Lil Nas X is no stranger to making a fashion statement—particularly on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Last year the rapper (kind of) twinned with Doja Cat and Jared Leto, wearing a creative interpretation of Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette. In 2021, he did not one, but two outfit changes in Atelier Versace. This time around, however, at the 2024 Met Gala, the artist opted for a more subtle—yet still impactful—look by Raul Lopez of Luar.
“This garment is embellished with 50,000 Swarovski crystals that when touched evoke a sensory connection to the past,” Lopez tells Vogue. “The crystal-studded tank top, the petal-like sash, and the intricate network of perfectly pieced-together panels are fragments of a larger whole, held together.” Lopez says he looked to the Met’s “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibition as inspiration, with a vision of garments that had previously laid dormant starting to awaken, their silhouettes blooming. This idea prompted the designer—who is enjoying a high after his most recent show at New York Fashion Week in February was attended by none other than Beyoncé—to construct Lil Nas X’s look with fabric panels all tailored to connect with each other as a second skin fit. The intricate construction also features 2,000 covered buttons that wrap around the artist’s body.
“Just as a flower naturally sheds its petals throughout its life cycle, Lil Nas X sheds his outer coat, unveiling a fresh, new layer underneath,” adds Lopez. You heard that right: even if the look was more demure, it still featured a reveal. Underneath the rapper’s tailored coat was a deconstructed tank top split into a peplum and a pair of wide-legged trousers. Lopez is a conceptual designer with a deft hand for construction, both of which were on display with his latest Met Gala look.
This year’s Costume Institute exhibition is an immersive experience, inviting guests to explore and connect with the museum’s archive through touch, smell, and sound. So it only makes sense that Lopez would create Lil Nas X’s look with a focus on sensory experience—and with a nod to the past. “He evolves and blooms into a new version of himself, exuding the power of fashion to underscore eras in history and chapters in our own lives,” Lopez concludes.
See All of the Celebrity Looks From the Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet:
Met Gala 2024: See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access Here
