Eyewear Lit LACMA’s Luxe Voltage
LACMA Art+Film Gala 2025 was where cinema, couture and eyewear converged in dazzling harmony
The LACMA Art+Film Gala has long stood as one of Los Angeles’s most magnetic cultural events, a night where Hollywood powerhouses mingle with contemporary artists, international fashion icons and tastemakers who define the aesthetics of our time.
But the 2025 edition felt strikingly evolved. Beneath the twinkling lights of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a renewed sense of creative liberation could be felt on the red carpet, one that placed individuality at the forefront. And at the heart of this transformation was a surprising yet delightful protagonist: eyewear.
In an era where accessories have become personal emblems of identity, sunglasses and optical frames didn’t just complement the couture, they became central to the narrative of glamour, experimentation and self-expression.
The Early Trendsetter in Saint Laurent
Among the whirlwind of flashbulbs, Soo Joo Park emerged as one of the night’s most photographed stars, and not just for her striking platinum hair or avant-garde gown. She was also one of the first global celebrities to debut Saint Laurent’s SL 853 Esther sunglasses, a frame that has already begun climbing the charts of “most wanted” accessories of the season.
Sleek, black, and fiercely Parisian, the SL 853 Esther channels a razor-sharp silhouette that blends vintage allure with modern attitude. Minimalist yet dramatic, the frame punctuated Soo Joo’s look with editorial precision. It’s no surprise that within hours of the gala, searches for the style spiked across fashion platforms, firmly positioning the model as a 2025 trend catalyst.
Archival Magic in Twinning Gucci Shields
One of the evening’s most delightful fashion moments came courtesy of filmmaker Nadia Lee Cohen and Slovak singer Adéla Jergová, who arrived wearing matching archival Gucci GG2711S shield sunglasses.
With their sweeping wraparound silhouette and signature horsebit detailing, the frames evoked a sense of fashion nostalgia, one that seamlessly bridged Gucci’s storied past with the present-day renaissance unfolding under Demna.
Their coordinated moment quickly went viral among fashion journalists and social media commentators, sparking fresh conversations about the return of statement shields and the power of archives in contemporary style.
In a sea of modern silhouettes, their retro boldness was a refreshing reminder that great design never expires, it simply cycles back into relevance with renewed vigour.
Drama, Artistry, and the DIOR Touch
Japanese composer Yoshiki, known for blending classical grandeur with rockstar magnetism, brought his signature theatricality to the gala with a pair of DIORB23 S2F 10A0 sunglasses.
The frame, with its cutting-edge Dior craftsmanship and subtly futuristic geometry, framed Yoshiki’s face like a piece of wearable art.
Her appearance underscored a theme running through the night: eyewear as an extension of artistic identity. Just as her music fuses genres with bold fluidity, her glasses fused elegance with edge, creating a visual harmony that resonated perfectly with the creative energy of the gala.
Vintage Opulence Reimagined in Tom Ford
Entrepreneur Evangelo Bousis delivered one of the most distinguished menswear looks of the evening. Wearing Tom Ford’s Jaden TF1017 30E sunglasses in gold with yellow lenses, he channelled a spirit of retro-luxe glamour. The frame balanced richness with restraint, infusing his look with a suave confidence that stood out amid the sea of classic tuxedos.
Tom Ford has long been synonymous with cinematic style, and Bousis’s choice demonstrated why: the right pair of sunglasses can shift a classic look into a statement of unmistakable individuality.
A Playful Hint of Blue on the Carpet
Injecting humour and personality, comedian Matt Friend turned heads with blue-patterned Moscot frames paired with light blue lenses, one of the evening’s most playful eyewear choices. His approach felt refreshingly modern: eyewear not as a performative fashion moment, but as an authentic reflection of character.
For readers who appreciated his playful aesthetic, the Oliver Peoples N.03 OV5527U 1731 offers a refined version of the blue-tinted, contemporary-cool story, perfect for those seeking a statement without sacrificing sophistication.
Ultimately, the 2025 gala showcased more than star power; it revealed how fashion, especially eyewear, continues to shape cultural conversations. In a city where image is both art and currency, the frames seen at LACMA were more than red-carpet adornments; they were narratives, characters and statements in their own right.
With Hollywood’s ongoing creative renaissance, the evening acted as a reminder that the future of glamour lies not in uniformity but in the courage to express one’s unique vision. And that vision will always be seen through the world’s most exquisite lenses.
The New Language of Red-Carpet Individuality
What made the 2025 LACMA Art+Film Gala particularly compelling was not merely the array of glamorous ensembles but how decisively eyewear influenced the visual language of the night.
The red carpet has historically been ruled by couture, but this proved that frames, whether sunglasses or optical, have cemented their place as essential elements of celebrity styling.
Several key themes emerged:
- Nostalgia as luxury: Archival pieces made a triumphant return, proving that fashion history remains fertile ground for modern reinvention.
- Minimalism with power: Sleek, sculptural silhouettes dominated, reflecting a shift toward refined, almost architectural eyewear aesthetics.
- Colour as personality: Tinted lenses, from gold to blue, added emotional tones to outfits, offering subtle storytelling cues.
- Individuality above all: As Hollywood redefines glamour through authenticity, eyewear has become one of the most direct expressions of personal identity.
