Met Gala Recap and Getting Red Carpet Skin with Sean Garrette

Summary

Podcast Summary: Naked Beauty – "Met Gala Recap and Getting Red Carpet Skin with Sean Garrett"

Release Date: May 12, 2025

In this engaging episode of the Naked Beauty podcast, host Brooke DeVard sits down with renowned esthetician and skincare expert Sean Garrett to delve into their experiences surrounding the illustrious Met Gala. The conversation seamlessly blends insights on high-profile fashion events, skincare routines for red carpet readiness, and the profound impact of black culture in the fashion industry.

---

1. Welcome and Introduction

Timestamp: [00:04] - [01:03]

Brooke warmly welcomes Sean Garrett, highlighting their longstanding connection and Sean’s impressive credentials, including his successful clinic in New York and collaborations with brands like Dior Beauty and Fenty Beauty. The camaraderie between Brooke and Sean sets a friendly and informative tone for the episode.

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2. Met Gala Experience and Pre-Gala Preparations

Timestamp: [02:40] - [11:19]

Sean recounts his involvement in the Met Gala festivities, starting with the intense pre-Gala preparations and exclusive parties. He shares his experience attending a pre-party hosted by his friend Brandon Blackwood, a distinguished black designer known for his custom gowns and collaborations with celebrities like Beyoncé.

Notable Quote:

"I have, like, two jobs. Like, I'm a skincare professional and then, like, influencer and creator." — Sean Garrett [08:59]

Sean emphasizes the demanding nature of balancing professional commitments with the energetic social scene of the Met Gala, ultimately choosing to attend a more intimate and chic after-party at WSA, which he describes as the "low key but fab chic party."

---

3. After Parties: The Heartbeat of the Met Gala

Timestamp: [12:43] - [21:19]

Brooke and Sean delve into the vibrant and often chaotic world of Met Gala after-parties in New York City, comparing the frenzy to other major events like Fashion Week and the Grammys. They highlight the diversity of attendees, including artists, curators, and architects, which underscores New York’s rich cultural tapestry.

Notable Quotes:

"It's worse than Grammy weekend. It's New York's, like, Oscar weekend." — Sean Garrett [11:19]

"People lose their minds. It's insane." — Brooke DeVard [11:19]

Sean expresses his preference for more relaxed and sophisticated gatherings over the typically overcrowded celebrity-filled events, affirming his appreciation for parties that offer a chic environment without the overwhelming presence of every celebrity in the world.

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4. Fashion Highlights: Favorite and Least Favorite Met Gala Looks

Timestamp: [18:33] - [30:35]

The conversation shifts to a critical yet appreciative analysis of the various fashion statements made during the Met Gala.

Favorite Looks:

• Kaytranada: Sean praises Kaytranada’s ensemble, styled by Von Vaughn, featuring McQueen attire and Bernard James jewelry, noting it as a "full moment" and a testament to Sean’s close-knit community.

  Quote:

  "It was like a full moment. Like, it was like a family affair with K." — Sean Garrett [18:41]

• Jodie Turner Smith: Brooke commends her Burberry look with an exaggerated silhouette, paying homage to a black equestrian, showcasing thorough preparation and cultural significance.

• Lewis Hamilton: Both hosts express admiration for his elegant and consistently stunning appearances.

Least Favorite Looks:

• Louis Vuitton Outfits: Sean criticizes the brand’s aggressive yet underwhelming presence, particularly highlighting Sabrina Carpenter’s outfit as overly minimalistic and lacking creativity.

  Quote:

  "They were some of the worst looks I've ever seen." — Sean Garrett [30:04]

• Amelia Gray’s Durag: Brooke shares her disapproval of a white woman wearing a durag, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and appropriateness.

Sean and Brooke discuss the importance of creativity and cultural relevance in Met Gala fashion, advocating for more innovative and culturally respectful designs.

---

5. Black Representation and Cultural Significance at the Met Gala

Timestamp: [16:43] - [32:46]

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the Met Gala’s latest exhibit celebrating black history in fashion. Brooke and Sean reflect on the emotional and cultural depth of the exhibit, which includes artifacts from the era of slavery, the Harlem Renaissance, and showcases the evolution of black fashion.

