In defence of muted majesty at the Met



Imaan Hammam Met Gala

Had to hard disagree with Bonnie Morrison (on Fashion People) who asserted that the less ‘colourful’ looks at last week’s Met Gala didn’t meet the brief.

Au contraire!

My favourite looks included Imaan Hammam’s zoot suit-esque realness (by Magda Butrym, above), Tyler Mitchell and Lewis Hamilton quietly commanding attention in ivory Wales Bonner (so much close-up detail to appreciate), and the majestic dark looks from Fear of God’s lucky attendees adorned with well-placed brooches, bracelets and watches. (Props to Tommy Ton for the Fear of God detail shots and portraits.)

In its own way, this was colourful and celebratory, not to mention a thoroughly contemporary, ungimmicky display of Black dandy style.

If Andre Walker walked into any room in that Fear of God get-up, I’m sure every head would turn. In his words: “Crazational!”

Lewis Hamilton in Wales Bonner at Met Gala






Andre Walker for the MET Gala
Andre Walker in Fear of God for the Met Gala
Fear of God at 2025 Met gala

FYI: Wales Bonner’s own regal fine jewellery collection (below) will be available to view at Dover Street Market London from May 15th to June 1st 2025.
Wales Bonner ss25 fine jewellery

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Imaan Hamman; Lewis Hamilton; Tyler Mitchell; Wales Bonner moodboard  2; Andre Walker in Fear of God; Andre Walker in Fear of God x2 by Tommy Tom; Fear of God by Tommy Ton
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

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The gel moisturisers I’ve tried and love



Skin Rocks The Light Moisturiser - a lightweight gel moisturiser

It’s gel moisturiser season and I’m into it.

When the heat rises, gel creams are quick to apply, light to wear and sometimes cooling on the skin. Despite being lightweight, the ones I recommend offer a good level of hydration with their added vitamins, ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Five favourites that I’ve tried and love…

CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE 100H AUTO-REPLENISHING HYDRATOR. First launched in 1988, Clinique’s Moisture Surge (£26 for 30ml) is the gel moisturiser that spawned a thousand blush-pink copycats. Its recognisable colour and bouncy texture may have aesthetic appeal, but its non-clogging formula loaded with vitamins C, D and E, plus hyaluronic acid and calming aloe deliver on results. Buy it here*. There’s also an SPF 25 version (£34 for 50ml). Buy it here*.

BYOMA MOISTURIZING GEL CREAM. Formulated especially to boost the skin barrier, Byoma’s Moisturizing Gel Cream* (£12.99 for 50ml) infused with barrier-boosting ceramides, comforting niacinamide and green tea is an excellent, affordable gel moisturiser. It’s also refillable, and available in an SPF 30 version* (£14.99 for 50ml).

ANTIPODES BAPTISE H2O ULTRA-HYDRATING WATER GEL MOISTURISER. My favourite for hot summers, Antipodes’ plant-based, cooling water-gel moisturiser (£32 for 60ml) is lightly scented with rose and feels thirst quenching on the skin. But it here*.

BOY DE CHANEL FORTIFYING GEL MOISTURIZER. Impossibly chic and practically impossible to find in stores. And yet! It’s worth hunting out Chanel’s lightweight gel-cream from the Boy de Chanel line, (below, $80 for 50ml) for its ultra-light formula containing hyaluronic acid and green coffee to strengthen skin and protect against environmental stressors. A great post-shave men’s moisturiser or women’s pre-make-up prep. Sold out in the UK, but you can buy it here* in the U.S.

Boy De Chanel Fortifying Gel Moisturizer

SKIN ROCKS THE LIGHT MOISTURISER. Finally, brand new and already taking pole position in my bathroom real estate, Caroline Hirons’ Skin Rocks The Light Moisturiser (£58 for 50ml) is a lighter, high-performance addition to the original The Moisturiser hero product. This uber-light summery version has the wobbly jelly texture that I love and its impeccable formula includes a little oil, ceramides and vitamin D to protect the skin barrier and keep hormonal spots in check. Choose from scented or unscented. Buy it here*.

NOW CLICK BELOW TO SHOP THE POST (I MAY EARN A COMMISSION ON THE BASKET VALUE OF ITEMS BOUGHT*)…

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Disneyrollergirl; Boy de Chanel/Disneyrollergirl
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links* and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

CLICK HERE to get Disneyrollergirl blog posts straight to your inbox once a week
CLICK HERE to buy my book, The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman
CLICK HERE to buy my beauty book, Face Values: The New Beauty Rituals and Skincare



Quote of the day: Phoebe Philo for HTSI



Phoebe Philo guest editor How To Spend It

“With so much of our collective experience and social interaction reliant on a digital culture, clothes, for me, represent almost the polar opposite. Clothes are tactile, emotionally resonant, personal and, on so many levels, anything but remote. The person wearing the clothes wears them against their skin. The person designing them is proposing garments that may be life-enhancing, protective, revealing, seductive – arousing many different feelings, both inwardly and outwardly.”
Phoebe Philo, How To Spend It (more…)



Random Recs: Graydon Carter’s crib, Nike RunTown, Sofia Coppola style



Graydon Carter by Jonathan Becker for Architectural Digest

A few snippets of digital ephemera and recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ NIKE RUNTOWN. Happy London Marathon weekend to all who celebrate. Have you got your #runcore look sorted? If not, get down to Nike’s RunTown pop-up concept boutique in Regent Street (below) for your hit of healthy hedonism. On SubStack, Grace Cook unpacks how ‘race look’ went mainstream, from niche brand sponsored community runs to New Balance’s new anti-chunky, aerodynamic running shoe silhouette* built for speed (below). Read more here(more…)