Booked and busy is one way to describe the talented Vince Ashton. He has been on one hell of a ride that is still taking him too new heights. Leading by example and teaching his fans that it's never too late to pursue your passions, no matter how many you may have . If you frequent the Atlanta scene chances are you've already been introduced to Ashton. He's a serial entrepreneur that keeps busy by pursuing a budding singing career and running multiple businesses: Blacktivty Activism, Everyday Ashton Photography and It’s A Cheesecake by Vince Ashton. The time has come for Ashton to enter the next chapter of his career, and he wants us to know its all about the music. Interview by Angel Neal At the present moment what business right now is feeding your soul? I’m all about my music right now. I’m all about entertaining, that has been the longest dream and passion of mine that has forever fit my soul. So right now I’m just really honing down and just you know really digging into my craft and my skill set in focusing on releasing new music. Will Smith once said, There is no reason to have a plan B because it distracts you from Plan A. You’re a serial entrepreneur, how are you juggling it all? You know what once upon a time, I didn’t know how I was juggling it, I was just sort of making it happen. But I look at things now and I guess even retrospectively, a lot of the stuff or the different entities that are a part of the Vince Ashton brand happens in seasons. So say for instance, my cheese cakes, you know, that’s pretty much a holiday type of situation. So when October kicks off, and we have Thanksgiving and Christmas happening, I’m doing the cheese cakes, and then come spring, summertime, that’s when everybody’s doing Prom pictures, graduation pictures and everything. So, I think that I’m blessed to have a lot of those different entities that don't collide and I'm able to pursue my passions all at once. "I do 1000% , know who Vince Ashton is. I’m very confident and affirmed in who I am as a man, as well as an entertainer." How did growing up in Atlanta, Georgia influence your musical sound? I mean, we hear this all the time Atlanta is the place to be and I thoroughly believe. ATL is so rich of opportunities in so many avenues and lanes that you could just create your own space. The reflection in my music, shows up in my choices of the producers and songwriters that I have collaborated with who are from Atlanta. And to a degree I tell anyone who listens, but person this Atlanta just got some different, the swag, the magic you instantly know an artist is from ATL, just in the way that we talk, the way we write the way we move. I think there is such a sincere amount of truth that comes with the content that comes with the songs that I release. A similarity to popular Atlanta artists like Monica, TLC, 2 Chainz and Usher, a lot of their songs come from a real place, whether it is struggle, whether it is love, and I think that we all can identify in that. You’re what we like to call renaissance man, I know you hear that all the time. Being someone who can turn a passion into a paycheck. But in your own words. So let’s focus on music. How are you inspiring the culture of music? I'm inspiring because I'm reminding the world, It’s never too late. Because basically, the songs that I just recently released were already living on SoundCloud but because I have been blessed to juggle many things and have many entities a lot of those things sort of clouded what I wanted to be my forefront which was the music. So I just was like you know what? It’s never too late. Let me take my top three records that were on SoundCloud, put a little mixer master on them and throw them out there just to get everybody re-acclimated to Vince Ashton, the artist, if you will. And a lot of times I feel like nowadays people feel and just with society and even just through hardships in life and their journey that people live in a position where Dang, it might be too late for me to pursue this dream or Dang, you know, this idea, or this project that I once had it’s dated or it’s old, or it’s mundane, or it’s sort of been shelved and collected dust. Sometimes you have to take ownership, but you got to have your own passion enough to pull those ideas off those shelves, blow the dust off, repaint them, remix them, give them some light, enhance them and put it back out there for the public to see. This is where my journey is right now. So you fuse many genres styles and concepts together in your music. Where does that inspiration come from? It really comes from my background of being a jazz musician. I grew up in the south singing in the church. I was in band, middle school and high school, I'm also a trained classical musician. I play woodwind instruments, the oboe and English horn if you want to dissect that if you will, and then in the midst of all that just loving music in general. My mom was big on God, but she was also really big on like alternative rock and pop songs in the 90s and classical things and then you know, even for me like I loved R&B, you know, I really latched on to that 90s R&B sound. I don’t know what happened, but I really love country also. I just went to see Carrie Underwood, I will say she sang her face off. I’ve always just had an ear to the streets or an ear for music an ear for great music in for me, I don’t think it even really matters what genre it is specified in or located. If it touches me in tonally, then I’m gonna rock with it. And I think I’ve just reciprocated that and reflected that. In my music. I write what I want to write, and I write it to whatever genre I feel reflects the core and the essence of that song. And I’m contending that and that’s always been me. So being a black artist, there’s always more scrutiny and you have to be mindful of how you brand yourself. How do you balance that with showing personality in your music? I think if you want to look at it from an industry perspective, what I would definitely say is true core to Vince Ashton is R&B. I love R&B up and down, but I’m also not opposed to writing and recording to other genres. But I guess for the sake of playing the game, and just the politics of industry and identifying XYZ then I will put myself onto the R&B department and I’m completely continuing that because I love R&B. R&B is not dead ladies and gentlemen. Today we look at streams, social media and sometimes don’t really focus on the beauty in the music. In your own words what defines an artist to you in 2023? I think there has to be a level of uniqueness. Because let’s be honest about the situation. You know, talent is everywhere. Atlanta is very saturated. A lot of other major cities are very saturated with talent. But wduring casting callsor executive meetings you'll often get asked, what makes you different than the next person. And what defines you as a human? What defines you as artist? Is it your uniqueness? Is there something different about your tone? Is there something different about your style? Is there something different about your perspective? And and can you sort of use that as a marketing tool? Can that become an aesthetic? Can that become something that compels people to want to sort of buy into your vision, buy into your music, buy into your dream? So I would have to leave with that with that answer and say, uniqueness, there is a level of uniqueness that should define you, as an artist versus a singer. On the other hand, the rise of social media has afforded musicians a platform to cultivate their own identity on their own terms. Arguably, there has never been a better time than it is today with social media for independent artists. Do you agree? I think that social media is today’s grassroots myth, if you will, you brought up the 90 so I distinctively remember growing up in Atlanta, being at Greenbriar mall, being that Shannon mall, and going into the car and always having somebody flyer from somebody’s mixtape, somebody album, somebody something in the windshield, you get what I’m saying, or people just blasting a music on the corner of highway 85, or whatever because that was grassroots. I think now that social media is in place, and you can level up and purchase ads and, you know, do paid social, and that really expands your market. I think that sort of took the place of the grassroots method, but I will say, it’s funny, because I will say pre algorithm, I think that, um, things were a lot easier than post algorithm, because I feel like if you are already pre established pre algorithm with followers and all those things, then you pretty much had a solid following foundation with promoting things and posting things and getting that good engagement. I think posts algorithm for new artists and new creatives that are really trying to, you know, hit those benchmark goals and get that engagement and so on and so forth, its hard. One day you get 150 likes the next day, you get 10. Social media has definitely put a damper on the marketing and the publicity side of it, but at the end of the day, if you’re passionate about it, my quote that I look at is consistency is the key to break through. So regardless of whatever challenge it is you got to keep pushing through. So for many artists fear is emotion that either propels or hinders their creativity and development. Do you feel you’re at a stage in your career where you know who you are as an artist, performer or entrepreneur? I do 1,000% , know who Vince Ashton is. I’m very confident and affirmed in this who I am as a man, as well as just an entertainer and as artists and you know, I’m 33 years old. I have been singing since I was like six and I feel in this journey of life, I have been privileged to be able to just Dibble and dabble in a lot of different forms of entertainment, a lot of different forms of musicianship and genres. Those experiences have assisted me in cultivating the artist that I am today you get what I’m saying. So I love to ask artists, in the shower are you singing your songs or someone else? If you are singing someone else, whose the artist? So I’ll say this if I record something new in the studio, I’m listening to the record for the next two weeks all day up and down. Oh, when that has served its purpose then I’m probably listening to Musiq Soul Child. When that first steam from the shower open up your register you know you can get out a note with Jesus toenails! If there has to be a second artist if I'm just really in a good mood, its New Edition I'm singing and doing full choreography in the shower. What are you excited for next? So right now all things are leading up to July, I am performing sort of CO headlining on East Point city’s annual firework Independence Day celebration. I’m really excited. And then July 9, I’m heading back to Vancouver, Canada, because I am headlining my first outdoor music festival in British Columbia. So really excited about those two things. And of course, there’s other things leading up to that. Kickback, one of the records that I actually just released, I recently recorded an acoustic version. So that will be available for your Spotify and Apple Music and all that stuff. When I tell you, I did my good singing. I did my big one on this remix. And then once Vancouver is done I may drop something else, you know, mid summer, early fall, if you will. So yeah, definitely more music. But those are the big things on the radar right now. Oh, and I may be hopping back on your television screens too soon. What inspired kickback? Shout out to my homeboy, B. Louis. He’s a phenomenal songwriter out in Huntsville, Alabama. We met on Twitter, you know, just networking. I sent him the track and he wrote it seamlessly. 'Kickback' is a song thats very relatable, its really just about making sure that your relationship is secure. Like in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life and grinding, like you said, Renaissance man got many things happening at one time, but I want to make sure my lady is secure in the midst of it. At the end of the day we’re going to have a good time. Listen to Kickback.

