A garage in Kent played a pivotal role in helping Kim Kardashian steal the spotlight at this year's Met Gala. The reality star, aged 45, turned heads on Monday night as she walked the red carpet in New York wearing a striking metallic orange fibreglass breastplate. The finishing touches to this dazzling ensemble were applied by MPS Body & Paint, an auto repair shop located in Lydd.
Martyn Smith, the owner of the garage, was tasked with painting the breastplate for Kardashian before she attended what is widely considered the biggest fashion event of the year. Smith was approached by Keir Malem and Patrick Whitaker, the creators of the outfit, whom he had previously worked with on their cars. The 55-year-old revealed that the job was completed within 24 hours, though he was initially told only that it was for a 'famous person' and was sworn to secrecy until the item was collected.
The breastplate was part of a creation by Whitaker Malem, who collaborated with pop artist Allen Jones. The design was moulded from Jones's 1969 sculpture Hatstand, with the 88-year-old artist painting the attached leather skirt. Kardashian, who is currently dating British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, made two trips to England for fittings, and the entire outfit took three weeks to complete.
Smith admitted that he did not stay up to watch the Met Gala coverage but realised the next morning that the outfit had gone viral. "She wore it fantastically well," he told the BBC. "I thought it looked just as good on her as it did the day I finished it, if not better." In a Vogue livestream, Kardashian explained her choice, saying, "One of my favourite artists, Allen Jones. We took his body plates that he started making in the 60s. This is actually a mould from a model in the 60s… we all worked together."
This is not the first time Kardashian has made headlines at the Met Gala. Previous iconic looks include her fully covered black Balenciaga outfit in 2021 and her controversial 2022 appearance wearing Marilyn Monroe's actual Jean Louis gown.
