How Paloma Elsesser Made Old Hollywood Glamour Her Own at the Met Gala

We re a week out. Seven days.

It is September... 6th, 2021.

And the Met Gala is September 13.

Wearing Zac.

I m just like, oh my God, everyone s so cozy,

and like sweet and the atelier

and like really collaborative,

Like, how do you feel?

I m like, No, I want more drama here.

And I want this and I want that.

Like, I don t know if that kind of like exists

that much anymore.

So much that has to get done in a very short amount of time.

[indistinct conversation]

Your body looks stunning.

It s really good.

So much more fun when it s custom.

So much more comfortable

because it s now made to your measurements.

That s good. That s good. That s good.

[Zac] Wow.

[Zac] Paloma commissioned the dress

two weeks before The Met.

I was ready for the challenge.

I fell in love with her immediately.

We wanted to celebrate American craft and couture.

In homage to the great Charles James,

we worked with amazing artisans

through the city of New York

to create a dress in apple red Duchess satin,

and Lincoln rose crepe to create this incredible moment.

[indistinct conversation]

It s never tight enough.

Wow.

[Zac] Okay, let s get in the dress.

[Paloma] We are looking at like Charles James,

like, this like iconic American design

and artistry of dresses and like attention

to details and celebration of the female form.

[Zac] I love this. Like when we do this well.

Right?

[Paloma] We re talking about it, like, Zac is--

[Zac] I know, it s like, Can you do this?

I was like, Okay, we ll figure it out.

[indistinct conversation]

[Paloma] The Met s in two days.

[Zac] And it s really got to be...

[indistinct conversation]

I want this sewn in her corset.

Molded in.

[Woman] That s beautiful.

[indistinct conversation]

Oh wow.

[Zac] Wow. Whoa.

[Woman] Walk back this way.

[Paloma] The conversation ultimately is, like,

how I, in some way, some capacity,

wearing like iconic shapes, celebratory stuff like,

and you know, this new reference for like American icon

and that s so cool.

[Woman] How do you feel, Paloma?

I feel iconic.

[crowd cheering]