Shaquille “Shaq” Palmer is a self-made celebrity stylist and he understands the assignment when it comes to fashion. Already, in his young career, Palmer has styled for an impressive star-studded list of clients, including City Girls, Trina, Diddy, Serena Williams and Nicki Minaj, to name a few. Interview by Angel Neal What prompted your interests and subsequently, your foray into the fashion industry? So I’ve always been into fashion, I was that kid that went to school, and always had dope clothes on, stuff that people wanted to wear. People always in school always thought that I never wore anything twice. But in reality, of course, you know, I was wearing things twice, but I was just able dress them a certain way to the point where you would have never knew that I may have had it on three days ago. I feel like I was just born with style. I moved to Miami in 2013 and I was a brand ambassador and originally moved to go to school for visual merchandising. I needed to figure out how I was going to start my career. Living in Miami I knew I needed to connect with Trina or someone like Pitbull because they are pillar’s in the foundation of Miami. I just remember, finding out where Trina lived. I was able to finesse, knocking on her front door and leaving her a note in a coconut water delivery. She decided to give take a chance on me and the rest is history. "When working on jobs, the first thing you need to ask your client is what are their restrictions." WHAT'S THE BIGGIEST MISSCONCEPTION OF A CELEBRITY WARDROBE STYLIST? I think the biggest misconception is what goes on behind the scenes. Its not just a typical day of going to the mall and buying stuff. The time and dedication that goes along with this career is time consuming. You can get called for big projects from different celebrities at the last minute, so you have to be able to think on your toes. Sometimes you may have only one day to secure a look. What people don’t realize is the amount of effort you put into creating a look. Not to mention, when you have to take shipping into consideration, overnight does not always mean overnight, their may be delays and you have to be prepared with a backup. A lot of times the art that I'm putting out in the world is a shared art. So another misconception is lack of compromise, theres no way around that. There are so many different avenues in wardrobe styling, what made you want to focus on celebrity styling? One of my first clients wasn’t actually a celebrity he was just a gentlemen with money. I worked with him for a few and I realized, the everyday client is cool, but you want to be with the celebrities you want the notoriety you want all of those things that come with a celebrity client. Having that notoriety and people knowing that you styled this person and you’re around this person is a different type of fulfillment. I also believe you really can get further in your career working with celebrities versus the everyday person. So beyond red carpet style, you also do performance looks and videos What do you like most about these different mediums? What I love about styling performance looks, is that element of freedom. You just have a level of freedom to do whatever it is that you want to do and be creative. You can’t always be creative with the everyday look. You just can’t walk outside everyday in a bedazzled jumpsuit. So, performance looks are definitely my go-to styling medium. Videos are also fun. Identity is a big word, and I always want all my clients to feel like they have their own identities and it’s not something that I’m just throwing on them. So we speak about creativity, but what other areas besides fashion do people need to understand to make their job make it as a job in the fashion industry? The business side of things. You need to have your contracts in order. Having a growing contact list, researching emerging designers and just making sure you are creating relationships with designers, showrooms and people in the industry. Do you have like a specific philosophy when it comes to style? When I’m working depending on the project and the person, I normally like to start of with the shoes for the look before I do anything else. You can pick out a whole outfit and the shoe just may not go. Some people choose to style top to bottom and secure the look and worry about the shoes last. But personally for me, I feel like shoes is a big part of detailing. If you have a bomb shoe on you can compliment even the plainest look. How did costume designing come about for the film Secret Society 2? You know, its so crazy because Miasha and I are both from Philly. I had seen part one so I was already a fan of the movie. I just happened to be a normal person just watching it and I think I might have followed her on Instagram. She followed me back and we began instant messaging each other. We went to lunch on South Beach and just started bouncing ideas off each other and the opportunity presented itself to do the styling for the film. I think I was able to nail the vision and aesthetic of the characters. Overall I'm so grateful for that project, I often get compliments about the memorable looks from the film. It took about 3days and market research in LA to piece the looks together. I look forward to working on the third adaption of the movie. I'm ready to create more iconic and fun looks for the cast. Celebrity styling has become such a popular career, but it’s never been just about putting outfits together, what skills must people have besides just being fashion forward, or knowing how to dress? You need to have patience and you need to be able to be creative. In addition you have to be a good listener and open to understanding the needs and wants of your clients. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, in the beginning of my career of not listening to what the client wants. When working on jobs, the first thing you need to ask your client is what are their restrictions. Like for instance JT, of the City Girls does not like wearing ankle boots, she’s repeatedly told me, because it makes her feel short. So as her stylist I have to take that in consideration when I’m creating a look. You have to be open to constructive criticism and compromise on a regular basis.

