Among the attendees was Alesha Dixon, who opted for a daring Albina Dyla braided fringe bodysuit that instantly set her apart.
The GRM Gala returned with its annual celebration of black excellence at the Hurlingham Club in London, drawing an impressive guest list from the worlds of music, sport, entertainment, fashion, philanthropy, and cultural leadership.
Now, once upon a time, this might have been dismissed as too out-there, but fashion has already paved the way for such adventurous textures. Jenna Ortega served up a spooky Elena Velez hair weft appliqué dress for the Wednesday Paris photocall. Rita Ora gave us a hair-weft Ashi Studio Couture gown at the 2024 MTV EMAs, Cate Blanchett tested the waters with a Fiorucci hair-weft top during the Rumours New York Film Festival premiere, and Tilda Swinton leaned into braided surrealism with her Schiaparelli tie at The Room Next Door LA event. Against that backdrop, Alesha’s bodysuit doesn’t seem so shocking—just another page in fashion’s growing book of unconventional materials.
That said, while the craftsmanship is undeniable, the look left me conflicted. My initial instinct was to pair it with leggings for balance, but then the intricate braiding would have lost its impact. In the end, I’ll concede that while this had potential, it simply didn’t land for me. Still, Alesha earns credit for committing to a bold experiment.
