Yahoo Lifestyle All the Best Looks from the 2025 Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala
Last night, power players from the fashion and entertainment industries gathered at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles for the fourth annual Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala. Despite a difficult January—which saw many Black communities devastated by the Eaton Canyon wildfires and the Trump administration alike—the event continued its valuable support of Black-owned businesses.
Nigerian-American actress and comedian Yvonne Orji hosted the festivities alongside the organization’s founder, Aurora James, and chairwoman, Emma Grede. They were joined by several A-listers to celebrate the start of Black History Month, as well as the Black excellence demonstrated year-round. As has become tradition, many guests abided by a strict “Black Tie, Black Designer” dress code for the evening—and their looks didn’t disappoint.
Kim Kardashian slipped into a barely-there black leather and chainmail gown, a custom Balmain design by Olivier Rousteing, while chairwoman and fellow Skims co-founder Grede opted for a look from Harbison Studio (as did Kelly Rowland). Teyana Taylor wore a handsome tuxedo suit by LaQuan Smith, and Eva Chen stood out in a red sequined dress by Maximillian Davis for Ferragamo.
The party kicked off with cocktails at Paramount’s famous New York Street backlot. Guests danced along to music by Mickalene Thomas and MAAD as they browsed the Block Party storefront, which gave them an opportunity to shop from Black-owned brands including Ghetto Gastro, L’Enchanteur, Diotima, and Christopher John Rogers.
After shopping and appetizers, golf carts transported the crowd to a sound stage, which had been transformed for the evening’s dinner. As guests took their seats, Ciara took the stage to present the first of many honors that night: Through the Altadena Honoree Grant, the Pledge made a $50,000 donation to Little Red Hen Coffee Shop owner Barbra Shay. The money will support Shay and her family’s efforts to rebuild their business, which was destroyed by the Eaton fire.
Other honors included the Sephora Beauty Grant, received by Sienna Naturals co-founders Hannah Diop and Issa Rae, as well as the Achievement Award, which Fifteen Percent Pledge founder Aurora James presented alongside Kelly Rowland to three businesses: RedDrop, Brooklyn Tea, and Bernard James, whom the gala attendees had voted for over the course of dinner.
Of course, the fabulous fashion of the night deserves its own spotlight too. Below, Here, all the best red carpet looks from the 2025 Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala.
Keke Palmer
In Sergio Hudson SS25 RTW.
Tina Knowles
Kelly Rowland
In Harbison Studio.
Kim Kardashian
In custom Balmain by Olivier Rousteing.
Precious Lee
In custom Theophilio.
Eva Chen
In Maximillian Davis for Ferragamo.
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