For the 2025 Met Gala, Maluma harnessed his moment on the steps of the Met to celebrate Colombian pride. It was a night of glamour, but also of reflection on how fashion has the power to directly influence social and cultural change. Speaking to the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and the honoring of Black dandyism, the best looks of the evening revelled in exquisite tailoring and personal storytelling.
Under the “Tailored For You” dress code, the figure of the dandy was honored in a multitude of ways—fellow Colombian J Balvin, for example, wore a brilliantly pink double-peak lapel suit. Maluma found his own dandy story in the mid-1940s, between the Chicano culture and the Pachucos who found their distinct sense of style as a way to occupy space. Maluma arrived dressed in a brocade, mightnight blue and emerald green zoot suit by Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria, who accompanied the singer on the red carpet. (Chavarria also wore a creamy pastel pink suit with sculptural lapels.
“Willy is a genius, he knows how to take classic styles and make them feel brand new, and we knew he would capture this theme perfectly,” Stephanie Escobar, Maluma’s stylist, tells Vogue. When they considered who could dress him, no one made more sense than Willy Chavarría. “The look is inspired by the elegance of the pachuco style, which has deep roots in Chicano and Latinx fashion. It integrates naturally with the spirit of Black dandyism, where impeccable tailoring is a form of identity, resilience and pride. It was important that the styling honored both narratives.”
Amid the Met Gala preparations, Maluma continued to dominate on his tour, and he stayed committed to collaborating with Chavarria and his team on a stellar look.
“Willy’s details were impeccable, from the fabrics to the watch chain,” continues Escobar. She shares that she wanted to include a detail that honored Maluma’s Colombian roots. “Emeralds are Colombia’s national stone, so we incorporated them into the jewelry, including an emerald watch from Jacob Co. and custom emerald and diamond studs from Colombian brand Sileo. It was a subtle, yet meaningful way to tie it all together.”
“The preparation for the Met Gala started weeks ago,” says Maluma. “The moment we confirmed that I would be attending with Willy Chavarria, my stylist and I started working with his team. We collaborated closely to create a look that not only captured this year s theme, but also felt true to both Willy s vision and mine. It was important to design something meaningful, something that authentically represented us.”
What was it like having the opportunity to represent Latino culture in such a vibrant, authentic way? “It’s surreal,” Maluma says. “I was one of the first Latinos invited to the Met Gala a few years ago, and now, to see so many of us here demonstrates the power of our culture in fashion. It’s a proud moment, not just for me, but for our entire community.”
Considering how Latino representation at the Met Gala could shape future Mets, and the worlds of fashion and art beyond, Maluma is reflective. “I think we are already having that impact,” he says. This year I walked alongside one of the most exciting designers of our time: Willy Chavarria, who is Latino and is fully living his moment. I love how he incorporates our culture into every design. Wearing him is an honor and a celebration of where we are going.”
“I wanted to dress a strong and influential Latino to represent the zoot suit of the pachuco era,” says Chavarria. “Maluma was perfect for that because of his elegance and powerful voice.”
Breaking down the look, the designer continues: “Maluma is wearing an Italian cloqué fabric that we had made especially for this night, in a remote region of Italy that specializes in this type of fabric. He is wearing a pachuco suit with jewelry and hat made in Mexico, while everything else was assembled in New York City.”
Both Maluma and Chavarria wore looks heavily inspired by the zoot suit, reference the ’30s-era Pachuco dandy style. “[It’s] associated with resistance in the face of oppression and using the beauty of fashion to make a statement about identity,” the designer says. “The Pachuco look was worn by Black and Latino people as a way to express their identity.”
“Chicano culture has influenced fashion since the 1930s, especially with the baggy suit and pants effect,” explains Chavarria. “We have seen hints of Chicano culture throughout fashion, with influence in skate culture, workwear and many other elements of today’s style.”
Can’t get enough? Us either—Willy Chavarria’s after-party continued the dapper, debonair, and delightfully dandy style late into the evening.
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