New York’s fashion scene got a jolt on April 30 when Hailey Bieber stepped out in a vintage Gucci dress that screamed history. The icy blue shift, a Tom Ford creation from Gucci’s 1998 spring/summer collection, wasn’t just any archival piece—it was the same one Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief and Met Gala co-chair, wore to a U.S. Embassy event in Paris that same year. Bieber’s move, days before the May 5 Met Gala, set tongues wagging about her return to the red carpet.
The Rhode founder was spotted strutting to Manhattan’s Cafe Zaffri, fresh from JFK Airport. Her stylist, Dani Michelle, paired the sleek, body-hugging dress with clear Gianvito Rossi heels and a beige leather clutch from The Row. Bieber tossed in her signature Rhode phone case, complete with a Peptide Lip Tint, and slim black sunglasses for a modern edge. The look was a masterclass in blending ‘90s minimalism with today’s street style. Michelle didn’t let the dress’s backstory go unnoticed—she posted a throwback snap of Wintour in the same Gucci on Instagram Stories, captioning it “icons only.” Bieber reshared it, fueling speculation about her Met Gala plans.
This wasn’t just a fashion flex; it was a calculated nod. The dress, sourced from luxury vintage dealer TheRealList, carries serious cred. Wintour’s 1998 appearance in it alongside the late André Leon Talley, another fashion titan, cemented its place in style lore. The same design popped up in Vogue’s March 1998 issue, shot by Steven Meisel, and a longer version even graced Helen Hunt at the Oscars that year. Bieber’s choice to wear it now, with the Met Gala’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme looming, suggests she’s ready to make waves.
Bieber’s no stranger to the Met steps. She debuted in 2015 at 18, rocking a Topshop dress for the “China: Through the Looking Glass” theme. She returned in 2021 with Justin Bieber, turning heads in a plunging Saint Laurent gown. Her last appearance, in 2022, saw her in a white Saint Laurent halter dress with a feathery cape, months after a health scare involving a mini-stroke. She hasn’t confirmed her 2025 attendance, but her New York sighting—joined by Kendall Jenner in a black leather jacket and ivory trousers—has the fashion world buzzing.
The Met Gala, set for May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will celebrate Black fashion’s influence with a “Tailored for You” dress code. Bieber’s vintage Gucci, with its tailored silhouette, could be a preview of what’s to come. Whether she sticks with Gucci or pivots to another archival gem, her April 30 outing proved she’s got the fashion chops to steal the spotlight.
Bieber was photographed in New York City on April 30, 2025, wearing a 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford dress previously worn by Anna Wintour. The Met Gala is scheduled for May 5, 2025.