Idriss matter-of-factly, sitting cross-legged on a blue rug. I listen, she continues, but I have no problem putting my foot down and saying no. Texas friends are planning www.goldengoosers.com couture Tupperware parties. Back home in Houston, Mai's parents are cheering him on.

Normally, I dress from the feet up as footwear has always been a way I set the tone for the day. When I'm tired, I turn to sneakers or ballet flats. Tina Bhojwani and Jean-Michel Cazabat have a similar vision for Aera, the vegan and 110 sustainable label they launched online last year. Their story is serendipitous: Bhojwani was shoe shopping at Bergdorf Goodman when she ran into Cazabat, who had recently sold his eponymous line.

Some people are born ballerinas, while others are graced with a normal level of general coordination. Some of us, though, are not so lucky. The joys of getting dressed up for a fundraiser like the Met gala, which supports the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are undeniable. This year's dress code calls for a celebration of American independence.

She continued the theme with a body-skimming spaghetti strap Chanel dress that was splashed with a surf print, a throwback to the Spring 2002 collection. Like many of the archival looks that Cardi B has worn in the past-remember this golden moment in vintage Jean Paul Gaultier-this piece is super sought-after and almost impossible to buy now.