Celebrities at the Gold House 2025 Gold Gala
Gold House hosted its fourth annual Gold Gala with the kind of glittering glamour and cultural power only a celebration of the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders could deliver. With gold as the loosely interpreted dress code (emphasis on loosely), the stars came dressed for a night of sparkle, symbolism, and sartorial statements. Some played into the theme with head-to-toe gilded glamour, others swerved in their own direction—but as always, there’s plenty to unpack.
Style Pivot
Laufey, who received the Billboard Gold Music Honor, surprised us in the best possible way by stepping outside her usual lace-and-lullabies aesthetic with this gold-embellished Huishan Zhang Claudette gown. Known for her delicate ‘Laufeycore’—think bows, ruffles, and vintage romance—this felt like a grown-up pivot into gilded glamour, but still anchored in her signature softness. The silhouette was statuesque, the embellishment baroque-level ornate, and those pearl accents woven into her hair? Pure poetry.
Underboob
Megan Thee Stallion, honoured with the One House Award for her cultural impact via the Mamushi music video, showed up in full force wearing a custom look by Chinese designer Quine Li. This wasn’t just a red carpet moment—it was a body-as-sculpture masterclass. The architectural lines, and the mandarin collar elevated through a lens of industrial artistry, we can’t fault, but the unapologetic flash of underboob—signature Megan. It balanced power and precision without losing an ounce of her signature heat. I’m surprised that I don’t dislike this. She’s completely sold this to me.
Spring has sprung
Mindy Kaling was all smiles in a strapless floral Anita Dongre dress that radiated joy. The column silhouette kept things sleek, while the print screamed spring. Sweet, and cheerful.
Style Pivot Part II
Auli’i Cravalho, honoured with the Gold Ensemble Award for Moana 2, dialled down the quirk and turned up the elegance. Known for her experimental choices, this Naeem Khan moment was surprisingly classic: a pale blue dress covered in a constellation of blue, silver, and gold embroidery.
Pitch Perfect
Brenda Song wore a beige Oscar de la Renta strapless gown offered the kind of waist-snatching structure and delicate floral appliqués that are red carpet gold (pun intended). It wasn’t the loudest look of the night, but it was pretty and perfectly pitched for the event.
A sheer thing in a sombre shade
Chloe Kim’s Vera Wang gown brought drama in terms of silhouette and sheerness, but the black felt like a downbeat note for such a celebratory affair. It’s a stunning piece, no doubt, but perhaps more suited to a wintry evening than this sunlit celebration of achievement.
Golden Girl
Chrissy Teigen ditched the usual drama of tulle mountains or slinky barely-there pieces for a much sleeker silhouette in a scalloped gold Oscar de la Renta dress. Yes, we’ve seen it before—Joey King did it in metallic pink—but this version felt fresh on Chrissy. She looked modern, refined, and refreshingly different from her usual red carpet routine.
From the EMPIRE WAIST DOWN
Courtney Eaton took a risk in a shredded yellow tulle McQueen Spring 2025 gown, covered in banshee silver embroidery. The colour was divine—sunny, electric, eye-catching. From the empire waist down, this was magic. But the bodice left me unsure.
tailored, not trailing
While everyone else was swishing in floor-length gowns, Hayley Kiyoko arrived in a sleek tailored Weisheng look, complete with a cape and a jewel-accented sleeveless white shirt. It was cool, contemporary, and proof that you don’t need a train to make a statement.
Wintery Fabric Choices Were Made
Jeannie Mai looked striking in her Prabal Gurung Fall 2024 strapless gown, but the leather and shearling combo left me sweating in sympathy. The dress is gorgeous, no doubt, but those fabrics feel like a mismatch for a warm, springtime celebration.
Déjà vu—but better with pearls
Jessica Wang wore the same Antonio Grimaldi Couture gown previously seen on Victoria Justice at the Billboard Women in Music event, but elevated it with a heart-shaped pearl clutch. Sometimes, a great design deserves a second spin.
Legendary Diva Energy
In true Kimora Lee Simmons fashion, she brought full glam in a green sequined strapless gown. It was vibrant, high-shine, and exactly what you expect from someone who’s been serving showstopping looks since Baby Phat ruled the runway.
Houston, we have a shoe problem
Lilly Singh looked ready to beam up in her sci-fi inspired Amit Aggarwal look—sharp, sculptural, and futuristic. The gloves added a bit of theatrical flair, but the shoes threw things off. They felt like an afterthought in an otherwise considered look.
The sea called, it wants its goddess back
Liza Soberano stunned in a mint green Zhaoyi Yu gown with an architectural skirt that brought to mind deep-sea creatures in the best possible way. It was elegant, fluid, and a standout silhouette.
Puffer or power move?
Poorna Jagannathan wore a classic architectural Gaurav Gupta Fall 2023 Couture gown in rich chocolate brown, complete with a dramatic puffer-style cape. It was bold and I’m sure divisive—I’m hovering between awe and confusion—but she wore it with full conviction.
Minimalist with a question mark
Sandra Oh chose ease in an ivory Kallmeyer Fall 2025 dress that leaned into minimalism. It was clean and effortless, but some might feel possibly too low-key and a little unflattering for a red carpet that embraced theatricality.
Drama sleeves, achieved
Shay Mitchell shimmered in a gold and white Cong Tri gown, with ruffled sleeves adding an extra touch of movement and drama. She looked every inch the golden queen.
Seen it before
Stephanie Suganami wore the same Colleen Allen dress that Saoirse Ronan gave life to last year, proving that great design holds up to an encore.
Raise the hem, save the look
Sunisa Lee glowed in her Andrew Kwon off-the-shoulder white gown, but a few inches off the hem would’ve made a world of difference. Elegant? Yes. Tailored to perfection? Not quite.
From gilded goddesses to avant-garde experiments, the Gold Gala 2025 gave us a rich blend of aesthetics, cultures, and creativity. Not every look hit the gold standard, but there was certainly plenty to celebrate. Who was your favourite?
FTC Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I may receive commissions when you click links and make purchases. However, this does not impact my reviews.
