DUBAI: US singer Kelly Rowland attended this week’s Wearable Art Gala in California in a dramatic ball gown by Bahraini label Monsoori.
Founded by designer Shaima Al-Mansoori, the fashion house is known for its larger-than-life red carpet gowns, which have been worn by stars including Jhene Aiko, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Bebe Rexha.
For her part, Rowland showed off a deep red, voluminous gown paired with shoulder-grazing black gloves and diamond jewelry.
It is not the first time the former Destiny’s Child member has opted for an Arab ensemble. In 2021, she appeared on James Corden’s “The Late Late Show” in a burgundy dress covered with ruffled feathers by Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji and in 2018, she stunned at the City of Hope Gala in Santa Monica, California, wearing a dazzling floor-length gown by Kuwait’s Yousef Al-Jasmi.
Fast forward to this week and Rowland was on hand in her Bahraini gown to show support for Tina Knowles-Lawson and Richard Lawson’s Wearable Art Gala, a benefit celebrating the 5th anniversary of the WACO Theater Center through a fine art auction.
Inspired by the aesthetics of the Harlem Renaissance era, stars took to the red carpet in an array of dazzling looks at this year’s event.
“Each year we find a theme that connects us historically with our past,” Richard Lawson told The Hollywood Reporter. “(We explore) the evolution of African culture in the Western world.”
Previous themes have included “The Lion King” and Wakanda, the fictional country depicted in Marvel’s “Black Panther” film franchise. This year, 50,000 square feet of the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Air Center was transformed into a Harlem experience.
Guests — including Beyonce and Jay-Z, Tyler Perry, singers Chloe and Halle Bailey and Vivica A. Fox — arrived in vintage automobiles before actress Keke Palmer kickstarted the ceremony.
“As Black people, we do things differently … everything is with flair,” Knowles-Lawson said. “We are fashion. That’s such a big part of the gala and we wanted to create something where art can occur. We want everything to be art.”
Screen icon Angela Bassett was honored with the Film and TV Icon Award at the event.