Notable Quotes:

"Black people are so expansive, some of the most creative, innovative, like, thought-provoking people in the world." — Sean Garrett [16:43]

"Black male mannequins with non-Eurocentric features...just so powerful." — Brooke DeVard [17:47]

They highlight the meaningful portrayal of enslaved individuals’ attire and the subsequent transformation of black fashion into a symbol of upward mobility and cultural expression. The use of black mannequins to display the garments is lauded as a powerful statement of representation and heritage.

Sean relates this to his personal experiences growing up in Baltimore, recounting how early education about slavery and its impacts shaped his appreciation for black culture and fashion.

---

6. Skincare Insights: Preparing for the Red Carpet

Timestamp: [32:32] - [33:09]

Transitioning from fashion to skincare, Sean shares his professional expertise on maintaining pristine skin amidst the hectic demands of red carpet events. He details his skincare regimen, emphasizing the importance of timely facials and the role of ingredients like mandelic acid.

Notable Quote:

"Anyone that has like red skin or if I'm doing like a deep treatment, I can like have their skin look like they had nothing done. It's just like glowing, gorgeous skin." — Sean Garrett [06:54]

Sean explains the benefits of mandelic acid, particularly for melanin-rich and sensitive, acne-prone skin, highlighting its gentle exfoliating properties compared to other acids. He underscores the significance of calming inflammation as a key aspect of his skincare treatments.

---

7. Final Thoughts: Embracing Individualism and Creativity

Timestamp: [31:08] - [32:46]

In wrapping up the discussion, Brooke and Sean advocate for the celebration of individualism and self-expression in both fashion and daily life. Sean emphasizes the importance of black culture in shaping American fashion and urges for continued inclusion and representation in major platforms like the Met Gala.

Notable Quotes:

"Don't be afraid of self-expression. Always show up in the room and be yourself, because you never know, 20, 30 years down the line, you might have started a trend." — Sean Garrett [32:09]

"Explore your creativity. Give black people, all people of color, the platform to show their culture and their creativity and to just be yourself and celebrate yourself." — Sean Garrett [32:32]

Brooke echoes these sentiments, highlighting the enduring influence of black style icons like Diana Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross, whose timeless glamour continues to inspire generations.

---

Conclusion

This episode of Naked Beauty offers a profound exploration of the intersection between high fashion, cultural representation, and skincare. Brooke DeVard and Sean Garrett provide listeners with an insider’s perspective on the Met Gala, enriched by personal anecdotes and professional insights. The conversation not only celebrates the grandeur of the event but also underscores the vital role of black culture in shaping the fashion landscape.

For those seeking inspiration on blending beauty routines with high-profile events or wishing to understand the deeper cultural narratives within fashion, this episode serves as an invaluable resource.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content sections from [33:09] onwards were intentionally excluded to maintain focus on the core discussions.

Transcript

[Brooke Devard]

Hello. Hello, it's Brooke Devard and you're listening to the Naked Beauty Podcast. I am joined by Shawn Garrett. Sean, how are you?

[Shawn Garrett]

I'm great.

[Brooke Devard]

It is the morning after the Met Gala to give you all some background. Shawn, we've. I feel like I've known you since I was like 16.

[Shawn Garrett]

No, we met when I was 16.

[Brooke Devard]

Yeah, you were 16. I was like, probably in my 20s.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, no, you were.

[Brooke Devard]

What's our age difference?

[Shawn Garrett]

Well, I'm 33.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, you're okay. It's getting very ageless.

[Shawn Garrett]

It's giving 22 college.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay, you're 33. I'm 35.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

So I was like in my senior year, like junior year.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

We had blogs.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. People on the Internet, they find each other kindred spirits. You were always talking about Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen and their fashions. And I was like, whoever Sean is, he's fabulous. And I'm following everything now. Sean has an incredibly successful clinic here in New York. Shawn Garrett, Skin. And he is an esthetician, a skin skincare creator. He's worked with Dior Beauty, Fenty Beauty. So excited to have you on the show.

[Shawn Garrett]

Thank you.

