LaQuan Smith Talks Halle Berry's Sheer Gown, Ciara's Dress at the 2025 Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala was like no other in the history of the event. It was always going to be this way, given the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme which uniquely focused on menswear and Black culture. This year's first Monday in May also marked the most the event has ever raised. On the carpet, it seemed like independent designers had the opportunity to shine more than ever before, especially compared to years when legacy houses dominated the conversation. Such was true for LaQuan Smith, a New York-based designer who dressed Ciara, Halle Berry, and Jordan Roth.

"As soon as I learned the theme, my mind immediately went to the idea of self-expression through power and poise. I thought about the women I dress and how they command attention not just through what they wear, but how they wear it," Smith told L'OFFICIEL over email. "I started thinking about duality: softness and strength, glamour and edge, past and future. That led me to reinterpret classic silhouettes with modern twists, luxurious fabrics, meticulous craftsmanship, and bold detailing. For me, it’s always about reimagining femininity through confidence."

Smith certainly made that duality come to life on the carpet. On Berry's semi-naked dress, for example, stripes of sheer fabric contrasted opaque lines of sequins running longitudinally on her body. On former L'OFFICIEL cover star Ciara's gown, shining details smartly complemented more matte materials. With any custom look, it's usually true that there's more than what meets the eye, thanks to incredible craftsmanship. This was the story of Monday night, from Pharell's intricately detailed Louis Vuitton suit jacket covered in 15,000 pearls (that looks rather tame at first glance) to Smith's sparkly creation for Berry.

"The Japanese black bugle beads on Halle's dress, for example, gave this almost liquid armor effect sexy but commanding," the designer said. "I loved playing with sheer textures and luxurious stretch mesh that hugs the body just right. It’s about creating a visual tension revealing and concealing so every step, every movement feels like a moment."

What inspired these looks more profoundly than simply the innovative mixing of materials? His grandmother and cinema, Smith revealed. "My grandmother was my first muse, and I still pull from her old photos—how she styled herself, how she carried herself," he added. He was also inspired by the James Bond movies and re-watched them, along with some classic Harlem Renaissance films. (Law Roach also made headlines for how he used inspiration from cinema to add layer to Zendaya's look from the 2025 Met Gala.)

It should be no surprise that Smith's looks for the 2025 Met Gala embodied this level of sultriness and sophistication. Take a look at any of the designer's past runway shows and collections, and you'll find this energy is not just a through line in his work but why celebrities and power players keep wearing his clothes, be it former Vice President Kamala Harris, Chloe Bailey, or Kelly Rowland. 

The designer, who stayed at the Park Lane New York hotel for the big night, shared his sketches of the celebrities' looks ahead of the event, which he drew on his Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

"Technology has completely reshaped the way I approach fashion. Just like the industry, it moves fast and I’ve learned to evolve with it. My partnership with Samsung Galaxy has pushed my process to a whole new level. Whether I’m sketching an idea that just popped into my head, or capturing a moment in the studio, I’m constantly using tech to move the vision forward," he added, before dishing on his favorite features like the Sketch to Image tool.

After stunning the Met Gala carpet and enjoying the party inside, the designer made his way downtown to the Lower East Side, where he took over three floors at Ludlow House to host a black tie soirée for his own after party.

Keep scrolling to see Smith on the carpet alongside Van Hunt and Berry.