The breakout star’s GapStudio gown wasn’t just a red carpet moment, it was a love letter to fashion history

Chase Infiniti turned heads at the 2026 BET Awards in a custom GapStudio creation that did far more than dazzle, it told a story decades in the making. The One Battle After Another breakout chose a Zac Posen-designed gown rooted in nostalgia, proving that the best fashion statements often look backward to move forward.

A Sweater Reborn

The piece drew direct inspiration from Gap’s archival Happy Stripe sweater, first introduced during the brand’s Holiday 2000 campaign. Rather than recreating the knit outright, Posen and his team reimagined it through a photorealistic digital print, capturing the original’s color, texture and dimension while shifting the fabric entirely. The result was an ultra-lightweight, soft stretch mesh that felt worlds away from its cozy sweater origins yet unmistakably tied to it.

The long-sleeve, form-fitting silhouette hugged Infiniti’s frame before opening into a diamond cutout at the waist, finished with a short train that added drama as she moved across the carpet.

The Vision Behind GapStudio

For Posen, the design was about honoring Gap’s most recognizable codes while pushing them somewhere unexpected. He described the Happy Stripe as instantly recognizable, optimistic and full of personality, and explained that translating it into a photo-real print on sheer mesh let the design keep its original spirit while becoming something entirely new. He noted the gown essentially merges two defining sensibilities of the ’90s into a modern summer silhouette, one that still reads as effortlessly Gap.

Posen added that watching Infiniti debut the print on the red carpet felt like the ideal launch for the concept, crediting her confidence and modern sensibility for making the design feel current.

Effortless Glam to Match

Infiniti’s beauty look leaned into the same understated-meets-elevated energy as her gown. Makeup artist Amber Dreadon kept her glam soft and luminous, while hairstylist Coree Moreno opted to let her natural texture shine rather than over-styling it. Stylists Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald rounded out the look with statement earrings, giving the ensemble just enough sparkle without overshadowing the dress itself.

Inside the Night’s Bigger Moments

Comedian and internet personality Druski hosted this year’s ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where the show once again spotlighted breakout Black creatives across music, film and culture. The night carried extra weight with two major honors: Lauryn Hill received The Living Legend Icon Award, while Teyana Taylor, fresh off her Oscar-nominated turn in One Battle After Another, took home the Icon of the Year Award.

Other notable faces spotted on the red carpet included Keke Palmer and Jamie Foxx, both adding to a star-studded evening that balanced celebration with cultural recognition.

For Infiniti, the night marked another step in a rapid ascent, one where fashion and breakout success are increasingly intertwined. With GapStudio signaling its intent to keep blending archival storytelling with fresh design, Infiniti’s gown may be remembered as the moment the collaboration found its voice.

Source: WWD