Last night’s China: Through the Looking Glass gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art inspired an exhaustive range of red-carpet chinoiserie, from dragon-embroidered ball gowns to simpler looks that only hinted at classic Chinese fare. Somewhere in the middle was Dree Hemingway, whose silk and fil coupe dress was the product of a collaboration between the model, Coach’s Stuart Vevers, and stylist Cher Coulter. The trio spoke to us exclusively about the project and shared behind-the-scenes photos from Hemingway’s final fitting.
“The Met ball is rarely a stylist’s playground,” Coulter explained of the setting. “It’s more of a designer-and-muse collaboration.” (Coulter’s point was proved by fellow pairings Lady Gaga with Alexander Wang, Cher with Marc Jacobs, and Riccardo Tisci with Julianne Moore.) “Dree was full of creative ideas. I got very into the jewelry after she referenced films such as Cry-Baby.” Vevers, who has quickly established a cool, Americana-tinged aesthetic for Coach, opted for a loose interpretation on the Chinese theme—he plucked fabrics right from his Fall ’15 collection and threw in a rugged leather vest. Swarovski crystals, colorful embroidery, and sheer panels lent just a touch of East-meets-West flavor. Plus, Hemingway isn’t your average glamazon; she chose mismatched earrings and explained that she wanted to “think out of the box and create a new take on China.”
Regarding the “China Girl” patches on the back of her vest, Vevers couldn’t take credit. “Throwing a David Bowie reference into Dree’s outfit was very jolly. It was Dree’s idea,” he said. Simple pumps, unfussy hair, and a burgundy lip were the final touches—she didn’t even carry a bag. Her zipped pockets were large enough to carry her phone, lipstick, and keys, making it one of the most effortless (and practical) looks we saw all night.