[Brooke Devard]

And I feel like there's no one I'd rather talk about. Met with. There is truly so much to love about la, which is why today's episode is brought to you by Los Angeles. Tourism, food and drink, shopping and fashion, and just the pure nature and beauty of la. One of the things that I started doing the moment I moved here was integrating hikes into my morning routine. I wake up, I go to this gorgeous canyon and I just take in the nature around me. And it's so great to be surrounded by nature. But then you have this vibrant city here, an amazing restaurant scene, great cocktails, the shopping and fashion. Let's talk about some of the best shops in la. If you've been into Maxfield, you know some of the most incredible high end designer you can find, H. Lorenzo has such an interesting curated buy. There's a Dover street market here. I mean, the LA fashion scene is honestly very underrated. And there's some very exciting things happening in the design community here. If interior design is more your thing, there are incredible furniture shops here. You can shop vintage, you can shop from contemporary designers. You really can shop your way through all of Los Angeles. And if you're someone who loves wellness and skin care, there are so many incredible spas and skincare destinations here in Los Angeles. There is so much to discover. Find more ways to love LA@discover LA.com. we love LA. Let's get back into the episode. I feel like. Yeah. I'm like. So first of all, we're here in New York. Let me get my coffee because I'm. I'm like, running on three hours of sleep. Tell me about your Met Monday and Sunday, because the pre party start even before it's, like, craziness here in New York.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah. The Sunday, like, really led up to my Monday. I went to one party. I wasn't gonna go out.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

But one of my really good friends, Brandon Blackwood, he called me and he was like, what are you doing? I was like, getting a manicure. Of course.

[Brooke Devard]

It's a beauty thing.

[Shawn Garrett]

I know.

[Brooke Devard]

Brandon Blackwood. We should tell people. Fabulous black designer, incredible handbags, incredible handbag.

[Shawn Garrett]

Designer also makes incredible furs. Nobody knows. He's like a fur.

[Brooke Devard]

Yay.

[Shawn Garrett]

He also does a lot of custom gowns, celebrities. He did Beyonce's Renaissance tour last year, actually. Incredible. He made a custom gown for her. He's like my party partner.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

So we always go out, have a good time. And he was like, oh, you have to come to Waymo and Micah's pre met party.

[Brooke Devard]

You were there at the Ganzevoort?

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, my gosh.

[Shawn Garrett]

I got there late, though.

[Brooke Devard]

What time did you get there?

[Shawn Garrett]

Like, 11.

[Brooke Devard]

I feel like we were there. My makeup artist, Alexis, is here. Were we there at 11 or 12 maybe? Did you see At Shang?

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay. Friend of the show at Shang and.

[Shawn Garrett]

Gutu did see her. That's also my sister.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

That after party really set the tone for me for this being the blackest Met Gala ever. I was black, very black, and I.

[Shawn Garrett]

Had the best time.

[Brooke Devard]

The best. I mean, what's better than a black party?

[Shawn Garrett]

Exactly.

[Brooke Devard]

Right? So you were there partying. Now when you go out, are you smoking? Are you drinking? Are you like, we have to keep the skin pristine, and I'm not gonna do anything.

[Shawn Garrett]

That's the thing. I'm like, I'm the worst representative for, like, healthy lifestyle, healthy skin, because that is not my vibe.

[Brooke Devard]

But the skin looks so great. I think that's important to tell people. You can party, you can have a good time and have great skin.

[Shawn Garrett]

Because I live so, like, for the moment. Like, honestly, last night I slept in my makeup.

[Brooke Devard]

Wow, wow, wow. Okay, I know. I'm not judging. We listen and we don't judge.

[Shawn Garrett]

I passed out. It was. It was a long night.

[Brooke Devard]

It was a long night.

[Shawn Garrett]

It was a long night. But I wasn't wearing that much makeup, so I feel like it's not that bad.

[Brooke Devard]

It's not that bad.

[Shawn Garrett]

I was wearing, like, a little concealer, like, cream blush.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay. Okay. So Sunday night before the Met really set the tone. And Wayman and Micah, for people who don't know, incredible stylist, they do.

[Shawn Garrett]

Colman Domingo. He's won the chairman for the Met this year.

[Brooke Devard]

And Divine Joy Random.

