We're saying "I do" to Kid Cudi. On Wednesday night, the rapper and boundary-breaking singer attended the 2021 CFDA Fashion Awards [1] wearing an all-lace bridal look courtesy of designer Eli Russell Linnetz [2], and it all started with a text. The designer, who was honoured by CFDA as a nominee for American emerging designer of the year, told People that he texted Cudi randomly with a photo of a wedding dress [3] asking, "Will you be my bride?" The rapper had zero hesitations, saying, "I trust this man so I was down to take it wherever his mind went."
The stunning bridal look from Eli's ERL label featured a full-body lace catsuit, a matching tulle-filled lace skirt, a white blazer, and a classic veil. Our eyes were immediately drawn to his sneakers, an edgy bride's dream kicks, which were adorned with three brooch-size gems across the laces of each shoe. Cudi took the red carpet hand-in-hand with the Venice Beach-based designer for fashion's biggest night out [4].
In his music, fashion, and conversations about mental health, Cudi shines as his truest self [5], and it's what his fans love him for. His recently released Prime documentary, A Man Named Scott, took viewers on an intimate journey into the struggles he's experienced throughout his career [6] and explored how his music destigmatized topics that were rarely touched upon in hip-hop. Earlier this year, Cudi performed on Saturday Night Live [7] wearing a floral Off-White dress similar to the one Kurt Cobain wore on a 1993 cover of The Face magazine.
While some celebrated Cudi's SNL style choices for degendering fashion, others called out the double standard that exists [8] when a straight, cisgender man embraces femininity and receives praise, while members of the LGBTQIA+ community may be discriminated against for wearing that same dress. Check out photos of Cudi's bridal outfit at the CFDA Awards and feel inspired to add a little edgy comfort to your nuptials.
