It Took 1,455 Hours to Create Halle Berry’s Showstopping Jewelry for the 2025 Met Gala
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For the first time since 2017, Halle Berry was back on the Met steps.
Last night, at the 2025 Met Gala, the actor opted for a LaQuan Smith dress accessorized to the nines with never-before-seen Cartier High Jewelry. “We took traditional tailoring elements, structured shoulders and defined waistlines, and reimagined them with sheer fabrics, stretch silks, and unexpected cutouts,” Smith says.
Berry wore a body-hugging scoop-neck dress with alternating sheer mesh and black Japanese bugle bead–embroidered panels, which Smith describes as “a mix of sexy Bond girl meets Harlem Renaissance.” She added a cropped tuxedo jacket for her arrival (though she took it off on the carpet) and accessorized with a black netted veil from Jennifer Behr. “It captures the theme’s message of self-expression and being bold in the way that you look and dress,” he says. “The dress’s details showcase the ethos of the theme: exaggerated lines, luxurious fabrics, and sheer boldness.”
The process of bringing Berry’s 2025 Met Gala dress to life was defined by its collaborative spirit. “She knows exactly who she is and has such a clear sense of style, but she’s also incredibly collaborative. During the fittings, she wasn’t just stepping into a garment—she was shaping it with me,” Smith says. “She pushed for certain cuts that enhanced her movement, and we played with sheer panels to strike that perfect balance between elegance and edge. Her input was always intentional, always rooted in how she wanted to feel in the piece—not just how it looked.”
Berry adds, “I’m just grateful to serve as a humble muse for LaQuan Smith, who answered the call for a bespoke gown befitting a powerful theme.”
For Smith, the feeling was mutual. “To create this look for her at the Met Gala, on a night that celebrates Black excellence and craftsmanship, feels like a full-circle moment. As a Black designer, dressing someone who has broken so many barriers and continues to lead with grace means everything,” he says.
On the Met steps, Berry became the first person to ever wear the Cartier Tsagaan set—a geometric ode to the Mongolian snow leopard. Amid 31.69 carats of diamonds, artisans inlaid 3.74 carats of onyx to carve out the face of the leopard—a process that took more than 1,136 hours. The earrings mimicked the geometric necklace, with 3.96 carats of diamonds and 0.4 carats of onyx, crafted over 319 hours.
“When my stylist, Lindsay [Flores], and I were exploring options for tonight, we felt that the clean, geometric lines and the stark contrast of the onyx against the white gold and diamonds really lent themselves to the theme,” Berry says. “It’s the consideration for these smallest details—understanding how we can bring elements of sharp tailoring into every aspect of the look—that makes the Met Gala such an exciting event to be a part of.”
Nothing, of course, complements glittering high jewelry like dewy skin. “The Met Gala is a long day, so today I prepared my skin with Alastin to keep my skin fresh and hydrated from morning glam to the evening events,” Berry says, adding that the range supports menopausal skin. “The Ha Immerse Serum is my absolute favorite, and the Eye Treatment is essential.” The Restorative Neck Complex is also a must for the actor. As she puts it, “Skin care doesn’t stop at the chin.” Between her bespoke gown, showstopping gems, and luminous skin, we have no doubt she looked radiant all night long.
Below, Halle Berry takes Vogue behind the scenes as she gets ready for the 2025 Met Gala.
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