The Met Gala may be fashion’s biggest night — but for certain attendees, the highly exclusive event can be something more: a reunion, a marketing opportunity, or maybe just a chance to share your love with the world on one of the biggest stages imaginable. Take singer Sam Smith and designer Christian Cowan, who have been dating since 2023 and, this year, made their mutual debuts at the swank party. Arriving to the event hand-in-hand, the couple brought their radiant love to the red carpet, turning the glitzy gala into a certified lovefest.
For the occasion, the pair (appropriately) matched in contrasting Christian Cowan suits. Cowan wore a sharp white tuxedo, accented by a solid gold rose that sat comfortably at the bottom of his jacket. Smith, meanwhile, took the inverse route, going for an all-black tuxedo — and to give the traditionally masculine silhouette a feminine touch, overlaid it with a sheer chiffon skirt. Like their partner, Smith also wore an encrusted rose, though theirs came in striking sterling silver.
There’s a romantic story behind the rose accessories. While on the carpet, Cowan noted that the jewel-encrusted flowers call back to the beginning days of their relationship. “Early on in our days, I gave Sam a metal-plated rose,” the designer said. “So it was a nod to that moment.”
According to Vogue, Cowan got his inspiration for the rest of the look after reading J.G. Ballard’s “The Garden of Time,” which gave the night its theme. “We immediately looked towards old-world tailoring,” the designer told the magazine of his initial ideas for their matching red carpet ensembles. On the carpet, he added that Oscar Wilde, “a queer icon,” was a key influence, noting that the famed writer was a natural reference given that he and Smith are “both queer and British.” And perhaps most interestingly, Cowan noted that the roses worn on their respective tuxedos are actually real, and not just items created from scratch for the look. “The roses are in fact real red roses, then dipped into solid 24-carat gold and sterling silver,” he said.
Both Cowan and Smith look amazing, but Smith, for one, hopes that the fashion industry at large will get better with dressing people of different body types. When asked on the carpet what they’d like from the fashion world in the future, Smith cheekily answered, “Clothes in my sizes in stores.” And with their eye-catching look for tonight’s festivities, it’s clear that designing for people of all sizes can be done. All you need is the motivation to do so — and maybe a little love.
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