At this year’s Met Gala, there were plenty of looks that took the theme of American fashion to its most dramatic heights—but few had the same impact as Iman’s show-stopping Harris Reed gown, produced with the support of Dolce & Gabbana. Beginning with a jacquard gold bustier and flared trousers, the look erupted into an enormous crinoline skeleton bedecked with layers of feathers covered with gold leaf. Topped with an extravagant, Bob Mackie-esque feathered headdress that radiated outwards like a glowing halo, it was an outfit befitting of a queen. So who else could wear it but Iman?
In an exclusive look behind the scenes for Vogue, Reed notes that during the initial stages of the design process, they were first inspired by the dramatic proportions of 18th-century cage crinolines for their statement-making ability to “take up space in a way that says, 'I deserve to be here and I own it.'” Blending these historical references with a dose of 1920s showgirl glamour, a touch of Federico Fellini’s lavishly costumed historical epics, and a final dash of ’90s Jean-Paul Gaultier for good measure, Reed brought together their glittering vision.
As far as Reed was concerned, there was only one guest they wanted to take to the Met, and thankfully, Iman immediately said yes. Getting her on board, however, was only the beginning. “It really clicked quite late for me that I have the date of my dreams, but I have to make sure she likes what I did,” says Reed of their first meeting with Iman over Zoom. With access to the ateliers of Dolce & Gabbana, Reed set about the painstaking process of bringing this hand-crafted architectural marvel to life in just 29 days. “I just feel like if there’s any time to go big or go home, it’s now,” Reed adds.
Thankfully, Reed more than pulled it off, even with the complex logistics of shipping the gargantuan outfit from their London studio all the way to New York. “I mean, it’s divine,” says Iman upon first seeing the dress. “It’s beyond what I thought, the illustration doesn’t do it justice.” After some last-minute fitting adjustments, the look was ready to go ahead of the big night. “I just wanted her to look like a beam of light,” adds Reed. Mission accomplished.
Here, see the story behind Iman and Reed’s collaboration, from sketch to dress.
Director: Posy Dixon
DP: John Fisher, Mike Lopez
Editor: Victoria Mortati
Supervising Producer: Jordin Rocchi
Producer, On-Set: Liv Proctor, Vara Reese
AC: Joe Salkey, Jake Jurich
Audio: Adina Istrate, Brianna Simons
Make-up Artist: Joey Choy
Hairstylist: Terri Capon
Filmed on Location: The Standard London, The PierreAnimation by
Brady Jackson & Lea Kichler
Post-Production Supervisor: Marco GlinbizziVery Special Thanks To:
Ennis Finnerty Mackay
Evie Campbell
Maria Castro
Mollie Boyd
Phoebe Briggs
Rebecca Bean
Robert O’Hare
Special Thanks To:
Daisy Hoppen
Kiki Kaur
Special Thanks To:
The Standard, LondonVP, Digital Video Programming and Development: Robert Semmer
Entertainment Director, Vogue: Sergio Kletnoy
Director of Content: Tara Homeri
Showrunner: Lila Benaissa
Production Manager: Emily Yates
Production Coordinator: Kit Fogarty
