It is an annual tradition – Anna Wintour’s exclusive dinner party hosted at her place in Greenwich Village for Met Gala co-chairs and a few other select guests. One of those select guests this year was Serena Williams who arrived in a white gown that looked like it was partly made of distressed string cascading down one side of her body. Serena of course has long been one of Anna’s favourites.
Cynthia Erivo was also there, already on theme in a tailored suit. Cynthia is hosting this year’s Tony Awards, arguably Anna Wintour’s favourite award show, she’s been a consistent patron and also hosts an annual dinner party for Broadway performers and productions. Cynthia has had a solid relationship with Vogue and Anna for a while now and it will likely only get stronger.
As for the co-chairs, Colman Domingo was there and everywhere in New York this weekend. And if his fits these last few days are any indication, whatever he’s planning tonight will blow the roof off. Vogue Business just published an article today about the 2025 Met Gala Co-Chairs fashion impact. He’s now a Valentino ambassador and his various looks this year alone, during award season, have generated $7 million in MIV (media impact value), not just for Valentino but for all the houses who have dressed him, like Versace, Marni, and Boss.
Check out Colman leaving his hotel the other day on his way to yet another party before the big one tonight.
Pharrell Williams’s fashion impact? Goes without saying. He’s been creative director for menswear for Louis Vuitton for two years now and it’ll be interesting to see how LV will be represented tonight and who will be wearing what. Doechii, by the way, who I mentioned in the open today, was wearing LV menswear at one of the pre-parties this weekend and looked amazing.
And then there’s A$AP Rocky. As fashion historian Shelby Ivey Christie tells Vogue in reference to Rocky’s 2016 Dior campaign, “[It] wasn’t just about being the face of a brand — it was about bringing Harlem sensibilities to European fashion houses,” and the ingenuity of the approach:
“Bottega Veneta’s 2024 paparazzi campaign speaks for itself. For weeks, the brand dressed [Rocky…] in full-look Bottega. Rocky went about his day — headed for a run; picked up flowers; went out to dinner — and was, of course, photographed by the paps. These were shared on socials, covered by fashion media and, eventually, released as an official campaign by Bottega Veneta itself, its logo splashed across the images. The campaign generated $2.9 million in MIV in just two days — which doesn’t include all of the pap shots shared and covered in the weeks prior. Just as Bottega knew they would be.”
Rocky has done the same with Ray-Ban as its first creative director and of course we saw how he was suited during his trial earlier this year, a preview of what we might expect from him tonight… and, of course, Rihanna. Who joined Rocky at Anna’s for dinner last night though she was not with him for the other pre-parties this weekend. Rihanna’s fit last night nods to the theme, and now I’m wondering whether or not, if she’s in classic suiting the night before, if she’ll upend and reimagine the tailored look tonight and, once again, take her Met Gala reputation to the next level. Or, you know, make some kind of announcement.
Finally, Lewis Hamilton, one of the four co-chairs tonight, did not make it out to any pre-Met Gala festivities because of course the Miami Grand Prix was yesterday. We don’t have to worry about Lewis though. Lewis’s plans for whatever he’ll be wearing tonight have been in the works for years given his efforts to amplify Black talent and emerging designers. He’s been ready for a long time.
