Jon Batiste Broke Out Into Song at Cartier’s Ultra-Elegant Met Gala 2024 After-Party

No one provides sparkle quite like Cartier—especially at the Met Gala. The legendary Parisian Maison has a long history in New York City. Pierre Cartier, grandson of founder Francois, established the brand in New York while his brother took the family business to London. By 1917, American operations were based in 653 Fifth Avenue, the splendid Gilded Age mansion that remains one of the most recognizable and revered examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in the country. Since then, the house has dressed national icons, including Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline "Jackie" Lee Kennedy Onassis, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Unsurprisingly, given its cultural pedigree, the brand counts Sofia Coppola, a film director who has helped shape contemporary American cinema, among its fans and friends. Last night, Coppola hosted a glittering party at Bemelmans Bar following the annual Costume Institute Gala. Nestled in the iconic Carlyle Hotel, the gold murals and plush banquettes recall Coppola’s famously decadent, claustrophobic sets. A star-studded cast—Alexander Skarsgård, Demi Moore, Jude Law, Meg Ryan, among them—came to revel in the festivities.

Hours before, the green carpet that lined the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art filled with sparkling Cartier creations. Moore paired her Harris Reed gown with the Chloris set, a jubilant assortment of stones inspired by the dandelion flower. Elle Fanning, one of the brand’s global ambassadors, gleamed in vintage pieces, including diamond bracelets from the 1920s. Sebastian Stan showed off rock and roll swagger with a vintage brooch fastened at his hip.

The after-hours soiree, despite following one of the most formal social events of the year, oozed casual elegance. Coppola, dressed in a gray Chanel coat dress, held court with editors, writers, artists, and actors. Emma Chamberlain, striking in a corset, projected cool irreverence. Perhaps the most casual of the attendees, Sienna Miller, changed from the ethereal gown she wore hours before, arrived in loose jeans and a signature bohemian top.

Guests moved through the vibrant scene as tuxedoed waiters circulated the room with silver trays filled with negronis, Champagne, and espresso martinis. For all the venue’s sophistication, the food mirrored an elevated children’s meal with pigs-in-a-blanket and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Taking a seat at the piano in the center of Bemelmans, Jon Batiste delighted the crowd with a performance. Known for his collaborations with the likes of Prince, Lana Del Rey, and Stevie Wonder, Batiste serenaded the crowd in wild improvisations.