Yahoo News Blackpink’s Jennie, Kylie Jenner, Nicole Kidman and More Depart for the Met Ball From the Mark Hotel
“Let’s do this, b-tches!”
So announced Nell Diamond when the elevators opened into the lobby of The Mark Hotel ahead of the 2024 Met Gala, and so it was. One of the earlier departees for the 2024 Met Gala wound up foretelling a long queue of attendees who all shared in the same enthusiasm, with hugs, air-kissing and, of course, poses galore for throngs of photographers.
Among the first to exit was La La Anthony, who shot content before shuffling off to the red carpet. Anna Wintour followed with her family shortly thereafter.
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On her way out the door, makeup master Pat McGrath said that “everything was looking fantastic, but as you know, everything’s top secret — though it’s not about to be.”
Then came Matt Damon, who mentioned that it was his second time attending the event with his wife, Luciana. When asked what she was most looking forward to, Damon answered, “sitting next to me.”
When Colman Domingo exited the elevator in Willy Chavarria, he hailed the designer, calling him an “impeccable artist.”
That didn’t stop the jitters, and Domingo said he had prepared. “I’ve been training by watching old Mets and seeing how people conduct themselves,” Domingo said. “I wanted to feel my best.”
That was before air-kissing Jordan Roth, who wafted down the staircase in Valentino couture. “Pierpaolo’s last piece,” he clarified, as director Baz Luhrmann held his hand while he descended the final steps.
It was Chemena Kamali’s first time at the event, the new creative director of Chloé, with Sienna Miller, Greta Gerwig and Zoe Saldaña in tow. When asked what she was most excited about while posing for group photos, she said, “being in the very best company — these amazing women.”
Emily Ratajkowski took the theme literally, and donned a sheer vintage Versace number for the party. Her favorite fashion era? “I jump around a lot, and it’s all different,” she said, then nodding to her dress before quipping, “But tonight, 2001.”
On the other hand, Tyla dressed as the sands of time, holding an hourglass clutch and a sandy mermaid dress. As the “Water” singer’s first Met, she mostly looked forward to “What’s happening inside. I’ve always just wanted to know what it all looks like.”
Christian Cowan and partner Sam Smith were also event newbies, with the former hoping to see the looks from Wintour and Rihanna. For both of their looks, Cowan “turned to 1940s tailoring, which was a big inspiration.” The gold-plated roses on their jackets? “Real roses, from the U.K., where we’re both from, and dipped in gold.”
Then, a few other attendees from across the pond glided across the lobby, namely Charlotte Tilbury and Phoebe Dynevor. The latter, who said it marked her second year at the event, said, “I’m hoping to take it in more. The first one was very chaotic, and there was so much going on.”
By that point, hours into departures, chaos was the name of the game.
“It seems to have gotten crazier each year,” Nicole Kidman laughed as she looked around at her environs. “But it’s the garden of time and this is celebrating the different times and eras.”
She then posed alongside the rest of the Balenciaga crew, including Michelle Yeoh, Rachel Sennott and Naomi Watts, when the photographer frenzy reached an apex. That coincided with Jennie from Blackpink’s exit, to which Sennott shouted, “Oh my God!”
Yeoh echoed that excitement about the night, albeit more calmly. “The carpet is the most important part. There’s no movie — there’s nothing else after the red carpet, and you see the most glamorous dresses and designers,” the actress, clad in a silver foil frock, said of the event. “Everyone is expecting something spectacular, brilliant and beautiful, and this Balenciaga is genius.”
Her feelings on the dress were echoed by Serena Williams, who snapped a few photos before running to the back of the lobby. ”I don’t have my shoes on!” she said.
When the elevator doors opened to reveal Imaan Hammam alongside Anok Yai and Karlie Kloss, every camera turned to the glittering trio — each dressed by Swarovski. Yai alone wore 200 carats.
“It’s a little heavy,” Hammam said of her dress with a smile. “But we love it, and with the amount of time the team works on this dress, it’s fabulous.”
A few other attendees came out of the lobby unscathed, including Kylie Jenner in a pink robe covering her dress, and Doja Cat, dressed only in towels. Cardi B exited surrounded by massive black umbrellas so no one could capture the rapper before she took the steps.
After hours of departures, a few guests agreed on what they were most looking forward to inside the museum.
“I’m a bit peckish,” joked Coach’s Stuart Vevers before taking the carpet with Storm Reid.
The one who put it most succinctly, though, was Erykah Badu, the last one out of the elevators in Comme des Garçons. As for what her highlight of the night would be? “Dinner.”
Launch Gallery: The Mark Hotel Departures for the Met Gala 2024
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