Why Colman Domingo Dresses ‘To Make People Feel a Certain Way’

Or it could trigger them, and they’re like, “Oh, I don’t know about that.” But I feel like that’s the point of it, too: conversation.

I think that that’s why people respond to the Met the way that they do. For one night, everyone gets to become a critic in a fun way.

Absolutely. They’re very clear about what they like. I love that it’s a convergence of so many people in popular culture, and then everyone’s having their own personal expression and everyone’s got an opinion about it. It’s like sports. It is the Super Bowl of fashion.

One of the greatest things that I like right now is as an openly queer man, 55 years old, I have young boys, girls, macho dudes all admiring me. They’re like, “Oh, I love you. I want to dress like you. I wish I could. I think I could.” I’m inspiring generations of men to be like, “Yeah, I want to put that shit on too.” I feel like I have a whole league of people that I’m inspiring, and I see it, and I see the effect. I will take some credit in this interview, for sure.

Please do.

Listen, nobody was wearing hot pink until I wore hot pink Versace in 2021 at that Oscars. And suddenly, it became a thing. Suddenly, it was like everybody was wearing hot pink. And then, I think Valentino did a hot pink collection right after that too. They think, oh, it was a representation of queer culture.

I’m like, “Not at all, actually. It was actually my references to Prince and The O’Jays and Teddy Pendergrass, dudes that I grew up with. That was the nod. I said, “You’ve got to think broader than that, than what you see.” So then people said, “Oh, okay. I get it. You’re doing something different.”

Photo: Sekou Luke / Courtesy of Valentino

How are you feeling about hosting the Met Gala?

You know what? If I don’t know anything about myself, I’m an incredible host. I have great parties. I know about lighting and music and guest lists. When Anna [Wintour] invited me to do that, it seemed right on the money. I was so excited. I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I said, “Whatever’s on my schedule, it’s gone.”

I also think that you have such a palpable enthusiasm. Even in the room earlier, I don’t know if most people become that overwhelmed with emotion when they get to try on this beautiful piece created in collaboration with a designer. It’s cool to witness.

Thank you. I don’t take any of this lightly. I’m emotional thinking about it right now because I feel like, where I come from, this is beyond anyone’s dreams. It really is. I’m living in my dreams and doing everything I want to do in every way. The idea that there would be a team of people waiting for you in a room, that was overwhelming. Walking in, it’s like a wedding day or something. That’s why I hugged the head designer and asked questions like, “How many people worked on this and how long did it take?” Because I knew that so many people were hand beading, stitching and draping for weeks, and teams of people.