[Shawn Garrett]

Divine Joy. Regina King.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

So many amazing black women.

[Brooke Devard]

They can dress men, women plus size petite. I think that really shows your skill as a stylist.

[Shawn Garrett]

Absolutely. And I love seeing two black men that also look like me be so celebrated in fashion, because even, like, in beauty, we don't see that a lot. So I'm like, I'm excited to know them and be able to celebrate them. And it was a great time.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

They throw good parties, though.

[Brooke Devard]

They are known for their parties.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, they are known for their parties.

[Brooke Devard]

People know that women in my dad.

[Shawn Garrett]

Party, they're a good time.

[Brooke Devard]

So Monday rolls around.

[Shawn Garrett]

Monday rolls around.

[Brooke Devard]

I started my day at 6am because I had to be at the museum for an early preview of the exhibition. Super fine. I wanted to go. I wanted to go black tailoring.

[Shawn Garrett]

I wish I could have went to that. But I got in at 3:30am and then I had to get up at 6 to be to my studio by 7.

[Brooke Devard]

Yep.

[Shawn Garrett]

And then I had, like, a day of facials.

[Brooke Devard]

Were you prepping anyone for the Met Gala?

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah. So I was prepping Kaytranada for the Met.

[Brooke Devard]

Love Kaytranada. And I think he's so beautiful. I actually want to have him on the podcast. Don't you think he'd be a great guest?

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes. Well, honestly, no. Okay. He would be, but he's so, like, he loves beauty.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

But, like, I'm teaching him how to, like, properly take care of his skin.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes. Cause he's a Virgo, so he thinks he knows it all, but.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay, well, we're getting to the source. We're getting to the true beauty source. Okay, so you prepped his skin. What do you do for skin prep before a big awards show?

[Shawn Garrett]

So for me, if the event is like, the day of, I don't go as, like, ham as I would love to. Usually if I want, like, a deep, deep facial, I'll try to do it like a week before the event so the skin has time to heal.

[Brooke Devard]

What is going ham?

[Shawn Garrett]

So going ham is like, lots of sculpting, deep exfoliation, maybe a light peel. Because usually if I'm doing, like, an event thing, I have, like, a triple Step exfoliation kind of treatment, which is like my glass skin or like the works facial that I do. But what I learned about myself is I'm really good at calming inflammation. That's kind of like my secret weapon. It's like anyone that has like red skin or if I'm doing like a deep treatment, I can like have their skin look like they had nothing done. It's just like glowing, gorgeous skin.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay, well, listeners, stay tuned because we're going to do a deep dive on calming inflammation, treating hyperpigmentation with Sean because he's an expert in all of those things.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

So day of, what are you doing?

[Shawn Garrett]

So day of, so with Kay, we did like my signature glass skin facial, which is like a two, two step deep cleansing. To start, we do steam because I like the skin to be soft and supple and like malleable. I love like a rich oil cleanser because it really helps to so and moisturize the skin. And then I always like an exfoliating cleanser. One of my favorites is from Medicaid. It's called the Surface Radiance cleanser. It has mandelic and salicylic, two of my favorite ingredients. And so it helps exfoliate, but gently exfoliate. Not like too aggressive, but it's super, super hydrating, which I love.

[Brooke Devard]

Mandelic is an ingredient that I feel like I really got into with the Sophie Pavett Mandelic serum. Have you tried that? Do you like it?

[Shawn Garrett]

I love Sofi Pavett and I love that serum. And it's one of the like rare serums you can use daily, which I do love. Cause for ac, it's really good to have that daily exfoliation. But I've been talking about mandelic probably since like 2017 and there were no like real good mandelic ones. So Sophie really was like a hero with coming up with that serum. I used to use this brand called Vivant and they were like one of the like very few brands that were making good mandelic products.

[Brooke Devard]

And what does mandelic acid do for your skin?

