When Bella Hadid hits the road, she usually brings a suitcase full of show-stopping high fashion with her. For her trip to Kuala Lumpur this week, the modeling superstar decided to draw on the local resources instead. In town to represent Tag Heuer at a special event yesterday, Hadid and stylist, Mimi Cuttrell selected a piece from Malaysian label Farah Khan. The embroidered tea-length skirt from the designer’s Maitres de l’Art collection channelled the beauty of neo-baroque art, reinterpreting Giorgio de Chirico’s “Deux Chevaux sur la Rivage” into a gilded blend of sequins, silk, and grosgrain ribbon.
Paired with a Vivienne Westwood corset top and strappy black sandals, Hadid’s skirt made for a compelling style statement that introduced her fans across the world to Khan’s creative oeuvre. Born in Singapore but based in Malaysia, the designer represents the best in regional talent. Her couture craftsmanship makes her creations museum worthy: only months before it came to life on Hadid, the skirt was hanging in London’s Halcyon Gallery alongside Khan-designed pieces inspired by the likes of Picasso and Gustav Klimt. It takes takes grace and confidence to move an exquisite look of this kind from the display case to the red carpet, and Hadid pulled it off with aplomb.
