What’s THE party of the year?

Probably the Met Gala, held the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to raise money for their Costume Institute.  It’s like the Oscars, but with more panache, since it’s all about fashion.

Each year the event has a theme.  Guests are encouraged to dress accordingly, so stars and their stylists go into overdrive planning their looks.  For many celebs, being photographed at the Met Gala is almost as important as appearing in Vogue.  That’s why stars like Gisele and Tom, Beyonce, and Rihanna really, really dress up:

 

 

 

This is also THE most exclusive social event in New York City.  Tickets to the black-tie affair are $30,000 each (yes, you read that right), and a table goes for $275,000 — more than the average American house.  But even if you had your platinum card ready, you have to get invited first.  Attendance is strictly by invitation only, with the guest list personally vetted by Anna Wintour and Vogue.  Only 550 guests were invited in 2017, so consider yourself very lucky if you were one of them!

For the 2017 Met Gala, which honored Rei Kawakubo/Commes des Garcons, event designer Raul Avila drew inspiration from the appliqued violets in one of her Fall 2007 looks:

 

If you were on the guest list, this is what you would’ve been treated to once you walked in:

 

After cocktails and the exhibit, you would have gone on to the formal dinner:

 

Playing off Raul’s whimsical floral theme, the gala featured gorgeous table settings by Eaddy Kiernan, who used pink and red linen tablecloths, Caskata peony blue-and-white china, Cutipol Goa gold and black flatware, and Vietri’s optical gold wine glasses.  And in a nod to Ms. Kawakubo’s Japanese heritage, each guest was presented with a sake cup and a pair of chopsticks.

 

Here’s a close-up of your table setting when you sat down.  You can see that every detail is perfectly thought out:

 

 

For the rest of us who, eh, couldn’t make it that night, it’s not hard to put together a party like this at home.

Just start with a couple of gorgeously colored tablecloths (and remember to think like a stylist, and pick colors that photograph well) …

Add in dinnerware with graphic, oversized flowers (this is fashion, don’t be subtle) …

And then layer in your gold and black accents.  For stemware, stick with something classic and elegant …

And then introduce something a bit edgier for your flatware.  Cutipol’s Goa gold matte/blue collection is perfect:

And finally, bring in a touch of the exotic.  Easy, with chopsticks …

 

… paired with Pagoda shakers detailed with pearls …

And sake cups!

Toasts all around!  What a gorgeous table you’ve created!

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