The Ultimate Archive Moment: Delilah Hamlin Wears Her Mother’s Vintage Red Carpet Gucci
In a moment that brilliantly exemplifies the cyclical nature of fashion and the unique privileges of Hollywood lineage, Delilah Belle Hamlin delivered one of the evening’s most authentic interpretations of vintage glamour at the 2025 GQ Men of the Year Awards. The model and actress—daughter of Real Housewives icon Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin—raided her mother’s enviable archive to stunning effect, emerging in the very same Gucci gown Rinna wore to the Carousel of Hope Ball in Los Angeles nearly three decades ago.
The “’90s Hollywood Red Carpet” theme proved to be Hamlin’s sartorial playground, and she rose to the occasion with literal precision. While other attendees interpreted the era through contemporary lenses, Hamlin’s approach was refreshingly direct: she pulled from an actual ’90s Hollywood red carpet moment, creating a meta-commentary on fashion, nostalgia, and generational style that felt both reverent and entirely modern.
The white Gucci creation itself is a masterclass in ’90s minimalism meets maximalist impact. Delicate spaghetti straps provide architectural support for the gown’s most striking feature—dramatically open sides that create tantalizing peekaboo gaps, revealing strategic glimpses of skin while maintaining sophisticated restraint. A thick white belt, woven ingeniously around the back of her waist to the front, cinches the silhouette and provides structural definition that flatters without constricting.
Hamlin’s styling choices demonstrated keen understanding of period-appropriate aesthetics. White strappy platform heels—quintessentially ’90s in their chunky, unapologetic construction—grounded the look with authentic era detail. Her bleached blonde hair, cropped into a sleek pixie cut and styled in a slicked-back configuration, channeled the androgynous edge that defined the decade’s most memorable beauty moments. The effect drew immediate comparisons to fellow showbiz legacy Miley Cyrus, whose own evolving aesthetic has similarly played with gender fluidity and rock-and-roll rebellion.
Her makeup approach balanced restraint with strategic drama: metallic eyeshadow added dimension and light-catching shimmer, while a soft pink pout injected warmth and youthful energy. A dainty gold necklace provided the only additional adornment—a wise choice that allowed the gown’s dramatic cutouts and architectural construction to remain the focal point.
What makes this moment particularly resonant is its genuine authenticity. In an era where “vintage-inspired” often translates to mass-produced approximations, Hamlin’s choice to wear her mother’s actual archival piece speaks to a deeper understanding of fashion preservation and family legacy. The gown has witnessed history, graced red carpets, and now experiences renewal through a new generation—a tangible connection between past and present that transcends mere trend-chasing.
As one of two daughters born to Rinna and Harry Hamlin—her younger sister Amelia Gray has carved her own path as a successful model—Delilah understands the unique position she occupies within Hollywood’s ecosystem. Rather than shy away from her “nepo baby” status, she embraces it with intelligence and self-awareness, transforming potential criticism into compelling fashion narrative.
Her GQ appearance proves that sometimes the best styling solution lies not in current collections, but in the treasures already hanging in your mother’s closet.