For The Record He’s Bringing Back Vulnerability and Honesty to R&B Photography By Leslie Andrews @leslieandrewsphoto Creative Director & Stylist & Interview Angel Neal @angel_stylistbehavior Male Beauty Grooming Erika Moore @iamerikamoore Barber Sherrod Thompson Stylist Assistant Imani Brown @theeimanianisa Production Assistant Precious Neal @zhamaria1 Wearing: Beef and Broccoli Cardigan- Wisdom of Age Consumption Kills Laced Leathered Pants- Verdict Still Out Sneakers- Louis Vuitton Maxi Trainer Glasses- Showroom Disrupshion (Gucci Eyewear) Ar’mon Warren has the kind of voice you don’t easily forget. His natural charisma and undeniable talent are what make him a star. This is part of Warren’s appeal. He is authentic and frank, yet at the same time bubbly and vivacious, often cracking jokes and able to laugh at himself. With just a few songs under his belt, the Detroit native has become a favorite among Gen Zers, especially with tracks like "1hr Past Midnight," which made a splash on the billboard digital charts. Ar'mon lets us know he's ready to showcase his impressive vocal range and emotive songwriting. He'll stay consistently dropping music until he puts the finishing touches on his anticipated EP release, hopefully sometime this year. We had a chat with the talented artist about all things songwriting, finding his sound, and the process of protecting his energy in this industry. A lot of lot of artists when they start off, they don’t really know who they are, as an artist, it takes a little bit of time to find your sound and really mold into the artist you want to be. As an artist, songwriter are you comfortable where you are now in your creative process? When I was younger I struggled a bit with who I wanted to be as an artist. A lot of people knew my brother and I could sing, but what was the story behind us and how the music played a role. In my early days of singing I felt like I was just trying to find myself as an artist, trying to figure it out. Today I feel like every artist has a story to tell, its just all about how you angle it. I want the people to see who I am as a person through my music. Naturally today I feel it just flows in the way that I write, and the things that I do, yes, I am comfortable. I’m honest in my lyrics. My fans know I’m from Detroit, they know I can sing but I’m just continuing to grow in my artistry. There are still so many pages in my book, right now I’m slowly flipping through them so people can better understand me and my music. Wearing Bloom Jacket- Curation Aaliyah Mona-Lisa Tee- Flauce Crucify Perception Leather Pants- Verdict Still Out Sneakers- BALENCIAGA runner sneakers Every song you have recently dropped: “These Games,” “1hr Past Midnight,” “I Caught You” and “Hol’ It Down” have charted on the digital Billboard charts. How has it been since hitting thatmilestone so early on in your career? Honestly, I try not to look at them type of things. You may see me acknowledge it, but you know I’m in this business for the long haul. But my initial feeling that I felt was surprised not because it was something I didn’t expect but because my first single drop was released without my knowledge of the release date. So to see it drop unexpectedly and be received the way it has, it's a great feeling. I’ve been praying for it. I still pray for it. I really had to thank God because I don’t know how long y’all been watching my journey but you know, I’ve been doing this for awhile. Just to see the continued support makes me go harder. I know, I put in the work, the countless nights, the time I’m in the studio, it's paying off and it's only the beginning. I just hope that you know, we crack that Billboard Hot 100 one day. "I want to use my influence to inspire. That’s always been one of my biggest things, since day one." When it comes to your songwriting, you referenced before crediting real life experiences are the motivation behind your lyrics. So how does being vulnerable about your experiences in such a public way have an effect on you? Okay, so let me clear this up, I’m going to speak truth in my music. I just want to go on record and say not all my lyrics I may put out may be about something that happened to me or how I feel. As an artist I want to explore different topics. I feel like everybody can share a feeling, we can relate to. I’ve experienced heartbreak before and felt love before. So I just feel like I want to make relatable music. I don’t want people to say, like, oh, well, he must be going through a breakup because he only write about stuff associated with that. I share the same feelings with my consumers, I’m happy and sometimes I may feel sad. But at the end of the day that’s the angle I want to approach with my music. It’s never really personal. It's more so a personal feeling everyone has shared or can relate to. To read the full interview grab the June issue of Disrupshion Magazine !

A fashion editor turned New York Fashion Week staple celebrity, Caroline Vazzana made the scary jump from working full-time at InStyle to focusing on her own creative brand. With over 350,000 Instagram followers, features in top glossies, and a must-read book “Making It in Manhattan” and now recently launching the podcast adaptation. It’s safe to say she has made it. And while her colorful approach to style certainly stands out, what makes Caroline truly unique in a sea of influencers is how eager she is to share her success. In this exclusive interview she gets candid on surviving and thriving in the world of fashion. Photographer: Reef Turner @reefturner Wardrobe credits: Dress – H+M Collection Shoes – Gucci Gloves – Cynthia Rowley Glasses – Zenni Necklace – Vivienne Westwood Earrings - MiuMiu Describe your style in 3 words? Eclectic, obviously colorful, but then also ever changing. I’m really not afraid to take risks and embrace new things, but to always put my spin on it. I think it’s always just important to still put your spin on trends no matter what it. I say ever changing because my style is always evolving and I'm always willing to trying new things. I'm especially into vintage and unique pieces. If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life. Who would it be? Oh, my goodness, that is so hard. I wear a lot of vintage. I’ll say the first designer that jumps into my mind because I love going in their store and window shopping is Miu Miu. I feel like they’re very feminine and fun. You could style their pieces in really different and cool ways and they do embellishments and sparkles really well. I visit the Miu Miu store a lot and I'm always inspired. I have so many shoes from them. Fendi is a great option as well, thats my second choice. You’ve conquered everything from wardrobe styling to fashion publishing. We’d like to ask what prompted your subsequently foray into the fashion industry. I always loved fashion. I joke that when I was younger, my mom would try to dress me but I would always insist on dressing myself. So it was kind of in my DNA. When I was younger I thought I wanted to be an artist for a long time, I love to draw and paint and I was always just a more creative minded person. It wasn’t until I went to college, I decided I’m going to study fashion. But like most people, I went in studying fashion design, because I feel like when you’re younger, you only know about a being a designer or a buyer like those are the two career paths. So I went in as a fashion design major, thankfully, I went to a small liberal arts school. So it gave me the opportunity to shift my major a bit. So I ended up changing my major to a double major of design and merchandising, because I realized after taking one sewing class, maybe design isn’t for me. Yet I knew it was still a career in fashion I wanted. So when I broaden my major, it allowed me to, try out a little bit of, the business side of things. And that’s when I learned a little bit more about editorial and styling, while still also learning a about design at my school. But it wasn’t really until I did internships was that I really learned what I wanted to do, and the ins and outs of the industry. I really say hands on experience and interning, that’s when you’re going to learn everything, that’s when you’re going to really figure out that this is for you. So my first internship ever was after my sophomore year of college, it was with fashion designer, Anna Sui, and it was an amazing experience. I interned in her production department. The summer after that, I went on to intern for Marie Claire, and that was my first foot into editorial. I realized, wow, you can