Reflecting On the 2022 MET Gala Highs & Lows

By: Connor Duszynski

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual MET Gala is always a whimsical, eye-catching event. For fashion-lovers, critics, and fans of the world’s biggest celebrities, it’s a time to admire (or despise) the fashions presented on the steps of the MET. It’s also a time for rising celebrities, stylists, and fashion houses to showcase their work and reclaim their prominence within the fashion industry. As has been the case in every past MET Gala, the 2022 MET Gala was full of fashion highs and lows. Last year's Gala celebrated The MET Costume Institute's exhibit entitled In America: An Anthology of Fashion. While some opted to abide by the "Gilded Glamour" dress code by reinventing the fashions of the late 19th-century Gilded Age, interpreting the period’s inspirations, historical context, and aesthetics, there were many, many fashion misses. Unfortunately, there were far too many misses, which is upsetting given the phenomenal theme for the night.

Perhaps the greatest disappointment of the evening was Kim Kardashian’s lackluster attempt at recreating Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” ensemble. She was neither gilded nor glamorous. Ripping (pun-intended) this piece of priceless, classic Americana from the archives, Kardashian’s appearance in the dress was not only underwhelming, but offensive. Clumsily-paired with some chunky, clear Pleasers, minimal jewelry, and a sad excuse of a mismatched fur coat, Kardashian completely missed the mark. To add insult to injury, the look didn’t fit the night’s Gilded Age dress code at all. Not only did Kardashian fail to show up in a successful, original, and well-thought-out look, but she poorly replicated an iconic look from a completely different time period. It was an astounding example of both her and her not doing their research. Even more, it was an example of her blatant disregard for the icon she was attempting to emulate.

 Another standout was Rosalía, who appeared in Matthew Williams for Givenchy. With details like the dress’ intricate embroidery, matching bag, and halter neckline which tied perfectly into the sleeves of the dress, Matthew Williams captured the essence and unique details of the Gilded Age. Even the way in which the dress was contoured to her figure paid homage to the contouring of dresses during the period of the Gilded Age. The ruffling of the train of the dress helped compliment Rosalía’s bold shades that she accessorized her look with; these elements further elevated the look, showcasing it as fashion-forward and avant garde while still fitting the theme of the evening. Rosalía, always one to share her unique take on fashion, excels in matching the themes of the MET year after year while still presenting something that is interpreted personally.

Lastly, Emma Corrin proved that it's possible to present something referential without being an exact copy of a previous look. Donning custom Harry Lambert for Miu Miu, accessorized with various Cartier jewels, Corrin wowed in a look that referenced 1880s New York City socialite Evander Berry Wall, also known as the “King of the Dudes.” Known for his signature pointed collars, silk hats, and stockings which he often paired with oversized overcoats, Wall is a fashion reference very specific to the Gilded Age. This was an extremely smart choice. Not only was the ensemble on-theme, but it was also elevated, chic, and allowed Corrin to reinvent this reference within the context of the twenty-first century. 

As we look towards the 2023 MET, my hope is that we see more personal takes and interpretations on fashion. I want to see originality. Even more importantly, I want to see ensembles that fit the theme the MET calls for. I’m bored with the celebrities showing up year-after-year in random looks that don’t have a perspective; they’re glaring and extremely out-of-place for a venue that demands elevation. This year’s Gala returns to the steps of the MET on the 1st of May. Highlighting The MET Costume Institute’s new exhibit entitled Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, I expect to see our stars pay homage to the late, great designer, wear or repurpose some of his iconic ensembles, or reinvent his looks altogether. As long as there’s no more Marilyn dresses, we should be okay.

In case you aren’t already aware, Halotherapy is salt therapy. If you frequent any number of spas, resorts, or fitness centers, you’ve likely seen the glowing salt beds, bricks, booths, tiles, and tables. They’re hard to miss. I find that whenever I’m near a salt panel, I’m instantly drawn to it. Something about the warm light of the panels always relaxes me. According to Woodhouse Spa - Gainesville Co-Owner Colleen Quintana, this isn’t surprising. “Halotherapy inherently promotes relaxation,” she says. “It’s considered to be a natural and safe alternative treatment for a number of health complications like lung problems, allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, and COPD. We also have quite a few regular clients who come in for Halotherapy treatments to alleviate skin conditions and skin allergies in our Active Salt Room. It’s great for repairing skin cells and protecting your skin from signs of aging.” Had I known this information back when I was a teen, I’d have had a salt panel glued to my face for my acne. 

While Halotherapy has become an increasingly popular treatment, what sets the treatment at Woodhouse Spa - Gainesville apart from the rest is a number of factors. Not only is the staff professional and attentive and the Spa itself immaculate, but the Gainesville team is passionate and dedicated to bringing life-changing treatments to our local community. “We are excited to offer our guests Dry Salt Therapy in our new Active Salt Room complete with our Halogenerator. Guests will be seated in one of our Zero-Gravity Lounge Chairs where they will sit back, relax, and breathe in the air infused with tiny salt particles for a forty-five minute session,” Colleen shares. That sounds like a heavenly forty-five minutes to me. The equipment of the Active Salt Room breaks down the salt into tiny particles which circulate throughout the air. Alternatively, Passive Salt Rooms do not utilize this machine to break down the salt, but rather are designed for relaxation and meditation as opposed to medical benefits. This is an important distinction for clients and guests of the Spa to consider depending on their unique needs and desired goals for treatment.

CD: Hey, doll! Thanks for joining me tonight! What’s the latest? How’re you doing?

L: I’m doing well! I had a crazy night at On Top last night. It was so amazing! The whole Rick Owens team came. We had a great time taking shots and partying. It’s experiences like that that make me feel so lucky. I’m so blessed.

