5.09.2010

Walking in the clouds

One event I look forward to every year is the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Absolutely everyone you can imagine is there, all dressed up like they're attending a high society event straight out of a Jane Austen novel. I suppose you could think of it as the one big New York event that kicks off the summer social calendar. This year Anna Wintour and Oprah Winfrey hosted the annual event, opening the special exhibit called "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" and I was privileged to attend.

I'm sure countless hours of preparation go into this event but for me the prep work started two weeks earlier at Zac Posens atelier. Before I got there Zac had brought a few dresses out of his archive for me to look at. Every one of them was a masterpiece in its own right but by the time I tried on his "cloud dress" my choice was obvious. The cloud dress, you might remember, is from his spring 2008 collection (vintage!) and is a spectacular gown with an incredible 8 foot train. Apparently it had never been worn on a red carpet before either. It looked perfect but the question on everyone's mind was: how on earth was I going to walk through a room of 600 people with this massive train behind me and not rip the dress or worse!? James had this crazy yet fabulous idea to take my train, flip it up and use it as a cape. It was very 1920's avant garde and when we tried it, we all loved the idea. Zac's team went right to work attaching a button and loop hole and in no time my cape was ready to go.

The day of the Gala I was getting ready to leave my house when I realized the dress was a little heavier than I remembered. I turned around a found my dog Peekaboo curled up and taking a nap on the train. Apparently she was quite content being dragged around the house. After ending Peekaboo's free ride I flipped up my cape, got into the car and headed uptown to the Met. I was so nervous the whole way. The red carpet at the Met Gala can be brutal - with celebrities like Oprah and Justin Timberlake on hand, how can a girl expect to get any attention? James assured me I looked great and told me I had nothing to worry about. As it turned out he was right, the photographers loved the dress and I could barely see straight after the barrage of flashing lights that hit me on the red carpet.

Once inside the Met you get your table number and then ascend another very long staircase up into the cocktail room. This staircase isnt lined with photographers though, its lined with male and female attendants in tuxedo's and ball gowns every step of the way. Every single attendant has their eyes on you, all silent. Its a very eerie experience, climbing all those steps and then finding at the very top Anna Wintour and Oprah Winfrey are stood waiting to shake your hand.

Once I was inside the cocktail hall I decided it most practical to keep myself and my dress in one spot. I bet Caroline and Hilary both thought me a snob at first, since I wasn't running over to talk to them, but once they realized my predicament they kindly came and chatted with James and I for the better part of the cocktail hour. At diner I had to ask for the gentleman's forgiveness before sitting and tried very hard to push as much material under the table as I could.

There were a number of other beautiful dresses at the Met ball but I'll never forget wearing my cloud dress. I'm so thankful to Zac and his team for making me feel like a true Cinderella story.

XOXO COCO

42 comments:

between peace and happiness said...

you looked amazing Coco!
Well done for managing the dress- the look was totally worth it!

Anonymous said...

wow, that dress is amazing ♥


shelovesnewyork.blogspot.com
shelovesnewyork.blogspot.com
shelovesnewyork.blogspot.com

Jess ♡ said...

Absolutely stunning! What a creative way of getting the train out of the way as well <3

Anonymous said...

we need to see a photo of the train as a cape! im curious to see it!! gorg dress by zac posen, as always. the man does no wrong.

Camila said...

You looked absolutely bloody amazing!

anna said...

your dress was AMAZING!!! It seemed like it was well worth the hassle :)

Anonymous said...

as a pretty big jane austen fan i just haaaave to point out that her name is spelled wrong. that's if you meant the woman who wrote pride and prejudice ;D otherwise such a cool post!

Julie Ling said...

Your dress is completely gorgeous! I am so glad that you shared your story about the Met Ball with the rest of the world. I have been watching videos from it to get an idea on how to create an event with such high energy and elegance.

Speaking of Hilary, Caroline, and yourself, I didn't see you guys on the runway for Fall 2010, was there any reason? I am curious because I definately missed you guys, and your struts!

http://fashioncontagious.blogspot.com

Julie Ling said...

