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.”