How the first Monday in May has become New York’s third fashion week

As guests rolled up to this year’s Met Ball, the official opening of the step and repeat involved a gospel choir of Black men donning tailcoats performing on the museum’s steps. With Anna Wintour, along with co-hosts Colman Domingo (wearing Maison Valentino), Lewis Hamilton (wearing Wales Bonner), Pharrell Williams (wearing Louis Vuitton), and A$AP Rocky (wearing diamond-encrusted Ray-Bans), watching in delight, the event may seem like a kickoff, but in reality, it’s the culmination of a weekend full of events timed to capitalize on the flurry of excitement and A-list crowd that is in town for the big event. This year was no exception.

But first, the fashion. Overall, it appeared that guests got the assignment. Diana Ross, who defined the contemporary diva, rolled up in a white marabou-trimmed gown with a train 18 feet long and a coordinating hat. Paying homage to the movie “Mahogany,” Zendaya followed Ms. Ross in a tailored-to-perfection white suit and wide-brimmed hat.

Gigi Hadid wore a gold Miu Miu dress inspired by a 1940s Harlem designer, Zelda Wynn Valdes, who made gowns in Washington Heights after working in her uncle’s tailoring shop. Tyla wore a gown and makeup inspired by a Josephine Baker look.

Rihanna arrived with hubby A$AP in a demure light blue knit top and skirt that looked like she didn’t really feel up to partying. But apparently, that was because she planned to do a Cinderella moment and transform for the ball on-site. She later appeared in a custom Marc Jacobs pinstripe Dandy gown with a cropped suit jacket, looking even more pregnant than when she arrived.

Madonna stole the scene in a white satin three-piece ensemble while brandishing a cigar as attendants fussed over her and she shushed the press pit. Doechii followed suit, but hers was a three-piece shorts suit by Louis Vuitton, and her cigar seemed bigger and bolder. Lizzo also took to brandishing a smoked accessory, dangling a cigarette in an ultra-long theater cigarette holder.

With a feather in her cap and walking stick, Teyana Taylor slayed in a red Marc Jacobs ensemble with a cape and rosettes. André 3000 carried a piano on his back ‘cuz you never know when the mood may strike.

Cardi B was close to tripping up the stairs in green velvet if not for the handy team of PR professionals from KCD to catch her; another minty green style, also trendy, was on Serena Williams and custom-made in satin by Moncler. Lupita Nyong’o wore a mint green tailored Chanel suit with a chiffon cape and classic boater hat.

Straight from hosting “SNL,” “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson was wearing Sergio Hudson and excited to see lesser-known Black designers like Hudson, Harbison Studio, and Christopher John Rogers get props on such a large platform. In a custom look from anOnlyChild, Sarah Snook was giving English upper-class realness in her topcoat-inspired look.

Other stunners include Kendall Jenner’s gown by Maximilian Davis, which channeled a 1920s Harlem trend mixing African draping with tailoring. Alton Mason celebrated Dandy futurism, noting to The People Gallery that his favorite meal is lobster pasta. “Lupin” star Omar Sy, wearing Ozwald Boateng, told a French reporter in French that it seemed like a nice party but he wanted to taste the food first.

Lana Del Rey was missing the Dandy mark but looked gorgeous. She lived up to her old Hollywood moniker in Maison Valentino and was on the arm of Alessandro Michele. Nicole Kidman had zero side boob in her Balenciaga backless dress; Shakira, with three men carrying her pink Atelier Prabal Gurung gown with an 8-foot train, announced another Met appearance, her world tour, which will kick off at MetLife Stadium in a few days. 

Anne Hathaway channeled more old-school UES fundraiser fit in a Carolina Herrera look that missed the Dandy mark. Bad Bunny, wearing a straw hat and leather satchel, was giving Huck Finn meets riverboat scoundrel. Luar designer edged himself and his date, the gorgeous Myha’la, a bit close to “Zoolander” territory rather than, say, Frederick Douglass or W.E.B. Du Bois.

The other Kardashian donned an alligator ensemble with a hat, giving it a Dandy mood by her designer du jour, Chrome Hearts — a brand she solely deems back to relevance. Similarly, Miley Cyrus wore a cropped crocodile jacket and skirt ensemble, but her look read even less Dandy.

Chappell Roan looked a bit out of place and salty in a pink sequin suit custom-made by “Wicked” costume designer Paul Tazewell with materials sourced from eBay. It channeled Elton John’s Captain Fantastic more than Black Dandyism.

Janelle Monáe said she was feeling “Dandelion-ess” with a clock monocle, dressing as a time traveler with a cinematic approach to redefining what it means to wear a suit with superfine tailoring that is timeless. “It’s about understanding and breaking the rules,” she told the salivating press pool.

There was a bodysuit trend for women, some more favorable than others, made mainly by Vuitton. Blackpink singer and Thai actress Lisa stunned in her crystal-embellished jacket over a bodysuit and LV tights, while Pharrell Williams’ wife, in a similar look, seemed downright uncomfortable. Sabrina Carpenter did it well in a burgundy style with military buttons. Doja Cat also donned a bodysuit look customized by Marc Jacobs, combining pinstripes and leopard.

After the weekend of festivities, it’s a wonder whether anyone had any energy left. Scotch whiskey brand Johnnie Walker tapped Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing to co-create limited edition custom blends alongside the brand’s first female master blender, Emma Walker (no relation). The Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Expression event involved a customized experience space dubbed the Johnnie Walker Vault in the former Sleep No More venue.

The room’s focal point was an inverted prism that displayed a hologram show. While bespoke whiskey cocktails flowed freely, guests such as Lupita Nyong’o, Hunter Schafer, Stormzy, Regé-Jean Page, Nicky Hilton, and Darren Criss enjoyed a special tasting of the ultra-limited blend introduced by Rousteing and Walker. The French designer met Walker on a trip to Scotland and immediately connected creatively.

“I thought fashion was complex, but creating a most incredible and unique blend was even more complicated. It was like a symphony. Let’s speak the same language; I do shoulder pads, and you do blends, so let’s create together with the same instruments. It is not only a collaboration but also celebrating timelessness, quality, uniqueness, and couture,” Rousteing told the crowd while thanking Walker. He encouraged everyone to dance to DJ Oscar Nñ of Papi Juice.

Meanwhile, that same night, Ferragamo hosted a traditional Italian dinner to celebrate Met Gala weekend and its creative director, Maximilian Davis.

Drawing upon its history of dressing Hollywood stars, the VIP crowd included Chris Rock, Ayo Edebiri, Tracee Ellis Ross, Solange Knowles, Jeff and Emilie Goldblum, LaKeith Stanfield, Paloma Elsesser, and Stefon Diggs.

Not to be outdone by another Italian downtown at Casa Cipriani in the Seaport, Remo Ruffini, Moncler, and Edward Enninful hosted a gathering to celebrate fashion and music at which Miley Cyrus gave guests such as Adut Akech, Colin Kaepernick, Stella Maxwell, Willow Smith, Ozwald Boateng, Helena Christensen, Joel Edgerton, Toni Garrn, Neelam Gill, Imaan Hammam, Anne Hathaway, Johannes Huebl, Heidi Klum, Daniel Lee, and Alton Mason a live debut of her new single “More to Lose” from her upcoming album “Something Beautiful.”