge as well as designed the Playboy Bunny uniform – a nod to dandyism and femininity itself.
Fans have praised Karefa-Johnson and Hadid for the look, with one fan writing online: “Literally one of the only people on theme.”
“We’ve got a winner for tonight,” another commented. “This is why people need to watch the interviews or read the articles explaining the looks because they go into detail how and why it relates to the theme!” said a third.
This wasn’t the only appreciation of Baker at the fashion event this year. Stars including Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Tyler, Quinta Brunson and A$AP Rocky all channelled Baker down the red carpet.
Another star to face criticism for ignoring the theme was Shakira, who wore a bubblegum pink gown with a large sweeping train.
“Beautiful…but not on theme whatsoever,” one person wrote on Instagram in response to the outfit, while another critic dubbed the gown “ridiculous”.
Additional commenters added that Shakira had “missed the assignment”, with one person joking that her pink dress reminded them of Glinda from the stage musical and recent Hollywood film Wicked.
You can find the best dressed stars, including Janelle Monáe, Lauryn Hill and Damson Idris, here.
