Hosting a party is never easy. But what about hosting the biggest fashion party of the year?
If the idea of planning a baby shower for a childhood friend stresses you out, spare a thought for the members of the Met Gala’s host committee. The annual gala, a fund-raiser turned fashion show for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, usually has a small handful of co-chairs who get all the attention. (This year, they include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.) But sometimes the co-chairs are joined by a host committee, a collection of boldface names responsible for representing the gala.
This year’s committee includes singers (Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Lisa), actors (Angela Bassett, Chase Sui Wonders, Lena Dunham), models (Lauren Wasser, Adut Akech, Alex Consani), artists (Anna Weyant, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sherald) and one member of the Vogue masthead (Chloe Malle).
Sure, these people were most likely chosen for their style and reputation, and no, they aren’t actually on the hook to plan the menu or roll out the carpet. But the Styles desk wanted to know about their hosting chops just the same. Last week, we sent a questionnaire via email to the members of the host committee, aiming to learn things like what they think is the ultimate party foul and who’s bringing chips to the function. Below are responses from eight of the co-hosts (the others were, presumably, too busy hanging streamers), edited for length and clarity.
Where were you when you got the news?
Lena Dunham, author and filmmaker: In bed, of course.
Angela Bassett, actress: I was just about to get in a workout for the morning. Getting that news made me even more determined to get in some good cardio and resistance training.
Anna Weyant, artist: At a sculpture foundry in upstate New York. I thought it was a prank.
What’s the biggest party you’ve ever planned?
Dunham: All the best parties I’ve planned have been onscreen. My event mojo is best activated when I’m sending an actor down the aisle or into a gala …
Bassett: I think the biggest event was probably my 25th wedding anniversary. Courtney and I went all out, and we had such a good time with our guests. There were over 200 people who came to celebrate with us!
Lauren Wasser, model: I’m actually planning it now (shh), my mom’s 60th birthday! I’m really looking forward to celebrating that milestone with her. Aging is priceless because the ability to get older and be on this planet, especially with the people you love, is a luxury nothing can replace.
Chloe Malle, editor: OUR ANNUAL PRE-MET PARTY!
Chase Sui Wonders, actress: Twenty-five of my closest adult friends did laser tag at Chelsea Piers for my birthday. Everyone was dripping in sweat afterward.
One truly unforgivable party foul?
Malle: MOVING PLACE CARDS. SOMEONE PUT TIME AND ENERGY INTO THAT, AND YOU’RE MAKING THE WHOLE JENGA TOWER TUMBLE BY MOVING YOURS!
Bassett: Anyone who attends with a bad attitude and bad energy. It messes up the party for everyone else.
Sui Wonders: Falling into the hot tub, fully clothed, when you don’t really know anyone at the party (I’ve done this).
What’s one essential for any good party?
Dunham: A smoking section, with someone posted up there expressly to catalog all gossip.
Aimee Mullins, actress and athlete: You need EITHER a magician OR someone who can make animals out of balloons, but not both because that’s WEIRD.
Tschabalala Self, artist: Anything goes if the party is good enough.
Wasser: As long as you’re open and protect your energy, you can have fun anywhere. Also deodorant because let me tell you, those natural ones — I get whiffs of myself or others, and I realize I gotta reapply, hahaha.
Malle: A SMILE!
Who are you wearing? (C’mon, we’re only going to tell our readers.)
Dunham: I refuse to fall for this! I will only say that it’s dynamic, shapely and a color that lives within us all …
Bassett: Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, right? Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until I hit that carpet to see what we’ve been creating for the past two months.
Mullins: It starts with an M and ends with an N, and there’s a curlicue in the middle.
Sui Wonders: Listen, I don’t even know yet!!
If you could invite any three people, living or dead, to the Met Gala, who would they be and why?
Mullins: Anna Wintour — I heard she’s always wanted a ticket. Gandhi — to see if he’d change up his look or stick with it. Lady Godiva — difficult to credit her outfit in the photos.
Self: Stephanie St. Clair, Madam C.J. Walker and Diahann Carroll as Dominique Deveraux.
Weyant: My boyfriend, my dog (she counts — I insist) and my mom because I love them.
You’re running late to the function: Which are you bringing — chips, dip or ice?
Self: Well, I’m not bringing ice.
Dunham: I’m not bringing anything because I’m having a panic attack. I’ll remove a necklace and offer it as penance.
Photographs: Lena Dunham by Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Angela Bassett by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Anna Weyant by Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times; Lauren Wasser by Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times; Chloe Malle by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; Chase Sui Wonders by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Aimee Mullins by Ye Fan for The New York Times; Tschabalala Self by Josefina Santos for The New York Times.
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