[Shawn Garrett]

So Mandelic is one of those rare exfoliants. It's a. Aha. So alpha hydroxy acid that has a large molecule structure. So it really is good for exfoliating the top of the skin. But what I love about it is that it's really good for melanin rich skin. So it helps exfoliate, it helps treat hyperpigmentation. It's incredible with texture and it really helps with acne skin because it exfoliates, but it's gentle and it's very moisturizing. So it's different from glycolic, which can be like a little bit more stripping and drying or even salicylic acid. And I like it more than lactic because it's not as, like, stingy on the skin. It's just like, the perfect ingredient if you have sensitive, acne prone skin.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay, thank you for that education.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

So, okay, you prepped clients all day? All day on three hours of sleep.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

And then where did you watch the actual carpet?

[Shawn Garrett]

So that's where the night went awry. Because I have, like, two jobs. Like, I'm a skincare professional and then, like, influencer and creator.

[Brooke Devard]

Everyone's looking to you for the Met Gala recap.

[Shawn Garrett]

Exactly. So I wrapped up, like, my professional life, and then I had to run home and then get changed because I was going to Jenny's Supper Club in Harlem. I was supposed to go with Shea Moisture, but the rain got the best of me and so did my night before. So I'm blaming Waymond and Micah for exhausting me. And so I didn't make it to Harlem in time, and so I just, like, used that time to kind of, like, get prepped. So, like, I did my whole beauty routine and really, like, figured out what I wanted to wear, and I still didn't love my outfit.

[Brooke Devard]

For the after parties.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, for the after parties.

[Brooke Devard]

Which after parties did you go to?

[Shawn Garrett]

So I went to wsa, which is where my studio is.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I honestly. I honestly think low key. That was, like, the best one.

[Brooke Devard]

Really?

[Shawn Garrett]

Because I have like, a certain, like, metric of a good party. Like, as long as it's, like, a chill environment, good food, easy access to drinks, the bars aren't crowded, and, like, a good environment. That's a good party to me.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Like, I don't need every celebrity in the world to be there. And so WSA was kind of like the low key but fab chic party.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

And then Teyana Taylor had, like, a cabaret kind of thing.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. At the edition.

[Shawn Garrett]

I lasted five minutes there.

[Brooke Devard]

Cause it was crazy, right?

[Shawn Garrett]

It was insane.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Then public, Janelle Monae and Dochi's party.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, you did a lot.

[Shawn Garrett]

I did a lot, but I didn't last that long. And then we had Casa Cipriani.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, my God.

[Shawn Garrett]

I did not. I did not go to Casa because it was so insane. So I met K. He did. He did public with Dochi and Janelle, and then he did Tiana's party, and then he did Casa Cipriani. That's where he ended that night. So I was kind of, like, bopping around with him and then kind of doing my own thing in between. But, girl, after a while, I got exhausted.

[Brooke Devard]

I know, I know. We have to talk about the Met Gala looks, our favorites. But before we get into that, I just want to set the scene for people listening. After party, Met Gala. After parties in New York City are the most insane thing you will ever see.

[Shawn Garrett]

The most insane thing.

[Brooke Devard]

The door, politics that come outside. I'm on the list. It's just a lot.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, it's a lot. It's actually worse than, like, Fashion Week.

[Brooke Devard]

It's worse than anything.

[Shawn Garrett]

It's worse than Grammy weekend.

[Brooke Devard]

People lose their minds.

[Shawn Garrett]

It's insane. It's insane.

[Brooke Devard]

It's insane.

[Shawn Garrett]

This is like the real, like, Super Bowl Oscar weekend, Grammy party.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

That's. This is New York's, like, Oscar weekend.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. But what I do love about the after parties is you get the really chic New Yorkers that, like, live in New York and they're stylists and they're. And they're out because they.

[Shawn Garrett]

That's what I love. Because in New York, you actually get to see, like, artists, curators, architects. Like, you see the full mecca of what New York is, not just, like, celebrities and fashion people and creators.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And this one, I honestly didn't see a lot of creators, which I personally like.

[Brooke Devard]

The only creator I was disappointed was not. There was wisdom.

[Shawn Garrett]

K. I know.

[Brooke Devard]

Because that. I mean, he is black dandy. I mean, he would have been perfect for the theme.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

And people were saying, well, the Met doesn't invite creators. And then people pointed out Emma Chamberlain has been there for what, four years running.

[Shawn Garrett]

Exactly. And I feel like the line is blurring between celebrity and creator now.

