Some Met Gala 2021 attendees opted to use the “In America” theme to show off their love for classic Hollywood glamour, but for Chance the Rapper, the night was an opportunity to go all the way American and wear Ralph Lauren. But of course, the Chicago native — born Chance Bennett — was sure to shout out his hometown with his look.
In a blazer with symbols that referenced Windy City icons and a few versions of the Polo Ralph Lauren logo, Bennett walked the carpet with his wife, Kirsten Corley, who wore a slinky black dress also designed by the brand. “I’ve obviously loved Ralph and Polo and the stadium stuff since I was young, but as I grew closer with Ralph, over time, he designed my wedding suit and has always been supportive,” Bennett told Vanity Fair. “His whole family is awesome. So when they asked me to do it, I was like, of course.”
Bennett said that he remembered when Tyson Beckford was the face of Ralph Lauren in the 1990s, and it made him consider it a great Black high fashion brand. “It feels like a very full circle moment to be representing Ralph specifically at the Met Gala,” he said. “It’s a crazy combination because I felt so supported by them before, but to represent them in this specific year and it’s about American fashion—it just makes sense. Especially in the way that we’re doing it, because hip hop is American culture and the biggest American culture is hip hop.”
He’s happy to be at such a big event after all the time he’s spent at home. “It feels crazy. I haven’t been to a wedding or a funeral or anything where I wore a suit in a long time,” he added. “Actually, I didn’t even think about that till now, but to come back in this way, it’s like, I will probably never forget this night.”
And while Bennett’s worked with the label on a virtual show in the past, he’s thrilled to be representing them on the carpet. “It is my first ever Met Gala,” Bennett said. “You know, I feel like, like I’ve said before, Ralph has always been the high fashion thing for me but this is a moment that celebrates fashion as a whole and specifically American culture. My suit is made for me and his signature is on the caps, so it’s all a dream come true. It’s a crazy, Cinderella man moment, you know?”
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