Met Ball Files: My Most Cherished Fashion Moments Over the Years
Happy first Monday of May, or as some like to call it, Met Ball Monday.
The Met Gala, a fashion event like no other, brings together the biggest names in fashion, music, film, and more, historically, on the first Monday in May. As someone who has worked in the fashion industry and had the privilege of preparing for the Met Ball, it feels only natural to reminisce on some of the past appearances I was fortunate enough to be a part of!
I still remember my first year, assisting Josh Otten, who was Hailey Bieber’s manager at the time. I was blown away by the sheer amount of work and collaboration that goes into making the event a success. It truly takes a village - from the designer/brand, the talent’s agents, stylists, publicists, glam teams, assistants, and more. And the process starts months in advance, with conversations to plan who will be attending with which designer. Anna Wintour has the final say on all guests, but it’s a team effort to bring it all together. That year, Hailey attended with Tommy Hilfiger, and her off-the-shoulder chiffon dress was perfectly angelic with her pink hair and flower crown.
But my most favorite experience was the following year. By then, I was more experienced and able to handle the Met madness. On the day of the Met, it’s a whirlwind of activity, as you split your time between different talent to help assist on everything and anything that comes up. I split my time between Hailey, who attended with Alexander Wang, Indya Moore with Louis Vuitton, and Aquaria with Vogue and wearing John Galliano. Another major MET highlight of mine, was working with my queen, Tommy Dorfman, who attended with Christopher Kane last year. It was such a special moment being a part of her first ever Met Gala and I couldn’t have been prouder of her.
Everyone gets ready at one of the four closest hotels to the Met Museum, making it easy to bounce around. In most cases, talent will share one or both of the same glam artists’, and will try to coordinate staying at the same hotel. Some glam artists will do as many as 3 people in a day, so the person going first will have to sit in their hair/makeup the longest, and the glam artist will have to go back for touch ups before they hit the carpet or send an assistant. Everyone is slated at different red carpet arrival times, and those final moments leading up to departure is pure adrenaline and nerves. The moment they each hit the carpet, everything comes together. The months of preparation, the fittings, the hair and makeup trials, and the final touches all culminate in this one moment. Despite the frenzy, the atmosphere is electric, and there’s a sense of camaraderie as everyone share’s in the excitement.
As the night goes on and the gala concludes, it's time for the after parties! And yes, there's always a second look for that. It's a chance to let loose and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues after a long and hectic day. But after almost 20 hours of running around and making sure everything is perfect, there's nothing quite like the relief of knowing that you have a full year to recover before it all starts again. This year, I'll be tuning in from the comfort of my couch. Even though I won’t be apart of the madness, I’ll forever cherish the memories!
Get ready to swoon over some unforgettable fashion moments! From Hailey's iconic baby pink Alexander Wang dress to Tommy Dorfman's stunning gilded glamour look, these Met Ball ensembles will forever be etched in fashion history. I’m so excited to see what tonight will bring <3