work with a ton of different brands rather than working with just one brand. And that’s what I loved about the magazine world and about editorial. So speaking of internships and real work experience, we know persistence is key in the fashion industry. Do you remember the moment when you decided you wanted to branch off and become your own boss? How many internships or jobs did it take for you to build that confidence to say, Hey, I’m going to do my own thing? I remember it being a scary feeling. Because growing up, I knew I wanted to work in fashion, and then I knew I wanted to work at a fashion magazine. So to think about leaving that behind to become my own boss was such a big and scary risk. The idea to do my own thing came while working at InStyle, the wheels started turning a little bit and I started thinking to myself, I wonder if I could be my own boss. I wonder what that would be like. It was also a time when the word "influencer" didn’t exist and bloggers and social media was kind of just starting to take off. But I’d see these women online who were working for themselves because of social media. And it was very intriguing. I wondered how does this work? How do they make money? I just thought it was very interesting. So it was after, you know, having worked at InStyle for a bit that I realized I can do it to. I started posting on Instagram more frequently sharing my daily outfits and a visual of my day to day in the city at InStyle and what I was doing, and then I also started writing my book Making it in Manhattan. At the time I also launched a website called Making it in Manhattan. So I was putting in all the groundwork and setting things up before I just quit and took that risk. So you took the leap of faith to branch out on your own. How did you navigate decision making as a new entrepreneur? Did you face any hurdles in the beginning of your first few years? Yeah, definitely. I mean, in the beginning, it’s hard. I feel like in the beginning, it was just months and months of kind of re educating all of my contacts and the people that I had worked with previously and being like, Hey, I’m now working for myself. If you have any jobs or you have any work you need done. In the first three to five months, it was all coffee meetings, letting my network know I’m working for myself. Reminding them, now I’m freelancing, I can write and I can style. I can do social media, I can do all these different things. Do you need help with anything? Do you need anybody for any projects? So really, that was the biggest hurdle at first, because even though I sent a huge mass email telling everybody that I was leaving, and you know, pursuing working for myself, I would take people out to coffee, who I knew very well and they’d be like, Oh, I had no idea. You never know what is going to lead to your next job or next paycheck. So kind of just getting my name back out there almost was a hurdle but not a big challenge because I at least had contacts now, but I had to figure out how to build myself back up. You learn as you grow. So what would you say has been the most challenging aspect of your career so far? It’s definitely challenging at all times. Because I think you always need to be reinventing yourself and keeping yourself up on the newest trends and on top with what’s going on. And you never want to feel stagnant. So if there’s a new platform coming out, or there’s a new medium that’s getting popular, making sure that you’re at the forefront of those things, and keeping yourself and your brand fresh, new and interesting. You can get comfortable in what you’re doing and what’s working for you. But I think it’s always so important to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to keep growing and to keep changing and evolving. So on the other hand, what would you say is the most rewarding part of your job so far? I love the creative freedom of it. It’s just so incredible to get to work with so many brands that I’ve admired for years. Inaddition, being given by those brands, the freedom that they trust me to put the outfits together or to shoot the content or create the content thet way that I want to create it. I'll never take that for granted. So I think the creative freedom that comes with working for yourself and being able to work with so many people and brands that have inspired you over the years, like it’s just so rewarding, and it’s so exciting. No day is the same for me. So via your social media, we see that your closet, AKA your office is a fashion girls fantasy. The ultimate work from home space but if you had to raid any celebrity’s closet who would it be and why? Okay, so I’m gonna say this, because I know she has a lot of the pieces. Sarah Jessica Parker, because she has a ton of the Sex and the City archive pieces. She was allowed to keep a ton of the pieces from the show. So I feel like if I got to raid her closet, I would probably pass out of excitement because she has amazing style. I'm sure it would be like walking into an exhibit of some of the best outfits of “Sex and the City. The outfits from the show and movies are still impacting and still influencing this generation . Wardrobe styling has become such a popular career, but it’s never been just about putting outfits together. So for someone who wants to become an aspiring stylist, what skills must they also possess to become a great fashion stylist? I think something that people don’t realize is how much work it actually is behind the scenes. So it can look very glamorous when the clients are all done up on the red carpet or when the magazine comes out and you see the work, your editorial spread, and you’re posting it online, it looks very glamorous. But being a stylist takes a lot of dedication and a lot of hard work and persistence. You have to be willing to put in the hours to schlep the bags around the city yourself, and get down on your hands and knees. You're tying clients shoes, you're handling returns and coordinating pickups. Being able to be dedicated to multitasking, it’s really the work that makes a good stylist. It’s those nitty gritty little details. So I think being very detail oriented, and then also being really persistent. One you realize that it’s not just glamorous day to day, it’s fulfilling work but can also be hard work. Passion, dedication and consistency will carry you along way. So you’ve mentioned before that fashion is the ultimate armor for you? Do you have a specific philosophy when it comes to styling your clients or getting yourself dressed daily? I think at the end of the day, you know, fashion is my armor. Fashion should make you feel good and protect you. When you’re walking into a room, I always say if you know nobody walking in with a really fun and fabulous outfit its the perfect conversation starter, because people instantly want to come up to you and ask you about your look. And it’ll just help break down your walls. If you’re feeling nervous. If you’re feeling anxious, if you might not be having the best day fashion is the way to help you look and feel your best even on your lowest days. So I think my philosophy is always what do I feel good in? How am I feeling today, I always say that I’m an emotional dresser. And I always project that on people I’m working with as well. Because if you’re in a bad mood, and you’re just feeling really depressed and down, putting on a really colorful, bold, sparkly outfit instantly boosts your mood. Getting all dressed up doing your hair makeup, I sometimes say getting ready is more fun than the actual event. So I believe in making sure people feel and look their best through fashion. If you look good on the outside, you’ll feel good on the inside, because it’ll just make you more confident. Let’s talk Making it in Manhattan. You started off with a blog, a book and now a podcast. First and foremost, let’s talk the book. So if I am an aspiring fashion enthusiast, just in general, what are three takeaways that someone can take away from reading your book? There’s so many. I talk a lot about interning. I think interning is so important if you’re trying to break into the industry. And I talk all about, how to get internships, how to reach out to people, I have literally, pre written little sample emails and messages that you could send to people when you’re reaching out. So I think number one, that is super helpful. I also talked about being persistent not giving up, and that you really have to love the industry. Because fashion is a 24/7 job. You don’t just turn your laptop off at five o’clock, and the day is done in