Sandra‘s Closet

The Met Gala is typically held on the first Monday in May, but this year, the event was postponed due to COVID-19 and falls right in the middle of fashion month. As Iris Apfel once said: «When we were small children, we all played dress-up and everybody had a good time, so why stop?». This is how Met Gala is for me, a huge party for everyone who loves to dress up and has never stop to indulge in fashion.

Ensemble, Christopher John Rogers (American, born 1993), F/W 2020; Courtesy Christopher John Rogers. Photo: HAPPYMONDAY / Courtesy of the Costume Institute

Also referred to as «fashion’s biggest night out,» the Met Gala is a fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year, the Costume Institute will host its first two-part exhibition, on the theme of American fashion, during 2021 and 2022. Part one, «In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,» will open in the Anna Wintour Costume Center on September 18, 2021, and will remain on display when «In America: An Anthology of Fashion,» opens on May 5, 2022 in the period rooms of the American Wing. Both shows will run through September 5, 2022.

Below, you will find my personal selection of outfits, that I loved or didn’t like and hope you will enjoy it.

LoL, Sandra

Fashion that makes us dream – my favorite look of the gala: Iman in Harris Reed

Cracking the codes: Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga

Rihanna in Balenciaga Couture and Maria Tash jewelry and A$AP Rocky in ERL

Wild West: Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren

Fitting the American theme of the upcoming exhibitions perfectly: Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams in CHANEL

Sporting the American flag: Debbie Harry in and with Zac Posen

Trio infernal with an American «Statue of Liberty» touch: Sienna Miller in Gucci, Hamish Bowles in Thom Browne, and Emily Blunt in Miu Miu

Feathers were also a trending theme: Serena Williams in Gucci

One of my favorites last night: Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent

And another one of my favorite looks: Kendall Jenner in Givenchy

Julia Garner in Stella McCartney

Hailee Steinfeld in Iris Van Herpen

Donatella Versace in Versace

Whoopi Goldberg, Pierpaolo Piccioli and Carey Mulligan in Valentino

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello in Michael Kors Collection

Literally eye-catching: Hunter Schafer in Prada

Gigi Hadid in Prada

A great look, but somehow not for her: Diane Kruger in Prabal Gurung and Jimmy Choo shoes

Beautiful: Emily Ratajkowski in Vera Wang

Mmh… definitely not my favorite look: Vera Wang in Vera Wang

Playing dress-up: Erykah Badu in Thom Browne

Making a statement: Cara Delevingne in Christian Dior

Flowers were a huge theme: Lili Reinhart in Christian Siriano

LOVE: Irina Shayk in Moschino

YouTuber Nikkie Tutorials (Nikkie de Jager), who came out as transgender last year, paid homage to activist and drag queen Marsha P. Johnson with this «pay it no mind» sash.

Anna Wintour wore a floral Oscar de la Renta gown.

Stunning in Oscar de la Renta: Karlie Kloss and designer Wes Gordon

Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta. Her bombshell gown symbolizes her activism for animal rights. According to The New York Times, she agreed to work with Oscar de la Renta on the condition that the designers would no longer use fur in their pieces.

Dan Levy in Loewe

Designer Virgil Abloh in Off-White

And here comes the golden king in his amazing outfit that revealed different layers: Lil Nas X in Versace

Photos: via Vogue.com

Not sure what to do over the weekend. Here is an idea. Start watching the new Netflix series «EMILY IN PARIS» that launched last Friday. I swear, you will be daydreaming about living in France, eating chocolate croissants, and falling in love. I have become immediately addicted. Thank God, my fiancé is half Parisian, haha. I know the reviews are not the best, ranking from «too cliche» to «embarrassing series, completely wrong image of Paris», but honestly I am absolutely loving it!

Left: Lily Collins Emily in Paris – Right: Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City

No other than Darren Star, who was also in charge of our favorites such as «Beverly Hills, 90210» (1990–2000), «Melrose Place» (1992–1999), and «Sex and the City» (1998–2004) created this American comedy-drama web television series. It stars Lily Collins as the titular character, Emily, an American woman moving to Paris for a job opportunity and better life. There she struggles to succeed in the workplace while searching for love and experiencing culture clash wth her «boring» Midwestern upbringing.

«You look American. Are you from Indiana?» asks Mindy (Ashley Park, right), when she first meets Emily, who has lunch alone in the park, wearing a fabulous Ganni silk top and dress, a Rag & Bone belt , combined with a Patricia Field Canary Bag.

Personally speaking, I have so many reminiscences with Emily. I used lived in Chicago, where she is from, and my first job experience was also in Paris. I worked at Sonia Rykiel at their ready-to-wear design department where I also experienced some funny moments and cultural clashes.