[Brooke Devard]

Absolutely.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I mean, even, like, with that last Balenciaga campaign, we had, like, Charli d' Amelio sitting next to, you know, like, Augustine Sky. Yeah. Pauloma. So it's like. It's a blurred line now. What celebrity and creator is absolutely.

[Brooke Devard]

Favorite looks of the night? Least favorite looks of the night. Were you at home watching the carpet?

[Shawn Garrett]

I was at home, which I'm happy I was.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Because, like, I ordered Chinese and was in my robe.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

So I had. I had fun.

[Brooke Devard]

That's nice.

[Shawn Garrett]

I was judging down.

[Brooke Devard]

I was at the Mark Hotel. Every year, Instagram does this kind of viewing party where they invite a bunch of creators.

[Shawn Garrett]

I wish I had the opportunity to go. That seems like a lot of fun.

[Brooke Devard]

I think you should be there.

[Shawn Garrett]

I should be.

[Brooke Devard]

Let's see.

[Shawn Garrett]

Me and Wisdom K. Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. But that was really fun to be around other creators and kind of hear everyone's, like, real time. And when people, like, gasped looking at the screen versus when people were like, no. Like, when Hailey Bieber stepped out, there was an audible, like, what? Like, everyone was like, girl, what are you doing? This is the Met.

[Shawn Garrett]

Oh, my God. It's hard. Hailey's my girl.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

I love Hailey.

[Brooke Devard]

Personally, you love her or personally, you love her? Okay, you guys are. You guys are friends.

[Shawn Garrett]

We have, like, a good relationship. Friendship.

[Brooke Devard]

I love. See your road case.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes, my road case. She's super supportive of me, But I was. I was like, haley, you could have did something fat. I actually would have loved to see her in, like, a dandy Saint Laurent suit.

[Brooke Devard]

A second suit. Give us this suit.

[Shawn Garrett]

Like, a true, like, lace smoking suit.

[Brooke Devard]

She wore a blazer dress.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

And I know that's your friend.

[Shawn Garrett]

I know.

[Brooke Devard]

But this is the Met gala.

[Shawn Garrett]

But I also, like, she always wears that.

[Brooke Devard]

She. It looked like she was going to. To dinner with Justin.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

Date night.

[Shawn Garrett]

Can we also talk? Like, aside from fashion, I want to see people explore more with beauty. And I feel like one of the people that always does it really well is Tiana. Taylor always takes it to, like, the full, full capacity of, like, pushing the limit of beauty. And it's like, I want to see people explore with makeup, hair, like, body modifications. Like, I want to see the full glamour of it all.

[Brooke Devard]

Absolutely. This is a gala to celebrate a costume institute.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

And if you don't, it's not where.

[Shawn Garrett]

You should be safe.

[Brooke Devard]

Not the place to be safe at all. So when I think Teyana was one of the first looks we saw.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

When I saw it, I was like, okay. It was giving very kind of, like, dolomite pimp, you know, I think that was her inspiration.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah. Like a heart.

[Brooke Devard]

And at first, I will be honest, I didn't love it.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

Because it was a lot.

[Shawn Garrett]

It's a lot going on.

[Brooke Devard]

It was a lot going on. But the more I saw how underwhelming everyone else was, I was like, oh, I appreciate that Teyana brought it there.

[Shawn Garrett]

I think it was a lot for us, because fashion wise, it's like, that's a lot every day. But when you put it in the context of the Costume Institute, it makes sense. I think that's what people lose at the Met. It is a costume institute. It's a gala to support the museum and the exhibit And I'm like, you need to show up and show out. But I also feel like it's a lot of the brand's fault. Like, Lacoste.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, did Lacoste.

[Shawn Garrett]

I think they did Venus Williams.

[Brooke Devard]

No, I saw that. It's like a little tennis skirt.

[Shawn Garrett]

I did not love that.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. So this year's met gala raised $31 million, which is the highest grossing. And do you know who one of the biggest donors was? Someone that we're not that kind to, I think, in the black community. Tyler Perry.

[Shawn Garrett]

Really?

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Oh, wow. You should have came as Madea. Could you imagine Madea at the Met, honey?

[Brooke Devard]

Could you imagine?

