Whereas some have been speeding to a last-minute facial or doing one last becoming, associates of LaQuan Smith took the night time earlier than the Met as an opportunity to unwind earlier than the large day.
Smith hosted a dinner at Cafe Zaffri with VIP friends like Taraji P. Henson and Babyface on Sunday night — although it was the designer himself who drew probably the most flashbulbs when he arrived, a full crew in tow.
He and Henson exchanged kisses on every cheek, the actress glowing in a strong-shouldered bejeweled look, whereas Babyface launched himself to Smith with a handshake.
“I’m overwhelmed, I’m excited — I’m not nervous, I’m simply extra anxious,” Smith mentioned of his emotions forward of the Met. “I’m anxious to only actually debut the appears to be like that I’ve been engaged on for thus lengthy.”
Smith mentioned he and his crew have been conceptualizing the appears to be like they’ve made for the Met for the final six to eight months — “which isn’t a variety of time.”
“I’m nonetheless doing fittings. I’m doing one tonight,” he mentioned.
Whereas we’ll have to attend till the crimson carpet divulge to see the friends he’s dressing, the designer previewed his personal outfit.
“For me, my method was extra about sticking throughout the theme of actually sturdy suiting, sturdy tailoring, and bringing that glamour and pizazz that everybody is aware of LaQuan Smith to be,” he mentioned. “I’m bringing the glamour and a degree of sophistication.”
As for what he’s wanting ahead to from everybody else?
“I wish to see what Teyana Taylor goes to put on. I’m wanting ahead to seeing how everybody goes to interpret this unbelievable dandyism theme,” he mentioned. “I’m wanting ahead to seeing Black excellence on the carpet.”