Mint oil almost ruined my Met Gala

Sixth time’s a charm.

Hi friends!!

I hope you’re doing well and settling into the month. As for moi, the first week of May was action-packed, to say the least. I’m talking about double-headers on Broadway, high-pressure fittings, and the iconic Met Gala all colliding into one fabulous, hectic timeline.

This was my sixth Met Gala, and honestly, the calmest one yet. I went with the incredible BOSS fashion house and worked with their amazing team to create a custom look. But it was also smooth because I knew what to expect—after six times, I’ve got the timing down. I know how long glam takes, how long we’ll sit in traffic, and exactly who I’ll see once I’m inside.

Even the anticipation of waiting in line to walk the carpet wasn’t as anxiety-ridden as it's been in the past. Probably because I tell myself, This is just another red carpet, this red carpet is like the other red carpets. Yes, it's a big deal, and you're surrounded by celebrities. But you’ve got this. I just have to psych myself out.

And can we talk about this year's theme? “Tailored For You” celebrated “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a powerful exhibit that dives into how clothing and style have shaped Black identities across the Atlantic. It’s organized around 12 aspects of Black dandyism, and it runs until October 26th. If you're curious, you can learn more about it (and plan your visit!) here.

The Met did a great job showcasing the beauty and rich culture of Black people, and highlighting how they've expressed themselves through fashion over time. The tailoring and craftsmanship from Black designers was next level—this exhibit is a true celebration of that legacy. Sometimes when Black culture is mentioned, people tense up, worried it’s “making it about race.” But honoring Black creativity, history, and influence isn’t divisive—it’s overdue. I felt proud walking through those rooms, seeing stories that deserve to be seen, shared, and remembered.

I hope you’re ready to be my plus-one, because I'm about to take you through a week of Chicago performances, Met Gala prep, and the event itself—all while trying to stay sane and avoid any major fashion emergencies (emphasis on trying...mint oil, I'm looking at you!). Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the glam, the stress, and the exhilaration of attending the Met Gala.

3:20 PM: My Met Gala adventure kicked off on Friday with my first fitting at The Mark Hotel. It was a major moment because this was my first big project with stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson (aka the beautiful Gab!). The room was buzzing with my core team—photographer, manager, assistant—plus Gab's three assistants and the Boss design team, including Creative Director Marco Falcioni.

Friends, it was next level. Gab had pulled hundreds of shoe and jewelry options. And the dress was a three-part masterpiece: a crop top, corset, and skirt. We made some minor adjustments—a few darts, shortening the corset—to make sure it fit me like a glove.

The vision for my look was all about the tailoring, with a dress that offered a twist on a suit, and felt very Met-esque. Gab really wanted a corset to show off the curves (and you know that’s not a problem for me!). I would say my only regret is that I didn't have more brooches. The reason I even had one brooch is because of my last-minute oil spill….more on that later.