Lewis Hamilton's best Black dandy outfits as he preps to co-chair the Met Gala tomorrow - and Anna Wintour dispels major myth about her role

Daily Mail​

04-05-2025

A-listers are getting ready to attend one of the biggest events in the celebrity calendar - the Met Gala.
Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on the first Monday in May, this year's theme is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style and the dress code Tailored for You.
The annual event orchestrated by Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, celebrates the Costume Institute's spring exhibition, which this year centres around the political and aesthetic constructs of Black dandyism.
The showcase, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, opens to the public on May 10 until October 26. It is based on Monica L. Miller's 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
The theme will 'illustrate how Black people transformed from being enslaved and stylized as luxury items, acquired like any other signifier of wealth and status, to autonomous self-fashioning individuals who are global trendsetters'.
Every year, the Met Gala has different co-chairs, who host the event. This year, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, actor Colman Domingo, rapper A$AP Rocky and musician, record producer and Louis Vuitton men's creative director Pharrell Williams are all on the roster. American basketball player LeBron James will also be acting as honorary chair.
Lewis has been praised for his style by many, and has sported a number of Black dandy-style ensembles over the years.
These outfits can be characterised as flamboyant, with the wearer wanting to look good, as well as make a statement regarding individuality and identity.
The 40-year-old Formula One driver is considered to be a major player when it comes to the fashion world, and he often dons eye-catching outfits in the paddock at F1 events, as well as during other high profile outings.
Talking about his style in an interview with Vogue, the athlete once said: 'Fashion is about freeing yourself - it's about self-expression; it's about you; it's about slowly, over time, evolving and learning more about yourself and what you like and how you want to show up - how you want to be seen. What makes you feel great? It's a great feeling when you put on a piece of clothing and throw your shoulders back and are just like: I feel great today. That's what fashion does.'
Among his eye-catching outfits is one he wore at the Spanish grand prix on June 2, 2023.
Lewis, who often wears monochromatic ensembles, donned a lime green Versace shirt, pairing it with matching straight legged trousers, which had a close fit.
He finished off the look with black Versace boots and black sunglasses.
A month earlier, he had shown off his style at the Monaco Grand Prix, stepping into the paddock in an ensemble from Dries Van Noten.
This time, he mixed his colour palette, wearing a pink oversized American football-style jersey with a red print, and baggy cargo trousers with a floral print.
As he often does, he accessorised with a pair of black sunglasses. His white trainers were from Prada.
During the same event, he opted for one of his single-colour looks, dressing in yellow from head-to-toe in a co-ordinating loosely fitted top and trousers.
He wore box fresh white trainers, and silver framed sunglasses.
He stepped out again looking stylish at the Monaco Grand Prix that year, this time opting for co-ords from Louis Vuitton's spring 2023 collection.
Lewis paired an oversized shirt made from a lace-style fabric, and boasting embroidered flowers, with matching baggy trousers.
He again grabbed a pair of sunglasses, and finished off the look with white and beige trainers.
A month later, while taking a stroll during the Spanish GP in June 2023, the athlete wore co-ords once more.
This time, he opted for linen pieces from Umit Benan. His cream trousers and shirt featured a striped print.
Once again, he accessorised with white trainers and sunglasses - this time he sported a pair with a chunky pale blue frame.
At the Monaco Grand Prix a year later, in May 2024, Lewis opted for one of his most eye-catching outfits.
Though dressed all in black, his outfit features feathers and sparkle, meaning he stood out.
In June 2024, Lewis had all eyes on him at the Grand Prix of Canada, wearing baggy blue stonewashed jeans which had been distressed, and pairing them with an oversized silver sequinned hooded sweatshirt.
Several months later, in October, stepping out ahead of the Grand Prix of United States in Texas, Lewis sported a custom Marc Jacobs heavy cable-knit zip-up cardigan.
He wore an oversized floral badge pinned onto the chest of the top, which he paired with oversized beige cargo trousers.
The F1 driver wore sunglasses (with a black frame) and finished off his look with a pair of brown suede boots.
This year, while at the F1 Grand Prix of Australia in March, Lewis again wore a monochromatic look - this time in black.
He was snapped while wearing the The Marino Jacket by Jacquemus with matching trousers.
Lewis accessorised with Mega Wayfarer sunglasses from Rayban, and Western Boots by Ernest W. Baker.
Looking at some of the athlete's ensembles from several years ago shows that he has long been confident about his style, and about pushing the boundaries when it comes to fashion.
MELLOW YELLOW: Lewis was certainly no wallflower when he appeared at the French Grand Prix in July 2022
Among his most notable outfits is one he stepped out in ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in July 2022, pairing a bright blue knitted jumper with matching trousers and fresh white trainers. Lewis accessorised with a matching knitted bucket hat and looked effortlessly cool in a pair of gold rimmed sunglasses.
That same month and year, he wore another co-ordinating outfit, opting for a £290 yellow vest and £315 trousers by Homme Plissé Issey Miyake as he strolled around the famous Circuit Paul Ricard on July 23. He completed his summery look with chunky black boots.
The star wore one of his most memorable outfits in October 2021, when he again opted for a co-ordinated set, pairing a blue and black Burberry kilt with a matching top and trousers by Burberry.
The racing driver wore a blue and black coat as he wrapped up warm in the multi-layered ensemble as he emerged in the cooler autumn weather, and accessorised with a black crossbody bag.
He paired the look with Bottega Veneta's Tire Boots in Black Plum colour, which ring in at an eye-popping £905.
Earlier that year, during the Austrian Grand Prix in July, Lewis sported a purple cargo-inspired ensemble by Fendi and a pair of boots by Bottega Veneta - with the outfit ringing in at a cool £1,965.
Lewis's ensemble comprised of Kenzo's Multi Pocket Jacket, which was originally priced at £675 before being slashed to £405, and matching Apron Trousers, which originally cost £385 before being reduced to £231.
He paired the look with Bottega Veneta's Tire Boots in Black Plum colour, which ring in at an eye-popping £905.
While at the Italian Grand Prix in September 2021, Lewis once again showed off his love of a co-ordinating set, wearing a bold black co-ord with a multi-coloured hummingbird print. The racer teamed the look with chunky, lace-up boots and tucked his hair into a black beanie.
A month later, Lewis channelled the Nineties as he stepped out in Paris during the city's fashion week in October 2021. He sported a pale blue distressed denim jacket and jeans, paired with a pristine white vest top, and box fresh white trainers.
When it comes to what the fashion-loving athlete will wear for the Met Gala, that remains to be seen - and despite the persistent rumour that Anna Wintour knows ahead of time what everyone will don, even she is in the dark about what he plans to wear.
Speaking ahead of the event, Anna Wintour dispelled the idea that she okays everyone's ensembles.
When if she has prior knowledge of what outfits to expect, during an appearance on Good Morning America, she responded: 'No. Many [attendees] call and ask our advice, so we try and help some of them as best we can. Some, no idea.'
She revealed that she has seen co-chair Colman Domingo's outfit (and called described it as a 'work of art').
Anna also admitted that she doesn't know what Lewis Hamilton will be wearing, saying: 'I'm not sure I entirely believe him, [when he] says he doesn't have a picture [of his ensemble]...[but] I trust Lewis. Lewis totally knows what he's doing.'