London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

This Week, the Best Dressed Stars Had All the Right References

This Week, the Best Dressed Stars Had All the Right References

Behind every outfit is a story-and this week, they ran deeper than usual.

Fashion may rely on references, but it’s rarely evident on the red carpet, where the designer’s vision often comes second to that of the celebrity and their stylists. The outfit, and how its wearer looks in it, tends to become the story-but this week, the focus was on the history behind their wardrobe choices.

After all, to fully appreciate why someone dressed up, viewers needed a little sartorial subtext. Take Lady Gaga’s transformation into a vintage 1950s chanteuse during her trip to New York, which might seem like a flight of fancy. Still, the singer’s retro moment marked the lead-up to filming an MTV Unplugged set with her Cheek to Cheek collaborator, crooner Tony Bennett. By nodding to the aesthetic of Bennett’s heyday, Gaga paid tribute to one of her heroes while priming the audience for their next round of duets.

Elsewhere, the sartorial subtext continued. At the Cartier Queen’s Cup polo tournament in the U.K., Naomie Harris arrived with an accessory that alluded to Surrealist art. Dressed in a hot pink Schiaparelli column gown with a built-in bustier and sculptural brass buttons, it was Harris’s gold and black tote from Daniel Roseberry’s spring 2021 collection that added that irreverent touch the brand is known for. Each element of the bag’s “face” references one of Elsa Schiaparelli’s collaborators; the asymmetrical eyes are a call back to a brooch Jean Cocteau created for the house in 1937, while the handbag’s bijoux mouth is a nod to Salvador Dalí’s pearl-filled “ruby lips” brooch from 1949.

The week’s most controversial callback goes to Kim Kardashian, who broke the internet by wearing the lacy final look from Barragán’s fall 2020 show to tour the Sistine Chapel with Kate Moss. Given the spiritual significance of the Apostolic Palace and Kardashian’s status as a polarizing public figure, anything she wore was destined to get attention. Still, the context of Victor Barragán’s creation-and its beauty-added depth to what could have been just another wardrobe change during the reality star’s whirlwind tour of Italy. Influenced by the history of the Mexican Inquisition, Barragán used his collection to explore ideas about freedom from patriarchal domination and the power of sexuality. Given those themes, who better than Kardashian to take the look to the streets?

At the BET Awards in Los Angeles, meanwhile, everyone was dressed to the nines. But few could compete with Lil Nas X, whose outré outfits stole the show. While he wore multiple looks over the course of the night, it was Richard Quinn’s embroidered, pearl-encrusted suit that best captured the ceremony’s exuberant mood. A labor of love collection that Quinn crafted during lockdown in London, its excess of embellishment and color was an assertion of optimism, glamour, and the joy of fashion.



WHO: Laura Harrier
WHAT: Louis Vuitton
WHERE: Louis Vuitton Hosts Haute-Joaillerie Dinner at La Vigie in Monaco
WHEN: July 1



WHO: Rebecca Dayan
WHAT: Jacquemus
WHERE: Jacquemus “La Montagne” Show
WHEN: June 30



WHO: Lous and the Yakuza
WHAT: Louis Vuitton
WHERE: Louis Vuitton Hosts Haute-Joaillerie Dinner at La Vigie in Monaco
WHEN: July 1



WHO: Naomi Campbell
WHAT: Gucci
WHERE: The BET Awards
WHEN: June 27



WHO: Lil Nas X
WHAT: Richard Quinn
WHERE: The BET Awards
WHEN: June 27



WHO: Ellie Goulding
WHAT: Olivia Creighton
WHERE: The Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo 2021
WHEN: June 27



WHO: Lady Gaga
WHAT: Giambattista Valli dress and Fendi coat
WHERE: The Plaza Hotel
WHEN: July 1



WHO: Kim Kardashian
WHAT: Barragán
WHERE: Vatican City
WHEN: June 30



WHO: Yvonne Strahovski
WHAT: Brandon Maxwell
WHERE: The Tomorrow War premiere
WHEN: June 30



WHO: Naomie Harris
WHAT: Schiaparelli
WHERE: The Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo 2021
WHEN: June 27

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×