How Precious Lee Brought Galactic Siren Glamour to the Met's Carpet

Precious Lee isn’t here for lackluster Met Gala fashion. As one of modeling’s best dressed women, Lee goes the extra mile with every outfit, but she takes things to the next level when it comes time for the industry’s biggest night. “[I love] the preparation, solidifying the inspiration, and creating a story behind what I’m doing,” shared Lee pre-ceremony. “I want to intentionally collab with the designer I’m working with.” 

To do just that, Lee teamed up with Joseph Altuzarra, whose intricate designs she has brought to life on the runway. “I’ve walked two seasons of Altuzarra, and working closely with Joseph is a treat,” says Lee. “He creates from the heart, and I love that we were able to create this whimsical look together for the Met.”

The pair and legendary stylist Patti Wilson challenged themselves to tackle the night’s gilded glamour theme creatively, knowing that the world would be watching the red carpet. “Fashion is the focal point at the Met Gala, much more so than any other event, which makes the stakes so high,” says Altuzarra. “There is also always a theme, which often forces you to do research into a specific period or subject matter and decide how you want to express the particular story of that exhibition. This is always exciting but also a challenge!”

Altuzarra’s final creation was a beautiful mix of past and present that referenced the sculpted bustles and nipped waists of the Gilded Age’s womenswear while accentuating Lee’s curves with metallic embellishments. “The idea came from the exaggerated silhouettes of the late 19th century in America, but I wanted to celebrate Precious’s beautiful shape by taking away all of the frills and bows,” he says. “The dress’s construction is a mix of traditional and contemporary techniques. The corset is based on a 19th-century piece and features traditional boning, horsehair, and lacing. The dress itself was knit from a lurex and viscose yarn to create a completely seamless look, which gives a peek of the skin underneath.”

Altuzarra amped up the glamour with 10,000 bronze paillettes. Then Lee’s glam team of makeup artist Marcelo Gutierez and hair stylist Mideyah Parker stepped in to carry the mood from head to toe. “The vibe was ‘galactic gilded siren,’” explains Lee. “I wanted my beauty look to be clean and bronzed.” Lee’s coiffure proved especially chic, thanks to a period-accurate technique. “The Marcel wave was created in 1872, and it inspired the details of my glam, 3D marcel wave,” says Lee. “[The wave] continued on my nails in gold leaf to match the classic marcelling of my hair.”

With her gilded manicure, glittering paillettes, and figure-hugging gown Lee delivered pure drama. “I want to see that people understood the assignment!” she says. “I want to see the craftsmanship, embroidery, shapes, and glamour! I love the idea of making a garment a piece of art, and this occasion allows you to explore that. I’m grateful that I could create [my look] with the team and see how our dedication paid off to create such a fantastical moment.”