fashion. It’s 24/7. It’s part of your life. And I think making sure people are aware of that when going into it. I always say in a joking, not joking way, fake it till you make it when you’re starting out. I knew nobody starting out. You got to be willing to grind put in the time, but then act like you know what you’re doing until you do start getting jobs and landing the big projects. What is the Making It In Manhattan podcast bringing to the forefront? What topics will you be touching on? What will differentiate your podcasts from others? I feel like there aren’t too many fashion focused podcasts. There's a gap in the market for a real fashion Insider Podcast. It will be similar to bringing my book into a podcast format. If you’re living in the middle of nowhere, or you just moved to New York, or you’ve been living in New York for years, and you just want to on a weekly basis, go to a place where you can relax and listen to someone speak about fashion and talk about fashion, its for you. I’ll also touch on the ups and downs of working in industry and breaking into the industry and the pressures of social media and dealing with hate comments and not feeling good enough. And I think nowadays, even if you’re not trying to be an influencer, you can relate to the hate that is happening on social media at times and dealing with even just being nervous to put yourself out there, whether it’s just for you know, a small audience of like your college and high school peers to see or, you know, hundreds of 1000s of people to see. I plan on talking about how to build your personal sense of style and find it. I get messages from people daily who are so nervous to dress outside the lines and to express themselves creatively because of fear of judgment from others. So, you know, I want to be this splash of light for people where they can go each and every week, and listen to someone who’s like your best friend holding your hand and just chatting with you. It’s very conversational and fun and will be easy to listen to. We noticed the OG Carrie Bradshaw has liked some of your photos on Instagram. So you’ve been kind of crowned the title of the modern day Carrie Bradshaw, but a little bit more relatable. Tell me besides the Manolo’s how did the title come about? I mean, it’s a crazy title. And I get so excited that people see me that way. It started when I was working at InStyle magazine. And honestly, I got invited to my first Manolo Blahnik sample sale when they used to do that. I don’t know if they do it anymore. But I was so excited, and at the time, the Manolo’s were very affordable. I bought a couple of pairs. I would wear them every day at the office or like a couple times every week, and then I would always dress very eclectically. I feel like a lot of fashion editors, at least back in 2016 would wear jeans, white t-shirts and a black heel. They were minimalistic. And I was always this overdressed maximalist. So I was doing that while I was writing for InStyle. And it started one day I was at an event and a publicist was introducing me to someone else. And they’d refer to me as, oh, yeah, she’s like, the real life, Carrie Bradshaw. And that was the first time anyone said it. And I was like, what, that’s literally the nicest thing anybody could say. And then a couple of weeks later, a magazine was interviewing me. And in the interview, the writer said to me, so you really remind me of like a Carrie Bradshaw type figure, like how does that make you feel? Do you resonate with that? And I was like, Okay, so now this is twice. So it started, more people started saying that, and I just thought it was so cool. But it was really when Patricia Field who is the stylist of “Sex and the City”, acknowledged it that I feel like it really became solidified. When she was launching a new Carrie necklace, they called it the Carrie 2.0. She wanted to shoot a whole campaign to promote the necklace. Her team reached out to me, and were like, hey, Pat wants to hire you to be the face of that campaign, and to do the shoot and to pretty much be the Carrie 2.0 . I didn’t hesitate. And if she acknowledges it and almost like, accepts it and endorses it, that is just wild to me. So the photo shoot was so cool. We shot it all in the East Village. I wore some pieces from her art gallery, and then some pieces from the “Sex and the City” archives. Overall it was just such a fun mix of pieces and a fun mix of minds as well. Like everyone was so creative. How about how the term resonates with where you are in you current career? You know, I think it’s safe to say Carrie Bradshaw was writing one article a week and was buying all these expensive clothing and it wasn’t really realistic. So today I feel like she would have been an influencer because it is a much better way to sustain yourself in that kind of lifestyle in New York City, going to events buying shoes and posting about it online because she did have such fabulous style. So I feel through sharing my very colorful, eclectic style online, but then also keeping it a bit more real like with my book and the career advice that’s in there about starting out. And you know, you can’t always only buy designer pieces and sometimes you need to buy them secondhand. And you can thrift and you can go to sample sales and different things like that keeping it a little bit more realistic than the show does, which obviously, the show is fantasy, and it’s supposed to be fun and something you watch to just mentally escape and it’s not supposed to be serious. But I think those similarities lends to the title becoming this kind of like fixture in my career. And then my style and my writing, and also, which is so weird, but Carrie’s real name is actually Caroline, and my name is Caroline. And if you look on Wikipedia, it literally says Caroline Marie Bradshaw, and my name is Caroline Marie, my middle name is actually the same. Yeah, so there was just like a lot of little things and little similarities, that I think people outside started putting two and two together. And then it just started kind of sticking with me. And hey, it’s a beautiful title that I really am honored to have. And recently, I just worked with Pat for her book launch, and I co hosted an event with her. And at the event, they were like, we have our modern day Carrie Bradshaw and it was me and Pat and Kim Cottrell was in the audience. It was crazy. I was like pinching myself. But I’m definitely very thankful and appreciative to get to kind of be that Bradshaw figure for a younger generation. In the “Making it in Manhattan” book you speak about how your middle school art teacher influenced your creativity. For people coming up in the fashion industry. How important are role models and mentors in this industry? Yes, oh my goodness, I definitely equate some of my success and the fact that I was able to express myself so creatively because of Mrs. Klein, my art teacher, she was the first person I felt that really saw that I was creative and acknowledged it. It can be really hard when you’re the only person rooting for yourself and helping yourself to keep going on those really hard days. So absolutely, I think mentors, and it could be a boss, it could be a teacher, it could be a parent, it could just be a classmate who’s a few years older than you having a mentor and someone to look up to and speak to and to run ideas past and to just encourage you along the way. It’s so important. And yes, I think about that all the time. And actually after the book came out her and I got lunch all these years later, and she was teary eyed. And it was so beautiful, because she’s still so important to me. I obviously mentioned her by name in the book. And she still remembers everything because we had such a special relationship, even through like I went to high school, we kept in touch and everything. But she definitely left like a lasting impression on my life, for sure. In an industry with so much competition, how do you stay uplifted and motivated and even inspired to push through while cultivating necessary relationships? I have my up and down days, just like everybody else, I think, like you said, the fashion industry, it can be a beautiful place. But it can also be a really hard place, comparison is deadly, and it’s there, and especially in social media comparing, you know, why did that person get this opportunity and I didn’t. So keeping yourself positive and uplifted for yourself and for your own mental sanity, but then to also be a beacon of light for others and an inspiration for others. You know, there’s a lot going