dunhill dressed actors James McAvoy and Harris Dickinson for the Met Gala 2023

Last month, dunhill announced that it had appointed Simon Holloway to be the brand's new Creative Director, effective immediately. Last night, we got the chance to see his first expression of intent for the tailoring house at one of the fashion world's biggest events, the Met Gala in New York City (celebrating the new exhibit, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty), via the two looks he created for British actors Harris Dickinson and James McAvoy.

In line (no pun intended) with the theme of this year's exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, these looks paid tribute to the legendary designer, capturing the elegance of Lagerfeld’s early aesthetic and penchant for all things monochrome. According to Holloway, the Count Robert de Montesquiou – a French writer, poet, art collector and famed socialite, and an original source of inspiration for the designer's signature personal style – provided a fitting starting point for him at the beginning of the creative process.

Immortalised in paintings by Giovanni Boldini and James Whistler, design cues were derived from portraits of de Montesquiou, alongside codes from Lagerfeld’s own distinctive wardrobe. The suits for both men were accented by sophisticated details that referenced Lagerfeld's personal style, such as generous lapels, contrast cuffs and layered elements – recalling the flamboyant, hedonistic flair of both figures.

> William Oliver, Chief Brand Officer of dunhill, will be speaking at the upcoming Walpole British Luxury Summit on Monday 15th May 2023. Buy your tickets here.

James McAvoy wore a bespoke midnight blue merino wool and mohair single-breasted evening jacket and tailored evening trousers, white Marcella tailored waistcoat, white cotton voile wing-tip collar shirt, black and white wide silk polka dot tie and black handmade jodhpur boots. 

Discreetly embroidered initials, just above the lefthand jacket pocket, reference Lagerfeld’s own love of personalisation, whilst a half-spread point collar shirt and chalkstripe fine Worsted wool tie further mirror his likeness. The look is finished with a Cartier Tank Must watch and pair of Cartier Tradition Ecus Comptes clip-brooches from 1935.

To complete the look, James wore a Panthère de Cartier pocket jewel, new Reverso Tribute Chronograph by Jaeger-LeCoultre and carried a black handmade wooden fan – a spirited nod to one of Lagerfeld’s signature accessories.

Harris Dickinson (who you might have seen recently starring in the Oscar-nominated film, Triangle of Sadness) wore a custom black barathea double-breasted jacket, tailored waistcoat and evening trousers, paired with a white half-spread point collar shirt in needlepoint striped poplin, black chalkstripe fine Worsted wool tie and black handmade evening Oxford shoes. A Cartier Tank Must watch and pair of Cartier Tradition Ecus Comptes clip-brooches completed the look.

"It is an honour to celebrate Karl Lagerfeld – one of the greatest designers of our generation," said Holloway. "His integrity, ground-breaking vision and innovative approach echoes the pioneering nature of our founder Alfred Dunhill, and it has been inspiring to explore his rich and extraordinary legacy.

"To dress Harris and James for this special occasion is a privilege. Two magnetic leading men who embody a refined masculine elegance, they truly reflect the values of the House today."