Dear Gossips,
I LOVE the MET Gala. I’ve covered it twice for etalk. It’s the best b-roll of the year. It’s the best dress porn. It’s non-stop fashion masturbation. And amazingly, even though the theme was China: Through The Looking Glass, and it could have been a disaster, it ended up being one of the strongest showings in a while, even though, as I predicted, there was a chopsticks incident. Thanks Nicki Minaj.
Before we begin (and argue), just a quick word on MET Gala criteria. This is not, as Joanna noted, a state dinner. Not the Oscars. It’s OK to play. Play!!! Some played by the invitation – which is why there was so much red, gold, and green. All lucky Chinese colours. And… um… verging on tacky? I’m OK with this for this year. Because, well, think of it like a Chinese wedding. Think of my ma, the Chinese Squawking Chicken. Think of Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan. (Click here to read my new column at FLARE about Chinese extra and superficiality. And by the way… the last line of this piece? Read it. I’m boasting now.) We are a little tacky. Dragons? Fine. Phoenixes work too. And fish. Fish are very good luck. Ching-chong eye makeup however is not acceptable.
But if you don’t want to go Chinese, or risk offending, go fashion forward. Imagination. Statements. Theatre. Costumes! It’s the Costume Institute Gala. Boring is unforgivable.
And then… there’s Beyonce.
We have so much to talk about. And it’s so worth an all-nighter. Keep refreshing. There will likely be close to 50 posts overnight and into the morning. And definitely send us your thoughts.
I’ll begin with Gong Li, one of the co-chairs of this year’s gala, and one of the finest Chinese actresses of all time. Look at the exquisite detail at the back and how the fan almost becomes the head of a goldfish. She’s perfect.
Yours in gossip,
Lainey
