When Paloma Elsesser stepped onto the 2025 Met Gala red carpet, she wasn’t just wearing a Ferragamo gown—she was wearing a statement, a celebration, and a deep reverence for history. The theme, “Anthology of Elegance: The Veins of Fashion History,” gave guests a wide spectrum to explore, but Elsesser took a particularly bold route, honoring both designer Maximilian Davis’s creative legacy and the enduring influence of Black dandyism.
A Vision in Scarlet
Styled by Carlos Nazario, Paloma’s custom Ferragamo look was a masterclass in refined extravagance. The deep crimson silk ensemble—a corseted, draped gown with a high structured collar and sculptural hip accents—was clearly modern but echoed 19th-century tailoring traditions. Complemented by a velvet opera cape and vintage Cartier brooches, the silhouette was both sensual and stately, a nod to the precise elegance often associated with dandy figures like George “Beau” Brummell and Harlem Renaissance icons alike.
“It was about capturing that sharpness,” Elsesser shared during an exclusive interview the morning after the event. “Maximilian and I talked about how Black dandyism has always been an act of resistance and artistry. It’s not just about how you look—it’s about claiming your presence.”
Honoring Maximilian Davis’s Vision
Davis, Ferragamo’s trailblazing creative director since 2022, has quickly earned a reputation for blending sensual minimalism with a pointed cultural narrative. His Trinidadian-British heritage has informed much of his work, bringing new dimensions of identity and pride into the DNA of the storied Italian house.
“Max is redefining what European luxury means,” Elsesser said. “He’s carving space for Black stories in fashion with a kind of grace and strength that I deeply admire. Wearing his design at the Met felt like wearing armor and poetry at the same time.”
The collaboration between Elsesser and Davis was intimate and intentional. According to Ferragamo insiders, the design process involved deep dives into archival imagery of 19th-century Black dandies, West African ceremonial dress, and the tailored glamour of 1980s London nightlife. The result was a look that transcended fashion and became a cultural artifact.
The Met Gala as a Platform for Representation
Over the years, Elsesser has consistently used her platform to push conversations around size inclusivity, race, and representation in fashion. Her Met Gala presence this year continued that trajectory—not just in who she wore, but why she wore it.
“There’s this idea that elegance and extravagance belong to a narrow few,” she said. “But Black folks have been reinventing what it means to be elegant for centuries. From zoot suits to Savile Row tailoring, that spirit is global and it’s deeply personal.”
With her look, Elsesser paid homage not just to the past, but to a present and future where fashion is an instrument of storytelling. She described the night as “a love letter to the ancestors, to Black queer brilliance, to style as defiance.”
A Look That Lives Beyond the Red Carpet
As the Met Gala fades from headlines and Instagram feeds, Elsesser’s Ferragamo ensemble stands out as more than a fleeting fashion moment—it’s a cultural gesture wrapped in silk, velvet, and pride.
“I want young Black people to see themselves in this moment,” she concluded. “To know that style isn’t something you fit into—it’s something you expand.”
And with that, Paloma Elsesser did what she does best: shifted the lens, reclaimed the narrative, and made history—one meticulously crafted look at a time.