...especially loved the cape idea! It actually makes the dress extremely glamourous. A little Dolce and Gabbana I think. :)

Stargazer said...

You looked absolutely stunning, as usual! I loved Zac's dress on you. I cannot believe that nobody had chosen that GORG dress for the red carpet before. I'm glad that you did! It's completely breathtaking, as are you! xo

Erika said...

You looked absolutely stunning!!! That dress took my breath away~

Anne said...

That dress killed, I repeat KILLEd at the Gala, Coco'! Only the genius of Zac Posen could've created that! You looked stunning, loved your hair and the dress and everything omg! That train was to die for... Thank you for describing your amazing experience at this year's Met Gala w/ us Coco. Love you!

cArLa said...

you look amazing in vintage zac posen! xo, carla

Reyni Ramírez said...

the dresss its beautiful... you look really wonderful!!!!!
xoxo

ediot said...

it must be so incredible to get to attend to wonderful events like this one. and to dress up completely. what an beautiful gown you got to wear,

xx ediot
www.ediot.org

MoonRox said...

What a stunning and ethereal dress! You looked beautiful!

Miranda said...

I'll bet everyone's eyes were trained on you/your dress that night!

Esther said...

really gorgeous i think you looked every bit the goddess in this dress <3 i can only imagine how difficult it was to get around in this dress; congratulations for making it! :)

Nádia said...

Coco, you look simply splendid! But you're always splendid, of course! The dress looked perfect on you! <3

http://myfashioninsider.blogspot.com/

Lexie said...

Oh Coco...

I LOVE Mr. Posens dress on you! You looked stunning and the photographers are idiots if they didn't notice you. Oh just wanted what is that event for? what is it all about?

Anyway, just want to say that you are ageless.

Lexie J.

SophieGrace said...

You look stunning! Amazing dress

Annie said...

dude you owned this beautiful dress like only you could, probs my favourite outfit there.

Ladybird said...

You looked amazing!

RS said...

you're AMAZING. Fave model yet!

Anonymous said...

Coco that dress was stunning! Loved the train, and the color reminded me more of a shimmering river, or ocean, pure, and clean, than a cloud. I remember seeing it at the Zac posen show, and I liked it then, but when I saw it on you I loved it!--thanks for sharing your amazing MET Ball experiance with us! It makes us all wish we could have gone! I loved all the other models but your outfit outdid all of theirs!
xoxo

itsjustleyla said...

wow i love your blog. it's the first model blog i've seen and i'm amazed!
i love your outfit of that night!

www.itsjustleyla.blogspot.com

The Fashion P.A. said...

Bravo!! Way to work it out. Best Model Ever.

http://thefashionpa.blogspot.com/

Surprising laptop battery said...

happy to share your blog!
you are so beautiful in the clothes

B. said...

Coco, I loved your dress choice. You looked stunning as always. Definitely my favorite supermodel who transcends generations and always stays classy and unique. I will definitely be blogging about this. Thanks for being a constant inspiration of class and elegance!

www.brittanyblackburn.com

ElodieVeryPetit said...

Amazing dress !

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous!

Love you Coco!

Anonymous said...

Amazing dress choice. Simply breathtaking. ^_^

ruya tabirleri said...

You looked absolutely bloody amazing!

walrus studio said...

Amazing dress... you look gorgeous!!

http://walrustudio.blogspot.com

KA-MAN said...

it seems like everyone admire your cape idea;)n of course,me too.v.

coco,you should have more confidence!because it's no doubt that you are gorgeous*v*

nina said...

Both u and the dress look absolutely amazing!

make believe said...

You looked stunning! Couldn't you have taken your dog along for the ride...kind of like a date. Maybe Zac Posen could have whipped up a tux for him too!

Anonymous said...

the female "attendants" are Vogue employees.

A Gluten Freestyle said...

So so amazing. The colour and print on that dress is so ethereal. You looked supreme!
x

Aveline said...

GORGEOUS! :)

i.c. blogspot said...

the dress is simply divine!

Anonymous said...

oh coco, you are forever adorable! loved that little doggie ride story. :) your Zac Posen cloud dress is vivacious!