Padma Lakshmi traded red carpet glam for park-side practicality—her zip-up jumpsuit at Free Shakespeare’s opening night was part streetwear, part stagehand chic.
Padma Lakshmi knows when to dial it down—and when to make that choice feel like a statement. At the August 21 opening night of Twelfth Night for Free Shakespeare in the Park, held at the Delacorte Theater in New York, Lakshmi arrived in a look that felt refreshingly off-script. No gown. No glitter. Just a light blue jumpsuit and a confident smile, standing tall against a backdrop of arts advocacy and cultural celebration.
Her ensemble—a zip-front, light blue jumpsuit—leaned into utilitarian ease. The fabric appeared to be a soft cotton or lightweight twill, offering structure without stiffness. The silhouette was relaxed but tailored, with a cinched waist and slightly tapered legs that gave the look shape without sacrificing comfort. The zipper detail added a touch of industrial edge, while the monochrome palette kept things clean and cohesive. It wasn’t trying to be fashion-forward—it simply was.
Lakshmi paired the jumpsuit with black shoes, likely low-profile and functional, grounding the look in urban practicality. Jewelry was minimal or absent, allowing the outfit’s simplicity to take center stage. No clutch, no statement earrings—just a woman showing up for the arts, dressed like she might help build the set if asked.
In a season dominated by red carpet maximalism, Lakshmi’s choice felt like a quiet rebellion. It nodded to the growing embrace of celebrity street style as a legitimate fashion language—where jumpsuits, sneakers, and utility wear are no longer off-duty, but on-message. Is this the rise of “civic chic,” where fashion meets function in support of public art?
Never one to shy from shimmer, Justine Skye brought high-octane glamour to the VMAs—her silver gown sliced through the red carpet with unapologetic precision.
Justine Skye knows how to make an entrance—and at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, held September 7 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, she didn’t just arrive, she carved out a moment. In a sea of sequins and sculptural silhouettes, Skye’s look was a masterclass in controlled drama: sleek, sharp, and unmistakably hers.
Skye wore a floor-length silver gown that shimmered like liquid metal under the red carpet lights. The fabric—likely a stretch lamé or sequined mesh—clung to her frame with fluid ease, catching every flash and flicker from the press line. The silhouette was body-skimming, with a daring thigh-high slit that added movement and edge. The neckline was clean, the straps minimal, letting the texture and cut do the talking. While the designer remains unconfirmed at press time, the craftsmanship suggests a label fluent in red carpet seduction—think LaQuan Smith or a custom Michael Costello.
For more red carpet evolutions and high-voltage premieres, explore our archive of celebrity photos .
Padma Lakshmi brought quiet glamour to the TIME 100 Gala—her silver gown shimmered with restraint, letting presence, not embellishment, do the talking.
Padma Lakshmi doesn’t chase trends—she distills them. At the April 24 TIME 100 Gala, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Lakshmi arrived in a look that felt both timeless and quietly radical. In a room filled with global changemakers and media flashbulbs, she chose elegance over excess, and the result was magnetic.
Lakshmi wore a floor-length, sleeveless silver gown that played with sheen rather than sparkle. The fabric—likely satin or silk charmeuse—reflected light in soft, fluid waves, catching the ambient glow of the gala’s sponsor-heavy backdrop. The cut was clean and columnar, skimming her frame with minimal interruption. No ruffles, no train—just precision. The neckline, modest yet sculptural, framed her shoulders with architectural grace. While the designer remains unconfirmed at press time, the silhouette echoed the refined minimalism of designers like Brandon Maxwell or Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera.
She carried a dark clutch—structured, compact, and perfectly scaled to the gown’s simplicity. Jewelry was kept discreet, possibly a pair of studs or a delicate bracelet, allowing the dress to remain the focal point. This was styling that understood proportion and polish.
In a season where red carpet fashion often leans into theatricality—think Met Gala surrealism or Cannes couture—Lakshmi’s look felt like a reset. It nodded to the “quiet luxury” movement dominating runways and celebrity style feeds, where craftsmanship and silhouette trump logos and spectacle. Is this the new red carpet ethos? A shift from statement to substance?