on and you want to make sure that you’re being a positive mentor and you know, person to look up to for your audience. So for me, the ways that I stay positive are if I need to take a break, I take a break and if I need to have a day where I’m just kind of like doing nothing and relaxing, like I really need to take that time and having nights at home with my husband Dave, where we turn off our phones and just eat dinner and watch a movie and disconnect. I think those times away are so important and then surrounding yourself with positive people. I live close to my family which I’m very lucky to do so. I usually see my family like a couple of times every month, and I feel that time is very good because it keeps me grounded and then it almost like, brings me back to reality because if I was only in my bubble of going to events and going on trips and attending dinners and doing photoshoots, and almost didn’t have any connection to like the outside world, I think it would be detrimental to my mental health and to just also who I am as a person. I like to keep myself very grounded and very humble. And we’re all people and we’re always figuring out this thing called life together, no one has it figured out. So I definitely will say spending time with my family. Being very close with my family, I think it really helps me keep me grounded, and also keep me happy and, you know, pull me out of hard times and things like that. Knowing its ok if you need it to just reset and recharge your mental health. There’s sort of a gatekeeper culture in the fashion industry. Sometimes, you may want to reach out to someone and they’re just not that open to mentorship or dropping gems. What’s the best way of contacting influencers that you admire? I think, you know, sometimes the best mentors are the ones when you bump into each other on the street or at an event or like it’s very serendipitous. But if you want to reach out to somebody, it really depends on the creator, influencer or editor. If it seems like they’re very active on social media and active in their DMS, I think you can send a professional DM it just needs to be worded the right way, and still feel very professional, almost like an email. So you know, it’s hard because with Instagram and stuff, it feels like we know everybody, I even feel like I see people who I’m like, oh, yeah, we’ve never met, but I feel like you’re my best friend. It’s important to keep that reminder in your mind of like, oh, yeah, wait, I don’t know, this person we’ve never met. So just keeping that level of, Hey, I just wanted to reach out my name is so and so introducing yourself. But email is also great. And in your DM, say, if you prefer email, let me know the best email address to reach out to so we can chat more and keep the conversation going. So that you’re saying, Hey, I reached out this way, but I’m happy to move it over to email if you’re more comfortable that way. And who knows, they might be like, let’s just jump on a call or here’s my cell, let’s just text and talk if you have some questions. So I think also it’s, you know, reaching the person at the right time. If you’re reaching out to someone in the fashion industry, during fashion week might not be the best time, waiting until it’s like a slow time in the industry maybe over the summer or something like that. We’re always looking for creatives who inspire and disrupt the fashion industry and your own words. How are you disrupting the fashion industry? Oh, I love that. You know, I was a maximalist before it was cool again, I knew being colorful, eccentric and expressing yourself through fashion five years ago when I first started posting on Instagram and becoming a creator like that didn’t exist. Minimalism was it everyone was wearing black and leather jackets and this model off duty kind of look and I was this a splash of color in the sea of influencers. I know influencers were making fun of my outfits and thought I was like too quirky and too much into extra and into this into that. And then during COVID because everyone was trapped inside for so long, everyone started wanting to wear their most eccentric, colorful, fun pieces. And then we saw this swing up of maximalism, and this trendiness calm and, you know, I’ve been wearing big chunky rings since 2016. Before they all you know, started becoming trendy again. So I think for me, I was always true to myself if minimalism is trendy, I’m still going to be a maximalist, like that’s who I am. If wearing black and white looks in neutral colors is in I’m still gonna always be wearing color. And I’ve been doing that since 2015 when I started out and I’m gonna keep doing it forever. I’m not scared what other people have to say. I know people have had things to say and have looked at me differently and thought that I wasn’t cool. But I always say being cool is overrated, and I don’t want to be cool and I don’t want to fit in, I want to stand out and I want to do something different. And I want to leave an everlasting mark an impression on the industry through my style and through just the way I carry myself and being fearlessly myself and not trying to fit into a box. I think sometimes when people can’t figure you out, it scares them. So I think just always staying true to myself, but my style and you know, being unafraid to wear the crazy, colorful outfit, even when everyone else is wearing all black. So what’s your wardrobe MVP? Chunky rings or I would definitely say my glasses too. I always wear glasses. And I own so many pairs of glasses. And all of them are real prescriptions. But I really have also tried to teach people you can wear glasses, and you can wear them in a stylish and cool way glasses don’t have to be this chore of, oh, I need glasses like I need to put on my glasses. I can’t see. No glasses are an amazing accessory when styled correctly. So I’ve also been on this journey of kind of inspiring and teaching people how to style their glasses for more formal occasions and for everyday life. And in a more high fashion way. I just wore glasses to my wedding, and people on Tiktok and Instagram went crazy for it. And they were just like, we never see brides wear glasses, you really have a way to, teach brides not to be ashamed. I was getting so many messages, you have no idea you changed my life. On my wedding. I wasn’t going to not wear my glasses, I wear glasses every single day. But people were trying to encourage me not to wear my glasses. And I don’t feel like myself. Like you want to look back at the photos of your wedding, and you want to think oh, that’s me. I look like myself, you know? And if you wear glasses every single day, why shouldn’t you wear them to your wedding, just because society tells you shouldn’t and because you can’t dress up your glasses. So trying to teach people to also embrace their glasses and wear their glasses and that you can wear them in a dressed up stylish formal way. That’s also kind of been, you know, a quote or a mantra of mine to try to really teach people that. Stay Connect with all things Caroline. SOCIAL MEDIA, BOOK & BLOG: Pinterest | 2.2M+ Monthly Views, 160.9K Followers TikTok | 566.4K Followers, 11.9M+ Likes Instagram | 352K Followers YouTube | 36.2K subscribers, 16M Views Book: “Making it in Manhattan” Blog: Making it in Manhattan (Instagram)

A webeditorial Concept inspired by the impressionism movement. PHOTOGRAPHY / STYLING @HERNANDEZ.EMPIRE MODEL @AGABRIELLEE AT @QMODELS MAKEUP @MAKEUPBYDISCO HAIR STYLIST @BOYTOY9 NAILS @LIPSTICKAMMOBEAUTY WARDROBE ASSISTANT @MJ_MJ_01 PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT @KLLERKENYA LOCATION @FDPHOTO_STUDIO_NY

They came they saw, the conquered. We can't forget they made Karl Legerfeld proud. The Met Gala honored the legacy of Lagerfeld—the late designer who helmed fashion houses such as Chanel, Fendi, and his own eponymous line—and raised funds for The Met’s Costume Institute. Cardi B in Chenpeng Studio Yung Miami in ACT N°1 & Sean “Diddy” Combs in Sean John couture Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in Valentino, Bvlgari and Belperron Jewelry Michaela Coel in Schiaparelli Puma and Erykah Badu in Marni Chi Ossé in Advisry Teyana Taylor in Thom Browne Bad Bunny in Jacquemus Jenna Ortega in Thom Browne and Marli Jewelry Gigi Hadid in Givenchy, LAGOS jewelry and Smiling Rocks diamond necklace. Kim Kardashian in Schiaparelli Keke Palmer in Sergio Hudson and Stuart Weitzman shoes Ashley Graham in Harris Reed Billie Eilish in Simone Rocha and Cartier jewelry Tems in Robert Wun and Melissa Kaye jewelry Burna Boy in Burberry Jordan Roth in Schiaparelli

