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
