Myha’la Herrold in Luar at the Met Gala 20253 Images
Are you wearing the… “Cunty Timberland x Luar boots? Yeah, I am.” When Myha’la Herrold received the invite to her first ever Met Gala, her mind turned to Raul Lopez. She’d only worn his clothes once before, but loved how powerful and sexy they made her feel. “And I love how New York he is,” she says. “He’s an old school type of guy in the best way.” As one half of disruptive fashion house Hood By Air and now through his own label Luar, Lopez’s whole career has seen him interrogate and remix pillars of Black style, meaning he couldn’t be any better suited to kit someone out for a Met Gala celebrating exactly that.
Initially, across loads of phone calls leading up to the glittering event, Herrold and Lopez shared ideas and honed in on what it was they wanted to create. “The references Raul used were mostly of Black Christian Tudors from the 1600s, who we’re calling the original dandies,” she explains. “The dress is this very structured grey wool mini with a super dramatic collar, with a crystal bodysuit that encrusts my skin.”
The icing on the cake came in the form of a new collab with Timberland, which saw Lopez reinterpret the iconic boot as a sleek, thigh-high stiletto lace-up crafted from luxe silk moire. With the designer often referring to his aesthetic as ‘premium trash’, the boots added a further edge to the statement-making look. “It’s all about the juxtaposition of the Tudor references and this idea of the modern urban dandy. A play off of the fly guy in your neighbourhood in a grey sweatsuit and Timbs,” Herrold adds.
Read more about how the look came to life below.
“The references Raul used were mostly of black Christian Tudors from the 1600s, who we’re calling the original dandies. And I also feel like a fresh clam coming out of its shell, there’s a little bit of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus in there” – Myha’la Herrold
Hey Myha’la! First of all, how did you meet Raul and what did you bond over?
Myha’la Herrold: We met through this Met process. We spoke on the phone initially and I just love that you can tell he is from New York. He’s an old school type of guy in the best way. We also bonded over our style references. We were both excited to see what we could do with the theme.
Do you wear a lot of Luar? What do you love about it? How does it make you feel?
Myha’la Herrold: I had only worn Luar once before this weekend for an Industry premiere event. And I’ve now had several opportunities to wear the brand over the past few days. I love the power, style, and sexiness the clothes embody. They make me feel so confident.
Raul calls his vibe ‘premium trash’. What makes you feel premium, and what makes you feel trashy?
Myha’la Herrold: For me, I feel they are sometimes one in the same (laughs). Like a caviar bump on a Pringle, I don’t really like caviar and I can’t eat Pringles but the idea of the high-low together I love! I don’t really think of things that are typically deemed “trashy” as that, I like them because they are fun. And everything Luar does is premium to me.
Talk me through the look you’re wearing for the Gala?
Myha’la Herrold: The dress is this very tailored and structured grey wool mini with a super dramatic collar. It also has a crystal bodysuit that encrusts my skin. And these amazing thig- high Timberland stiletto boots.
The references Raul used were mostly of black Christian Tudors from the 1600s. Who we’re calling the original dandies. The entire look is a juxtaposition between the Tudor references and this idea of the modern urban dandy, a play off of the fly guy in your neighborhood in a grey sweatsuit and Timbs.
The look makes me feel powerful and royal like some of the references. I also feel like a fresh clam coming out of its shell, there’s a little bit of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus in there.
What was the process like bringing the look to life?
Myha’la Herrold: After getting the invite, Raul started working on the boots with Timberland. Then he and I had some calls to talk about our styles and what we could pull from to inspire the dress. Timberland and Luar have been putting in a ton of hard work on the boots and the dress for a while and now this weekend everything’s coming together in the most amazing way.
And yeah, those Timberland boots! Cunty as bell! Can you speak a bit more on them?
Myha’la Herrold: That is exactly the right word to describe them! They go all the way up my leg and have an incredible shape. And the silk moire fabric is amazing, it really brings them into a whole other realm. This will actually be the first pair of Timberlands I’ll have ever worn or owned which is something I’ve always wanted. It also being the first time Timberlands will be worn to the Met makes it so cool.
What does Black dandyism mean to you?
Myha’la Herrold: There are many things that this theme means to me. But Pride is a big one, just being able to show who we are and where we come from. Exemplifying that sense of pride is very meaningful to me. This feels like a real celebration of Black culture in a really exciting way.
This is your first Met Gala right? How will you be preparing? How long do you take to get ready?
Myha’la Herrold: Yes, it is! I have had to do all my prep in one weekend. I did have some preliminary conversations with my team about hair and make-up ideas. But I landed from Heathrow Saturday and went straight to my first fitting. Then spent Sunday doing hot yoga, getting a facial, and finally hair and make-up tests in the afternoon. I prefer a more natural look so getting ready on the day should only take a few hours.
“Dream Met Gala bathroom selfie line-up? Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, and Adele” – Myha’la Herrold
What’s your favourite Met Gala look of all time?
Myha’la Herrold: Rihanna wearing Guo Pei styled by Mel Ottenberg in 2015.
Are you nervous about walking the red carpet? What’s your coping mechanism for stuff like that?
Myha’la Herrold: The short answer is yes. But I am an actress and I often get to do things for the first time that can make me nervous and I just have to jump in, models have a similar practice. So for the time from when I am on the carpet until I get inside I will be in character.
Who’d be in your dream Met Gala bathroom selfie?
Myha’la Herrold: Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, and Adele.
