Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion and long-time fashion icon, was one of the co-chairs for this year’s Met Gala. More than anyone on the Red Carpet, Hamilton embodied the theme of the night: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Everything,right down to his cuff links, was loaded with symbolism, paying homage to black history.
In the Vogue cover story, Hamilton explained:
“My stylist, Eric McNeal, and I have been thinking about how I’m going to turn up at the Met Gala,” Hamilton said in his Vogue cover story. “We’re both very thoughtful and intentional when it comes to fashion, and I hope that everyone else attending is compelled to really research and think deeply about what they’re wearing.” No detail went overlooked in the driver’s symbolism-heavy look. “We spent three months on research and two months bringing it to life. Nothing about it was rushed,” McNeal tells Vogue. “So much care went into this look. What makes it special is that it’s not just about fashion—it’s about meaning.”
The Harlem Renaissance proved a jumping-off point, “especially Cab Calloway and the way he used clothing to express confidence, charm, and something entirely new,” said stylist McNeal of the jazz singer and bandleader.
“Lewis really wanted there to be a reason and a story behind every detail,” McNeal says.
We’ll break it down:
The cowrie shells on his sash are a protective talisman in African culture, while his ear cuffs, cuff links, and baobab-inspired brooches ( made in collaboration with SNOW Diamonds) contain garnets, referencing his January birth date, among white and amber emerald-cut diamonds.
And his cuff links, shaped like the Whirligig African Daisy, were loaded with symbolism. “[They] felt like a beautiful metaphor for growth, memory, and African heritage,” McNeal says.
But it’s his superfine beret that is most associated with Black liberation movement, which capped off his outfits and served as the most powerful accessory.