On her first day at the office in Paris, Emily wears an Alice + Olivia Eiffel Tower shirt, a Re/Done crop top,  snakeskin-print Ronny Kobo miniskirt, an Aldo bag and Christian Louboutin Gorgona booties, emblazoned with «Paris» and airmail stickers.

Emily in a green CHANEL (her favorite French brand) jacket from the Cruise 2020 collection combined with a checked Kangol hat.

The best about «EMILY IN PARIS» are the costumes. Behind them is my favorite stylist, Patricia Field, who became famous for her work at the set of «Sex and the City». We owe all those iconic Carrie Bradshaw fashion moments to her. Emily is like the Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation, with a wardrobe you wish you had yourself, and a growing Insta account you’d love to emulate.

An homage to Audrey Hepburn: Emily in a Christian Siriano dress, vintage fur and purse, La Compagnie du Costume jewellery and Cosmoparis shoes.

Don’t blame me, if you won’t leave your apartment this weekend and will be binge-watching all 10 episodes. And here are some Instagram accounts, you might one to follow after to get the details of the looks: @emilyinparis, and @emilyinparisfashion.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Netflix

Last night, my all-time favorite red carpet event took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: the Met Gala 2019. Personally speaking, this year’s exhibition theme: «Camp: Notes on Fashion», based on an essay from 1964 by the late Susan Sonntag, delivered a bout of wild, over-the-top fashion moments. It was like a playground to dress up for all fashion aficionados.

Even the hostess went gaga: Anna Wintour in an embroidered Chanel gown with feathery cape.

If you seem confused… in this case, camp is not to be mistaken as in sleeping bags and tents, but camp as in exaggerated fashion. Sonntag’s essay, that provides the framework for the exhibition, defines camp as «love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration» and examines how the elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration are expressed in fashion. The exhibition will be open to the public from May 9 – September 8, 2019.

This was her theme! Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell changed her outfit four times!

Co-hosted by two fashion-loving celebrities: Lady Gaga and Harry Styles and sponsored by Gucci. What do you want more?

The exhibition itself is featuring both men’s and womenswear, over 200 pieces of fashion, along with sculptures, paintings, and drawings from the 17th century through today. The works of versatile designers from Alexander McQueen to John Galliano, Rei Kawakubo to Mugler, Mary Katrantzou to Jeremy Scott, and more are featured. What I have seen so far, among the exhibited items are many pieces that also hang in my closet. I couldn’t be more proud of my collection…

Before the Hollywood royalty and fashionistas presented themselves on the red carpet in front of the Metropolitan Museum, they met in the nearby «The Mark». The hotel is the venue for Anna Wintour‘s «pre-party» of the glamorous event every year. Definitely the place to stay!

Below are my favorite looks of the night… enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

My favorite outfit! My favorite reveal! Thierry Mugler himself is back, now called Manfred, and envisioned Kim Kardashian as a California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping. This latex dress took 8 months to make and is for me a true innovation on the runway!

Reminiscent of the Gucci runway: Jared Leto with his beheaded doppelganger

OMG! To die for! Cardi B in Thom Browne

Looking sensational: Saoirse Ronan in Gucci

She looked like a young Linda Evangelista in the ’90s: Bella Hadid in Moschino.

Harry Styles in Gucci

In keeping with the evening’s theme of camp, Ezra Miller turned up with the most outstanding optical illusion. His attire? Custom Burberry by Riccardo Tisci.

All about hats: Janelle Monáe in Christian Siriano.

I love pink, I love Barbie and I love this: Multi Grammy Award-winner Kacey Musgraves channeled a true fashion icon, Barbie, in Moschino.

Colorful: Lupita Nyong’o in custom Versace and Bulgari jewelry.

Stunning Gemma Chan in and with Tom Ford. Best accessory: having the designer at your side.

Katy Perry in a chandelier dress by Moschino.

Céline Dion in Oscar de la Renta

What an entrance! Billy Porter wore a custom-made sun god outfit by New York City-based designer duo The Blonds.

Blue hair, don’t care: Lucy Boynton in Prada.

I loved this. What a Cinderella moment for Zendaya. Sporting a glowing, Disney-esque gown designed by Tommy Hilfiger, and accompanied by her stylist Law Roach who transformed with the wave of a wand Zendaya’s dress into a glowing ensemble. She even left a glass slipper.

Lily Collins opted for an ivory ruffled gown which featured a flowing train by Salvatore Ferragamo. Very ’60s – very sweetheart.

Fresh off the Couture Week runways, Hailee Steinfeld sparked in Viktor & Rolf slogan couture gown. It was a perfect match as Anna Wintour had forbidden cameras, iPhones inside the event…

This was by far my favorite Met Gala of all and I cannot wait to see the exhibition!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Vogue, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty Images