By Erin Moonyeen Haley Sculptural fashion was the unofficial theme at this year’s MET Gala, rousing stars to cast dramatic silhouettes and hit balletic poses all along the red carpet. So what exactly is sculptural fashion? Just as it sounds, it is when the fabric is treated as though it were marble, concrete, or withering steel; as a material that can harden and solidify and even crystallize into something permanent and intransigent. Rather than allowing the fabric to breathe or fall in messy ripples, sculptural fashion instead transforms the human figure through the art of exaggeration. Like any craft that works via the process of metamorphosis, sculpture fashion designers work with draping, casting, molding and creative cutting, giving their creations a sense of everlasting and immovable integrity. As French courtier Madame Grès once said, “I wanted to be a sculptor - for me it is just the same to work with fabric or stone.” Best known for her Hellenic dresses with their pleats and panels, Grès’s gowns were prescient to this year’s MET extravaganza where it seemed that a fair number of designers thought of themselves as both craftsmen and artists. Gowns and tuxedos were patterned into shapes and tempered to bodies, with fabric as the ersatz substitute for clay and foam. The result? Looks that were at once Art Deco and Futuristic; styles that hinted at a future of star-studded affairs where wearers molded gowns and suits to the body, negating the use of the casual phrase 'slipped on'. The bottom line is that sculptural fashion heralds a return to statement fashion. Forget fashion that is sensical or that conforms. Now, it is all about creating a buzz and striking a pose that makes an irrefutable impression. Ashley Graham in Harris Reed The va-va-voom stunner took to the red carpet in Harris Reed, wearing a gown that made her feel magnificent and powerful. As for Reed, the designer felt that the build-up to the moment was akin to planning a wedding, where the dress dominates every sundry thing. Reed walked Grazia magazine through the process, from submitting sketches to Anna Wintour to sharing final drafts with the talent de la nuit. (In this case, the charismatic Ashley Graham.) The result was Graham's pinup figure waltzing down the runway in a Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes pink satin number with the upper bodice sculpted with black velvet, giving her the look of a topsy-turvy tulip. Janelle Monáe in Thom Browne Sculptural performance might be a new medium of fashion and entertainment, all thanks to Janelle Monáe. The singer-actress whore a ribbed hoop skirt beneath a Thom Browne black and white patchwork jacket that aligned itself to Karl Laerfeld's favorite duo of colors. Her little striptease on the red carpet revealed more decadence beneath, in the form of a black bra top edged with pearly fringe, black panties and a pannier petticoat that gave the entire ensemble a kind of tectonic formidability that is characteristic of structural fashion. Cardi B in CHENPENG Cardi B channeled a 1960s mod playgirl with her silvery-blond hair that was coiffed and hairsprayed in an immovable flip and styled with only a thick black headband. Her CHENPENG gown, meanwhile, was a sartorial homage to Lagerfeld and his affinity for his black and white suits. Cardi B worked with stylist Kollin Carter to create a velvet bodice studded with pearls and accented with diamond quilting that was then paired with a white sleeveless button-up shirt and tie. The sweeping ballroom Chanel skirt was sculpted from rubberized camellias that would neither flinch nor fade at any point in the night. Tems in Robert Wun Temilade Openiyi, the Nigerian singer/songwriter known professionally as Tems, added whimsy to the red carpet courtesy of a headpiece that balanced the elements of industrial structure with natural caprice. The black corset was adorned with flounces of black feathers that matched the swirls and feathers that danced errantly above her slicked-back coif, while the white skirt draped elegantly behind her in a luxurious train. Yung Miami in Custom Act N°1 Wrapped in a wealth of tulle, rapper Yung Miami (Caresha Romeka Brownlee) glided across the red carpet in a Custom Act N°1 number. While the skirt was seductive and sheer, the collar was an upturned masterpiece sculpted in an ostentatious cowl. Her torso, meanwhile, was decorated with various strands of pearls that fell in tiers from belly to thigh. Hitting the red carpet with her longtime paramour, Diddy, the duo complemented each other's theatrics. Images courtesy of Vogue and Stars' Instagrams

Let's get into the best beauty and hair looks from 2023 Met Gala. As much as the full ensemble is important on the red carpet the beauty looks tie it all together. From unique updo's to extravagant smokey eyes. You just have to get it right. Here's a breakdown of the celebrities that got it right. Make sure to pin these looks for your next fashion occasion to stand out from the crowd. Some are wearable, and some are just darn right fun to recreate. Hair Slayers. Kim Kardashian makes a case for the classic pin updo. Lizzo brings the edge with a curly updo and spikes short bang. Priyanka Chopra rocks a feminine twisted updo styled with a classic black bow and honorable mention thee cutest rosy glow cheeks. FKA Twigs rocks a literal hair bow to compliment her edgy look. Amanda Seyfried’s reminds us, drama is always a do. As she brought the volume and heavy teased soft waves with a red lip. Tpping into Black culture, Gabrielle Union stuns as she lets the world know protective styles can compliment any look, as she rocks flowing bohemian style braids. Michaela Cole dawns an OG braided classic cornrow look. While Quinta Brunson’s braided, sculptural updo makes you stop and stare and its complimented with a dainty flower pin. Anne Hathaway, brings the soft glam with extra long hair and a teased updo, that honestly will never go out of style. The Best Make-up looks. SOFT GLAM CONTENDERS.... Cardi B opts for a minimalistic Hollywood glam beauty look, with the perfect soft pink nude lip, a medium eyelash and winged liner. In honor of Lagerfeld, she wore a voluminous silver bouffant wig accessorized with a thick back hairband. Sydney Sweeney's look featured delicately soft curled extensions and a muted pink shimmer tone eye look with just enough sparkle. EDGY AND UNIQUE STANDOUTS.... Let's just go ahead and say it, tens had the best headpiece of the night. She also killed it with deep-red lined and a soft feminine eye. What we love most about Doja Cat is she's never afraid to just do it. She's rocky a cool face prosthetic and killing it with a high glam smokey eye. Cara Delevingne, in white hair, oh Karl Lagerfeld would be proud. Paired with an edgy soft yet dramatic cat eye, she looks just like what she's always been, a KL muse. Quannah Chasinghorse was a breakout beauty star. The cat whiskers, the tribal chin print and the smokey edgy eye. She understood the assignment. Best Skin Glow: Anok Yai, she looks like a ravishing chocolate beauty in a nude lip with an edgy take on sunglass covering. Kerry Washington rocks a elevated nude lip with a dramatic smokey eye. Rita Ora, oozes sexy with a muted yet edgy smokey eye to compliment one of the best black looks of the night. Rihanna, in a signature bold red lip, Fenty beauty of course. She packs on the edge with dramatic long extended eyelashes, white sunglasses and whitened nails. Emma Chamberlain had us feeling the blues. A simplistic sleek back blowout and colorful smokey eye complimented her monochromatic ensemble. La La Anthony, let's us know sometimes the accessories have to take center stage. It's a whiteout, the headband, old fashion ponytail, and long, white nails came to slay. Words by Angel Neal

It's the Super Bowl of fashion and menswear hit center stage tonight for the 75th year of fashion's biggest night.Held at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and a VIP-heavy fundraiser for the Costume Institute. Now as we all know the theme – an annual dress code that serves as a reflection of the fashion landscape – pays homage to a late titan of the industry: "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”. Here are all the best-dressed fashion disruptors, aka the men that slayed the Met Gala 2023. Jeremy Pope gave the ultimate Karl Lergerfeld tribute with this custom train that features the iconic KL himself in Balmain. Jordan Roth Labrinth in a red edgy Valentino look. Conan Gray Diddy wearing his own design as he brought back his iconic brand Sean John for the special occasion. Bad Bunny makes a case for ruffles wearing Jacquemus. Tyler Mitchell. Gustav Witzoe Brian Tyree Henry makes a case for androgyny in Karl Lagerfeld. Jackson Wang Wearing Louis Vuitton. Manu Rios' Leon Lai Yi Ben Platt in Weiderhoeft. Words by Angel Neal