[Shawn Garrett]

She should have hosted the Vogue live story.

[Brooke Devard]

Could you imagine? Oh, my goodness. But, yes. I mean, it raised so much money. And being there, seeing the actual exhibit, you have to go to the Met to see it.

[Shawn Garrett]

It is like, I'm dying to go.

[Brooke Devard]

It is.

[Shawn Garrett]

So I actually just bought a book.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, I got the book as well. The book is gorgeous. Super fine Tailoring black style. But one of the things that made me very emotional in the actual exhibit is they show the clothes of enslaved people. And, like, there's this one little jacket. It's, like, beautifully tailored. And it said that this was, like, the jacket of an enslaved boy. Now, you know, I have a young son, so I'm just thinking, like, our people, right? Like, our people for generations and generations were enslaved and made to wear certain clothes for their master. Like, your station determined how your slaves dressed. And when you came from a very wealthy family, then your slaves had nice clothing because that was, like, your property that you were showing off. And I just thought about that being the entry point of this exhibit. Thinking about black people coming out of slavery, then creating fashion on their own terms. Upward mobility. They have a whole section on the Harlem Renaissance. And then it gets into, like, zoom. And it's just like, black people are so expansive.

[Shawn Garrett]

So expansive, so expansive. And are some of the most creative, innovative, like, thought provoking people in the world. I feel like everything comes from us because we've always had to create glamour and happiness out of complete despair.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

When I was young, I'm from Baltimore.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes, I know.

[Shawn Garrett]

And we actually had an exhibit of showing, like, we had, like, artifacts of original slave ships that came into, like, the Chesapeake. And then also just seeing we had, like, some of the slaves clothes and things like that, and seeing that as, like, a young boy, that changed me a lot. Like, and I remember I used to be scared of, like, slavery because it was, like, something that I always Felt was so close to home because I was always educated as, like, a young child about, like, where I came from, my roots, my family ancestry. And seeing now, like, in the Met, in such a black platform of where we've come from, which was not our choice to be here, and what we turned it into was just, like, magnificent.

[Brooke Devard]

So magnificent. And the other thing that I found very moving about the exhibit is all of the clothes are on black mannequins. Black male mannequins with non Eurocentric features, you know, with, like, wider lips. And like, just the mannequins looked beautiful, you know, and it's like to see clothes on these black mannequins was just so. Just so powerful.

[Shawn Garrett]

I think that's probably one of the best exhibits that they've done in a long time, because I like when the Fashion Institute connects to real history, especially American history.

[Brooke Devard]

Absolutely. And so many people don't even know that the Met Gala is to celebrate the opening of this exhibit. They think it's just kind of like a party.

[Shawn Garrett]

Exactly.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay, let's get into more favorite looks. Because I think I had very high expectations, and some people rose to the occasion and some people did not.

[Shawn Garrett]

I do too. I have mixed feelings. I loved, obviously, Kaytranada. That's one of my friends and my best friend, also styled him. So it was like a little family affair.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, is it Von Vaughn? Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Which I loved. McQueen dressed him, and he had Bernard James jewels, so it's like he had. It was a full moment. Like, it was like a family affair with K. So that was, like, really special. And it was his first met, and so I know he was really excited to go. I loved Colman Domingo, but I wanted a little bit more.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. I think there were very, very high stakes for Colman Domingo and Dochi. Those are the two people everyone wanted to see.

[Shawn Garrett]

And this is where I'm torn, because I love the looks, but I was disappointed, and I kind of was disappointed with Louis Vuitton overall.

[Brooke Devard]

So Louis Vuitton had very aggressive branding.

[Shawn Garrett]

Very aggressive branding. But then also, it was underwhelming. Why was all the girls in, like, bodysuits and cropped jackets, like, Sabrina Carpenter? She looked like a hobbit. Like, not to disrespect Sabrina, they cut her neck off. She had this dry wig on. She's five foot and, like, a leotard. She looked like she was about to, like, juggle glass bottles on fire at Barnum and Bailey. Like, I. Oh, my goodness. Hated it.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, my gosh.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I hate maroon On Pale People. I just.

