A cowboy hat. Long grey capes. The back of Timothée Chalamet’s coiffed hair. These were the best you could hope to spot among the throngs of people gathered outside The Met on Sept. 13.

The occasion, of course, was the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibit, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” With an American sensibility and dress code centered at the forefront of the night’s activities, some celebrities rose to the sartorial occasion while others seem to have lost the night’s theme in their inbox. 

This also presents a second chance for Fordham students to catch a peek of the event and its star-studded guest list.

As the first of a two-part exhibition series, however, there is a chance for redemption next May in the second part of the series spotlighting American fashion. This also presents a second chance for Fordham students to catch a peek of the event and its star-studded guest list.

Despite some difficulties typical of bustling events of that nature, Maggie Butler, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, made her way up to The Met.

“So I think we might have done it wrong,” Butler said. “Even though I saw Timothée Chalamet from a distance, I couldn’t really make out anyone else that I saw and I had to look up who I saw after just based off of the outfit colors.”

Still, she persevered in inching her way closer to the tent, the flame that drew celebrities in like moths. She positioned herself at 84th Street and Fifth Avenue. This was a better spot, but in the process, she was separated from the group she came with. She wasn’t alone, however.

The crowd she was a part of embraced her and others by offering the dual role of spectator and performer.

The crowd she was a part of embraced her and others by offering the dual role of spectator and performer. While their eyes were on the lookout for their favorite outfit of the night and the divine being filling its fabric folds, they could be viewed as a collective drawn together by the magnetic urgency of celebrity.

For many spectators, the event becomes more of a matter of showing up and being in close proximity to their cinematic dreams and the major players rather than seeing every gala attendee. It is an exercise in appreciating the atmosphere. Still, there is hope to spot a beloved star in real life.

“I really wanted to see Dan Levy, and I’m obsessed with ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ I love his show, so he was the person I wanted to see most,” Butler said. “And it was so disappointing because I was standing there, watching the whole time but then I saw someone next to me scrolling through Instagram and he was already in there.”

There’s no sure-fire way to secure a coveted glimpse of your celeb crush but there are some things to do to give it your best shot. Butler advised showing up in the early afternoon and arriving with your group to avoid the struggle of finding your friends in a crowded space. 

If you’re looking for a perfectly posed photo with a neat descriptor beneath, you’re better off viewing the gala online. But, if you’re up for the unexpected challenges and fun of navigating an event space and its surroundings, head uptown. 

Just remember, in the sage words of Butler, “Bring a pair of binoculars.”

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MADELINE KATZ