Let's talk about a fashionable entrance. Music's favorite fashion duo has a thing for making us wait and we don't mind it. In his true rocker esthetic, A$AP Rocky wears a floor-length, plaid kilt with bedazzled jeans underneath and a layering of Gucci belts. If we know anything about Rihanna and fashion, we know the "Lift Me Up" singer can pull off a dramatic train. Once again she did just that on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet. Shinning bright like a bridal diamond in a dramatic white Maison Valentino gown with a long, sweeping train. Adding edge to the look, the Fenty Beauty mogul complimented her Valentino look with opera-length fingerless gloves and a pair of white sunglasses with attached faux eyelashes. Oh the dramatics! Rocky also sported a pair of black sunglasses, then further accessorized with a silver brooch on his lapel, stud earrings, and steel-tip square-toe boots. Before the big Met reveal the couple was first spotted stepping out of NYC's The Carlyle Hotel, BadgalRiRi wearing a Fendi fur coat in dripped in pearls. Words by Angel Neal

By Erin Moonyeen Haley With every minute that goes by, Vogue is posting photos and updating its website, feeding the voracious appetites of fashion lovers across the globe as stars walk the red carpet for the MET's ode to Karl Lagerfeld. With La La Anthony, Derek Blasberg, Chloe Fineman, and special correspondent Emma Chamberlain chatting up every fashion maven that walks by, it is clear that a nuanced elegance is the mood of the gala. Ballerina pinks and snowy whites are the dominant colors, upscaled with chandelier skirts of silvery droplets that, in turn, shimmy alongside gowns that feature sculpted rosettes and subtle cutouts edged and pleated with gold. La La Anthony channels a 1990s starlet who accents solid colors with the delicacies of gold chains. She wears a white gown by Sergio Hudson that creates a dramatic silhouette from shoulder to toe. The dainty gold chains add subtle sparkle, as do her retro, cat's-eye sunglasses studded with pearlescent beads. SNL comedian and pixie starlet Chloe Fineman wears a strawberries-and-cream gown complete with hand-embroidered glass beads and a sweeping neckline of rosettes sculpted from organza and tulle. The look is a concoction by Wiederhoeft. The Grande Dame of the fete arrives on the arm of virtuoso Bill Nighy. Rapper Ice Spice (neé Isis Naija Gaston) makes her red carpet debut in a Balmain gown that is both fitted and sheer and that flaunts her cranberry-red locks that stream down her back in mermaid perfection. Veteran actor Wendell Pierce keeps it dapper in a dark suit and an azure silk pinstripe tie. Penelope Cruz is all about Chanel in a seafoam blue-green gown that comes paired with a bedazzled hood. The 'CC' logo embellishes and pearlizes the hem of the fabric. Anok Yai wears a gown that fits like a champagne glass, courtesy of Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung. The skirt flares in a tutu that is shellacked and adorned with layers of seashell-like disks, while the mesh mask gives the feeling of a masquerade whose invitations are very, very exclusive. Quannah Chasinghorse also wears Prabal Gurung. The petal-pink bodice has peek-a-boo cutouts while the skirt flairs like a cupcake, creating a sweet and sophisticated contrast when paired with the elbow-length biker-chic gloves. Also continuing the dapper and dashing theme is writer-director Taika Waiti whose exaggerated charcoal gray coat comes with black lapels that scream roaring twenties. West Side Story chanteuse Ariana DeBose - on the arm of Joseph Altuzarra - provides one of the lone splashes of color as she hits the carpet wearing Altuzarra. The daffodil-yellow satin gown settles just so off of her shoulders, with faux fur gives off 1930s glamour girl vibes. Bling Empire starlet Christine Chiu was another splash of color, strutting like a phoenix in a brilliantly red gown with its own feathered and fluffed train. Dwayne Wade honors the black-and-white motifs that Lagerfeld so favored, wearing a black Versace jacket and vest. Splendid colors aside, for the most part, silvers, whites and pinks dominate the spectacle. From Dua Lipa to Kate Moss, stars have been holding to the champagne and platinum color schemes, honoring "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" with icy kisses and pearly touches. Emily Ratajkowski in Tory Burch Dua Lipa in Chanel Olivia Wilde gown based on 1983 Karl Lagerfeld Design Both Kate Moss and Lila Grace wear vintage Fendi Couture Nicole Kidman in Custom Chanel Dress from 2004 Chanel N°5 Campaign. Images courtesy of Vogue

By Erin Moonyeen Haley In anticipation of the MET Gala 2023, whose theme is all things Karl Lagerfeld, Vogue highlighted looks that will be featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s ongoing exhibit in Amanda Harlech’s article “The Everlasting Genius of Karl Lagerfeld”. Called A Line of Beauty, the exhibit - which is set up in the Tisch Galleries - is set to run from May 5th to July 16th, 2023. Roughly 150 pieces will be on display, all with the intention of zeroing in on the designer’s methodology and his creative process that allowed him to reign and revel in numerous houses: Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his eponymous label, Karl Lagerfeld. With many fashion houses and icons skirting the numerous controversies surrounding Lagerfeld, it gives those same parties time and space to spotlight his signature looks and trends from the various houses he helmed. With that in mind, the exhibit still embraces what the museum is calling Lagerfeld’s complexities as his designs run the gamut of delicate details and whimsical embroidery to Grecian conceptualizations of glamour. Still, it is up to each and every fashionista to decide if they agree with Anna Wintour and the museum that a man with a reputation for xenophobia, fatphobia and misogyny deserves to be praised in such an honorary manner. Then again, perhaps that controversy is part of fashion's purpose and allure; perhaps it is part of its ever-evolving legacy. Or perhaps it merely illuminates the fact that, as far as enlightenment and cognizance are concerned, the world of fashion still has a ways to go. The Brise dress from the Fall 1983 Chloe collection was a liquifying disco ball of sequins, pipe-ish pearls, silver rhinestones and dark blue silk crepe. Despite its elegance, the motif of the dress is actually that of an open showerhead, with water spilling down the torso. At the time, Lagerfeld stated that he was tired of "usual decorations." In 1990, to mark the FIFA World Cup that was held in Italy, Lagerfeld crafted a draping Fendi dress - modeled here by Anok Yai - ideal for any Roman or Greek deity. As part of a haute couture collection for Chanel in 1996, Lagerfeld went for a body-hugging gold lace gown that gave a sculpted tapestry ambiance. Here, Yai is modeling Lagerfeld's 2000 Fendi tuxedo dress, which channels the millennia's obsession with stark geometric designs and cinched waists. Lagerfeld designed the tromp l'oeil dress for Chloe's 1984 collection, borrowing etchings and themes from Greek and Roman iconography. The Chanel gown from the Spring 2013 collection required over 2,000 hours of hand-stitching, making it the ultimate labor of love. A confection of organza and gazar, the dress was layered with tulle, lace and feathers, giving in to the trend of maximalist femininity. Made from pink organza and silk muslin, this Spring 2010 eccentricity for Chanel flourished with mikado blooms that created the illusion of miniature bows from shoulder to knee. This Fendi shift dress is from the Spring 2014 collection and echoes Lagerfeld's love for black-and-white costumes that operated more like uniforms, keeping the artistry minimized and the creativity ironically maximized. Model Anok Yai wears Lagerfeld's mohair Fendi haute fourrure cape that swept the runway in Spring 2016. In this look, his love of sketching makes itself evident in the sharp lines and sleek angles. Model Sora Choi exemplifies Lagerfeld's crisp tuxedoed looks, wearing a tailored coat and white shirt that comes complete with jolly double bows. The look hails from his own Fall 2008 collection. All images courtesy of Vogue May 2023 issue