Wales Bonner Fashioned Hamilton An Ivory Suit With A Cropped Jacket, High-waisted Trousers With A Tuxedo

Wales Bonner fashioned Hamilton an ivory suit with a cropped jacket, high-waisted trousers with a tuxedo stripe, coattails, and a white bow tie, with an embroidered ivory sash hanging from his waistband. A beret by Stephen Jones Millinery added a final flourish.

- We brought together a range of influences, from Barkley L. Hendricks paintings to Black spiritual dressing and some of the brand’s craft signatures. There are stories told through jewel adornments and special trims, with symbolism in baobab flower motifs and natural materials like cowrie shells and mother of pearl buttons. - Grace Wales Bonner

Wales Bonner lined Hamilton’s sash with cowrie shells—a protective talisman in African culture—while his ear cuffs, cufflinks, and Baobab-inspired brooches (which Wales Bonner made in collaboration with SNOW Diamonds) contain garnets, a nod to his January birthday, amongst the white and amber emerald-cut diamonds. Even his cufflinks, shaped like the Whirligig African Daisy, were loaded with symbolism.

- Lewis really wanted there to be a reason and a story behind every detail. They felt like a beautiful metaphor for growth, memory, and African heritage. - Eric McNeal