CD: Blessed and highly-favored indeed! Your outfit was fabulous by the way. How can you tell if a party is going to be a success? 

L: You usually know after the second party whether or not it’s going to be a hit. There’s so many things that go into making it a success, but my main thing is the vibe or the feeling of it all. The PR, the flier, the music, the staff, the venue. Everything has to be correct. In the case of Paul’s Dolls, it’s one of those parties that will last a decade unless they sell the building. The vibe is very cosmopolitan, very sexy, very trans. It’s in a very chic Soho location. Think of martinis and sexy loungewear. It’s going well. With other parties, if you were to host a party that had more of an underground rave vibe, you’d have to pick completely different music with a completely different flier. You’d need all the rave kids. Basically, the key is that all the different components need to make sense together and have to be very rhythmic with each other.

CD: Have you always been drawn to the NYC nightlife? When did you first realize that this was the industry you wanted to work in?

L: I moved to New York about six or seven years ago from Wisconsin. Before I moved here, I lived right on Lake Michigan in a quiet town. Growing up, I was obsessed with Party Monster and Susanne Bartsch. I’ve always been fascinated by New York and its nightlife. I’m so lucky I knew what I wanted to do from a young age. I always knew I wanted to be a fabulous New York ‘it-girl.’ After high school, I moved to the city and jumped right in. I started by hosting parties for all these amazing people that I had always looked up to. That turned into producing my own parties and events. From there, I was able to start writing my monthly column for Paper Magazine. I write about some of the best parties in the world. It’s so much fun. It’s literally been the perfect storm. 

CD: Tell me more about the vibe of Paul’s Dolls and the other events you host and produce. What can party-goers expect?

L: Paul’s Dolls is a really special party to me. It’s the first recurring weekly party that I’ve produced all on my own. That’s hard to do in New York. For a producer to have a regular weekly party is top tier. That’s every producer’s dream. The fact that I can do this is a miracle and I’m so grateful. It’s a party that specifically focuses on trans girls like myself, my trans girlfriends, and the queer femmes that I surround myself with. There’s something so goddess-level and powerful that comes from queer femmes. It’s giving Moonlight energy…very that. I realized that there’s so, so many parties for gay guys and no parties for the dolls. What happened to girl’s nights?! That’s what New York was missing. I knew the city needed this. I got in-touch with Paul Sevigny, the owner of Paul’s Casablanca, and we made it happen. It’s such a fabulous space. The DJs are all trans and the hosts are all trans. It’s sexy, it’s fun, but most importantly: it’s a girl’s night out! 

CD: How has Paul’s Dolls specifically impacted the NYC nightlife scene?

L: In so many ways. It’s had such a positive impact on NYC. It’s now in peoples’ faces that trans women are important, trans women are valuable, and trans women belong here. Even just from having the flier out there in front of peoples’ faces, I’ve noticed a heightened awareness and respect for trans girls. It’s started from within our own greater LGBTQIA+ community. It’s fabulous. I love that I get to employ ten trans women every single week. I love that I can provide a space for the dolls and the dolls adjacent. 

CD: Sounds like my crowd! Some of our readers may not know but your contemporaries in the NYC nightlife scene include the likes of Susanne Bartsch and Amanda Lepore. What’s your relationship like with these queer icons? Is there a piece of advice either of them gave you that you’ll cherish forever?

L: Susanne is like my mother. She’s my mother and one of my absolute best friends. I have learned so much from her, and gotten great advice from her over the years. She literally opened her arms to me when I came to NYC. She’s not only given me work, but she’s helped me grow intrapersonally. My relationship with her is so special and important to me. The best advice she’s given to me is to stay out of the drama! In any industry, but especially in nightlife, there’s big egos and politics at-play. It’s better to focus on your own parties and on ways to improve the scene, rather than dwelling on what’s wrong with the scene. Susanne has taught me to focus on solutions rather than problems. Change the world with love.

CD: We stan Susanne. You mentioned to me earlier, like many queer kids, that you felt left-out at times and misunderstood in the past. What does it mean for you personally to provide an inclusive and welcoming space for all queer individuals? 

L: It’s important for me to make sure everyone at my parties is safe from harm. I make sure my girls are good. I want everyone to feel safe, welcomed, and to feel like they’re important. If I ever see someone who doesn’t have a way to get home, I add a stop on my car on the way home. There has been a time or two in the past when I wasn’t as aware of my own surroundings as I should have been when I’ve gone out. Shit went down. I don’t want anyone to have a night like that at my parties. I constantly scan my parties to make sure everyone is safe from harm. I also stress respect at my events. There’s enough hatred from the outside that there’s no place for that within our own community. We don’t need people bringing us down from the inside.

CD: I entirely agree, that’s tea. We are stronger and better together. Mutual respect, compassion, and understanding starts within our own community and within our own spaces. Thank you for sharing that. Now, how do you see the NYC nightlife scene changing in the coming years, particularly at your events? Have you noticed any significant change since you moved here?

L: I’ve only ever been around during the era of social media, so I can’t really speak on how social media has impacted nightlife. However, I do know that because of social media, there’s an increased awareness for my events and parties. Social media is like the Batman signal to the hurt kids out there who want to come to New York and dance. They’ll have a home here. I’ve noticed there’s a lot more people coming as a result of seeing the events through social media. That’s amazing. The number one thing you need at a successful party is people, so I love that there’s more and more people coming to experience the scene. I’ve also noticed that there’s more respect for marginalized members of our community and marginalized people within our scene, which I touched upon earlier. There’s a recognition that we need to be more loving and compassionate to others, especially those who are more marginalized within the scene. It makes me very happy to see the love and respect towards one another. There’s an understanding within our community that others are going through things just as (if not more) difficult than you are, and we need to be respectful and loving.