Before the steps, before the carpet—there’s The Mark Hotel. Tucked into the Upper East Side, the iconic hotel once again served as the unofficial launchpad for fashion’s biggest night, where anticipation builds curbside and the spectacle begins long before Fifth Avenue.
On the first Monday in May, the sidewalks outside The Mark transform into a prelude of their own—where Upper East Siders mingle with the world’s most recognizable faces, and the line between everyday New York and high fashion blurs in real time. It’s here, in these fleeting moments between lobby exit and black car arrival, that the Met Gala truly comes alive.
This year’s Met Gala, themed “Costume Art,” set the tone for an evening celebrating fashion as both craft and cultural artifact, an idea that began taking shape well before guests reached the museum steps.
Departing from The Mark, the guest list reflected that global, cross-industry influence. Anna Wintour led the arrivals in a show-stopping, feather-embossed ensemble from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel. Set to follow were names spanning fashion, music, film, and sport with highlights including Tyla in custom Valentino by Alessandro Michele, Cardi B in a custom Marc Jacobs dress, Tate McRae in a gorgeous golden gown by Ludovice de Saint Sernin, Doechii, and Colman Domingo in a custom color-blocking Valentino suit. More guests like Miranda Kerr, Maude Apatow, Tessa Thompson, Lisa, Jisoo, Naomi Watts, Sam Smith, Alexa Chung, Karlie Kloss, Ashley Graham, and Venus Williams, and more left The Mark in costume-inspired looks to make their way to the gala.
For more than a decade, The Mark has hosted the industry’s most influential figures as they prepare for the Costume Institute Gala, offering that coveted first glimpse of the night’s defining looks. And while the world watches the iconic museum steps, insiders know: the night begins here.
