If there’s anything we’ve learned from behind-the-scenes glimpses of stars ahead of the Met, it’s that red carpet looks aren’t just made – they’re meticulously engineered.
More specifically, they’re the handiwork of an A-team of hairdressers, manicurists and makeup artists (plus their assistants), each with suitcases of products and tools in tow.
That’s as much true for the men as it is for the women, by the way.
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Sure, the guys may not have had lashes individually glued on or been sewn into gowns, but their moisturised beards and poreless faces aren’t a happy accident either.
And this year especially, with dandyism as the theme, there’s never been a more outright display of good grooming.
Take Colman Domingo, who has considerably upped the stakes for men on the red carpet.
Much of that flair is innate, but it’s award-winning makeup artist and groomer Jamie Richmond who ensured he was at his most suave last night. The duo have been collaborating for over 10 years – and the gala is always a highlight.
“It allows us to play a bit more with colour and texture and more stylised concepts,” she says. This year, it was mostly about channelling the notion of tailoring: “Everything we did was tailored to Colman. It was telling a story – about who he is and where he comes from.”
The pair’s skin prep routine consisted of Charlotte Tilbury’s Immediate Revival Under Eye Patches (“You leave these on for 10-15 minutes and any sign of fatigue is gone”) and the brand’s best-selling Magic Cream (“the perfect moisturiser”).
Finally, Richmond strategically applied touches of Danessa Myricks’ hybrid Yummy Balm.
“I really only use product where needed and work with the natural bone structure. I don’t believe that anyone needs a mask to be flawless.”
Also labouring backstage was Laila Hayani, an in-demand do-it-all groomer to Hollywood’s most handsome men (and a favourite of Met curator Andrew Bolton). At her busiest Met Galas, she’s been assigned to five celebrities – although this year she whittled it down to two, including NFL player Stefon Diggs.
“Stefon has great skin to begin with so I was more focused on skincare that will leave the skin luminous and moisturised without overdoing it,” she says.
“I start with 111 Skin Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask, followed by Augustinus Bader Face Oil. Then I use cryo sticks to depuff the face, sculpt the features and lock in moisture.” She then deploys a little of the Essential Face Compact by Fara Homidi Beauty (yet to land in the UK) to blur out any pigmentation. “It’s the perfect texture for men’s skin because it has a velvety matte finish.”
For co-chair A$AP Rocky, a more elaborate spin on his trademark cornrows was on the agenda, courtesy of go-to hairstylist Tashana Miles.
“We decided to draw inspiration from 1950s finger waves and incorporate that into a braided fashion, which we thought would go well with the theme,” she says. A world-class talent, Tashana explains that her technique really can’t be neatly summarised.
“It’s really just about flow and letting the comb lead me, and I kind of map it out as I go.” That said, she still comes armed with a suite of products and tools: “braiding gel, edge control, precision comb, mousse and holding spray – and then you just let it sit and set. Overall, I’m very proud of what we accomplished, and he looked very handsome on the red carpet.”
Given the inscrutable glare of the paparazzi bulbs on Met night, it’s understandable that no feature is overlooked. And with those all-important money shots required for the watch sponsors, the hands in particular receive more TLC than ever.
Hayani’s trick consists of “cuticle oil and a metal nail file – I apply the oil around the nails to give off a manicured effect and then file so the nails are even and clean. It just wraps the look together to give a pristine and polished effect.”
Even for the watch enthusiasts who won’t be parading red carpets anytime soon, there’s a lesson to be gleaned from this level of precision. Namely, when you’re lucky enough to be wearing five figures’ worth of hardware, it’s simply good manners to give them a well-primed canvas.
