Ahead of her appearance at the gala, the artist spoke with L'OFFICIEL about her red carpet look, her relationship with fashion, and her upcoming directorial debut.&nbsp;

This past weekend, all of pop culture's favorite celebrities, artists, and tastemakers gathered in Los Angeles for the Gold Gala&mdash;the annual event that celebrates Asian Pacific excellence and culture. Returning to the gala this year was none other than singer, author, and director Hayley Kiyoko. The multihyphenate attended the evening in support of her community, but this year, Kiyoko's presence at the gala was especially anticipated, as she performed several of the songs that have come to define her career.&nbsp;
For Kiyoko, the occasion was a monumental one. As her directorial debut, Girls Like Girls, is slated to come out in just over a month, the performance wasn't just an opportunity to connect with fellow AAPI leaders who are shaping contemporary culture&mdash;it was a celebration of her career and artistic impact.&nbsp;"["Girls Like Girls"] has been with me for over a decade now, and it keeps showing up in new forms. To perform it in this room, on this night, feels like exactly where I'm supposed to be," Kiyoko tells L'OFFICIEL.
On the red carpet, Kiyoko brought her signature sartorial flair with a striking gold gown by Self-Portrait. Working with her stylist, she selected a range of pieces (including a handbag by JWPEI, shoes by Charles &amp; Keith, and jewelry by Diamond Wish) that paid homage to the visionary artistry of many of the industry's leading AAPI designers.&nbsp;
Below, see our full conversation with Kiyoko&mdash;who spoke about her own personal journey with fashion, the significance of the evening, and her upcoming feature film debut&mdash;ahead of the 2026 Gold Gala.&nbsp;

L'OFFICIEL: Can&nbsp;you walk us through your getting-ready process?
HAYLEY KIYOKO: I worked closely with my stylist Avigail Collins to source wardrobe looks by AAPI designers. We landed on this gorgeous gold gown by Self-Portrait for the "Modern Gold" theme. Han Chong, Self-Portrait's founder, is a really talented AAPI designer and does incredible work for the fashion community at St. Martins, uplifting new generations of AAPI up-and-coming designers. 
The day of the event is always a little chaotic: two hours in the glam chair, capturing fun moments for socials with my fianc&eacute;e, trying to get out the door on time. My amazing glam team, Oskar Pera on hair and Ghost Artistry for makeup, are the best at keeping me on schedule when everything's moving fast. And Oskar did this amazing hair design, which we later added hair accessories to, and that gave the look a little extra edge.&nbsp;
L'O: What&nbsp;are the small rituals or details that make you feel most like yourself before a big event?
Eating a really good meal beforehand is crucial for me. On big event days, it's easy to forget or feel rushed to nourish your body, and it makes a huge difference in your mood and energy. I also give myself plenty of time for vocal warmups and honestly do some stretching to get ready for heels all night.

L'O: What&nbsp;does this performance at the Gold Gala mean to you?
Performing at the Gold Gala this year means more than you know. The journey to getting to my directorial debut for Girls Like Girls, the movie, was a journey over 10 years in the making. So to have Bing Chen and his team create the space and platform for my story to be told and shared in front of my community makes me feel so seen. Performing and being able to give something back on a night that celebrates our fellow AAPI community is so meaningful. And with the Girls Like Girls film coming out this summer, there's an extra layer of emotion to it.&nbsp;
L'O: Does the occasion feel different compared to your past tours or concerts?
It feels really special to perform this new version of "Girls Like Girls" with strings and piano. It's a completely different emotional space than a full concert set. And being in the company of incredible talent like Lindsey Stirling and ARKAI, who were so generous to perform with me, I'm really moved by the whole setup.

L'O: How do you use fashion to tell your own story, represent your heritage, or express yourself?
HK: Fashion is really an extension of whatever world I'm living in, creatively. For a night like this, I wanted to feel glamorous as a filmmaker but with some added sparkle and flair that still speaks to the artist in me. I've struggled in the past with the binary world of fashion, but I've found more freedom in bringing together my masculine and feminine sensibilities. That feels the most like me.
L'O: Have you felt your style shift since the beginning of your career to now?
HK: Definitely. I've evolved in my choices. I still keep it pretty cool and casual most days, but I'm more comfortable in my skin, and I love playing around with different silhouettes and textures now. There's less second-guessing.
L'O: How would you define that evolution? Any memorable fashion eras you look back on fondly?
HK: The biggest shift is confidence. Earlier in my career, I gravitated toward things that felt safe or that I thought matched what people expected of me. Now I dress more for myself. I look back fondly on some of the bolder music video looks because those were the moments I really started taking risks.
L'O: Outside of special occasions, how would you define your style?
HK: My style is pretty relaxed. Always into a high-low vibe, but I'm a hoodie and sneakers person most days. I love finding a piece that has something unexpected to it, a texture, a detail, something that makes it feel like more than just an outfit.
L'O: Do you have any major fashion inspirations?
HK: I&rsquo;m really loving the new looks from Diesel, and I love what Doechii has been doing with Thom Browne.&nbsp;

L'O: From music videos, stage looks, red carpets&mdash;which gives you the most creative freedom?
HK: Music videos, for sure. The clothing becomes almost its own character, part of the narrative I'm building within the story, and I love creating entire worlds around a single look. Stage is always fun too, but there's a practical layer: how much am I moving, what's the vibe of the show, how do I make a statement while still being able to perform?
L'O: What was it like to see&nbsp;Girls Like Girls come to life as a feature film?
HK: It's still pretty surreal. This song opened so many doors for me, and to hold its hand from a music video into a novel and now a full feature film ten years later is something I don't think I'll ever fully get used to. I feel proud to have come this far, and I still feel in awe that we made it this far. I'm just grateful that a story about two girls falling in love gets to reach this many people and be supported with a theatrical release. Even if it took 10 years. Everyone deserves to see themselves represented in a story and feel hopeful for their future. That's what drives everything I make. I hope my community knows how much I am rooting for them.&nbsp;

STYLIST: Avigail Collins&nbsp;
MAKEUP: Ghost&nbsp;
HAIR: Oskar Pera&nbsp;

Inside Hayley Kiyoko's 2026 Gold Gala Performance

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