Chainmail Chronicles: How Bella Hadid’s Galliano Moment Links to Cannes ’97
In a dazzling display of vintage fashion appreciation, supermodel Bella Hadid has once again proven her sartorial prowess by resurrecting a piece of red carpet history. Following a casual morning filming the popular YouTube series Chicken Shop Date, Hadid transformed for her Orebella fragrance launch in the UK, selecting a piece that fashion historians immediately recognized as significant.
The glittering silver chainmail creation from John Galliano’s fall 1997 collection—complete with a plunging V-neckline, asymmetrical hemline, and intricate metallic rosette embellishments—made its return to the spotlight after nearly three decades in fashion hibernation. The dress first captivated audiences when model Hedvig Marie Maigre presented it on the runway, but truly became cemented in fashion lore when actress Milla Jovovich selected it for the premiere of Luc Besson’s sci-fi masterpiece “The Fifth Element” at the 50th Cannes Film Festival.
Hadid’s styling brought modern sensibility to the archival piece, pairing it with a diamond tennis necklace and delicate diamond drop earrings that complemented the dress’s metallic sheen without overwhelming it. Where Jovovich had remained faithful to the runway styling with calf-winding silver sandals, Hadid introduced an elegant reinterpretation with silver Jimmy Choo lace-up kitten heels—a subtle contemporary update that respects the original aesthetic while introducing her signature perspective.
Perhaps most enchanting was Hadid’s romantic hair adornment—an array of fresh white roses tucked into her dark tresses—adding an unexpected softness to the metallic armor-like quality of the chainmail. This juxtaposition of hard and soft elements encapsulates the duality that has made Hadid such a compelling fashion figure.
The fashion cognoscenti were quick to note the historical significance of the garment. Within moments of Hadid emerging from her hotel en route to the Orebella celebration, social media erupted with side-by-side comparisons of the two iconic moments—Jovovich at Cannes and Hadid in contemporary London—separated by twenty-seven years yet connected through Galliano’s timeless design.
Questions remain about the acquisition of such a significant piece. Fashion sleuths are currently divided on whether the look was orchestrated by a prominent stylist like Molly Dickson, known for her ability to secure archival treasures, or if Hadid herself orchestrated the vintage coup. The source boutique has yet to claim responsibility for providing the historically significant garment.
This latest appearance continues Hadid’s pattern of making thoughtful fashion statements that transcend mere trend-following. The selection demonstrates an appreciation for design history and celebration of fashion’s cyclical nature—qualities that have elevated her beyond conventional supermodel status into a genuine style authority.
As Hadid continues her Orebella fragrance promotional tour, fashion enthusiasts are left wondering what other sartorial treasures she might unearth from fashion’s rich archive. One thing remains certain: Bella Hadid has mastered the art of making fashion history while simultaneously honoring it.
