If Rihanna is the de facto Queen of the Met Gala — the person everyone waits with bated breath to see swanning down the famous red carpet draped over the museum steps — then it wouldn’t be too big of a stretch to imagine that, in a few years time, Colman Domingo could take his rightful place on the throne as the night’s King. During his whirlwind press tour in support of his Oscar-nominated turn in Rustin, the actor continuously raised the bar for what mens red carpet dressing could look like, whether he was donning a draping Louis Vuitton tuxedo to the Emmys or sporting a mustard Valentino suit with a statement-making crinkly gold coat to the Critics Choice Awards.
For the actor’s post-Oscars visit to the Met Gala, he did not disappoint, opting for a gorgeous, large-lapeled white tuxedo jacket with a sweeping matching cape. Domingo wore it over a striking pair of wide-legged black satin pants. But of course, a look would not be a look without the correct accessories, so to complete his excellent ensemble, the actor piled on the shiny silver jewelry, sporting several flashy rings and bracelets on both hands.
To fit the theme of “The Garden of Time,” based on the J.G. Ballard short story of the same name, Domingo pulled up to the carpet holding a bouquet of white calla lillies, which complemented his cream blazer perfectly. (Those familiar with the story will make the connection to the main character’s obsession with flowers.)
To complete his look, Domingo tapped New York-based designer Willy Chavarria, whose romanticized vision of classic Latino culture has earned him the respect of many menswear enthusiasts over the past couple years (Billie Eilish is a noted fan); last year, Chavarria won the prestigious American Menswear Designer of the Year award at the CFDA Awards. Interviewed on the carpet by Vogue, Domingo said that his look was inspired by 1940s Chicano culture, while also being a nod to the ever-iconic André Leon Talley. (The late fashion icon was a huge advocate of capes.)
Of course, a key part of Domingo’s sartorial appeal has been his willingness to experiment and play — with color, with fabrics, with textures, and with silhouettes. Tonight’s look, with its interplay of contrasts (masculine and feminine; black and white), is no exception. It’s debonair and dapper, easily setting Domingo as one of the best-dressed men of the night. It’s clear that he did not come to play. As he said, “It’s the Super Bowl of fashion and it really feels like the cherry on top.”
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