[Brooke Devard]

Do I. You know, I think Sabrina has cemented this. She has a very specific look and aesthetic. It's very old Hollywood pinup girl. So it felt to me right for her.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah, it worked for her. But I feel like she could have did, like, a Gigi Hadid thing, which was like, connected to, like, the Josephine Baker and kind of the dandyism of that time and kind of explored, like, the victory roles with the hair or just like, finger. It was like something.

[Brooke Devard]

Something of that era. Yeah.

[Shawn Garrett]

She could have did, like, connected with the music, like the funk era of dandyism. I think I just could have been more explorative.

[Brooke Devard]

Or do you know what would have also been cool? You know the black woman who designed the Playboy costume.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

What if she did, like the Playboy bunny? You know, that's very her.

[Shawn Garrett]

But also maybe that's what he was going for. Yeah, that's what her and Lisa. But it fell flat.

[Brooke Devard]

It kind of fell flat.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

Dochi. Now I want to say what I loved about Dochi. Did you see the LV that she had on her skin tag? Yes, that. So when we talk about people taking bigger risks, also the afro. I don't know why more people don't so gor could girl.

[Shawn Garrett]

I want an Afro wig, period. I really want an afro wig, period.

[Brooke Devard]

And I think that af like the full circular afro. It's very hard to achieve with your own hair because you have to have just the right. How did they all do it in the 70s?

[Shawn Garrett]

You have to have the right texture, the right density.

[Brooke Devard]

It has to be cut in a certain way. But I love, like, a full afro. And we don't see that, like, especially when you think about black hair. We don't see big afros often.

[Shawn Garrett]

Not even on the Runway.

[Brooke Devard]

Not even on the Runway.

[Shawn Garrett]

Whenever when we have girls who have that natural texture, they always either braid it down into, like, straight back cornrows or they try to minimize it with, like, slicking it back.

[Brooke Devard]

Always.

[Shawn Garrett]

I wish we had more of that in beauty.

[Brooke Devard]

I agree. I agree. So I loved the afro. I loved her grill. We saw a lot of grills.

[Shawn Garrett]

Love the grill.

[Brooke Devard]

I just got fitted for my first grill, like, two weeks ago. I'm getting it when I go back to la.

[Shawn Garrett]

Me and Brandon Blackwood were all talking. We want our whole friend group to get, like, matching grills. Yes, I think we want to do that. Because now I'm like, that's a beauty statement too.

[Brooke Devard]

Absolutely.

[Shawn Garrett]

I love when Beyonce does it.

[Brooke Devard]

I love when Beyonce does it. Yeah. Sir John always wears grills. And I was like, I really, really want. And then I finally. And I'm getting one with, like, jade in it for my daughter Jade. So I'm gonna have, like, a green. It's like green and gold.

[Shawn Garrett]

Well, you know, I had grills when I was in the sixth grade.

[Brooke Devard]

Please tell me this story.

[Shawn Garrett]

So my dad is like a true. Like, he's like a street boy. But my dad is also very straight laced. He was in the military since he was like, 17 years old. And he, like, his thing, though, was like, grills. Like, he loves, like, gold teeth. And. And my mom hated it, so he did it behind her back. We picked me up from school one day, and we went downtown in Baltimore to our jeweler, and my dad got me two things. They were full, solid gold. And then they had my initials in them. It said sl, which is like my official surname, Lundy. And they were in diamonds.

[Brooke Devard]

Wow.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I was like, the cool. Cause I just had, like, gold teeth. And then one of my teachers told my mother because my mother told me I couldn't get it, and they told my mom, and she took my girl from me.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, my gosh.

[Shawn Garrett]

And my dad kept it, and I was so mad.

[Brooke Devard]

So, yeah, you need to recreate the grill moments.

[Shawn Garrett]

I need that back.

[Brooke Devard]

Yeah, you need to recreate it. I loved Tessa Thompson.

[Shawn Garrett]

Loved.

[Brooke Devard]

And I really.

[Shawn Garrett]

And Tim Burton esque dandyism.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. I love the exaggerated silhouette. But she also carried a church fan with Andre Leon Talley's face on it.

[Shawn Garrett]

I love.

[Brooke Devard]

And so when I interned at Vogue, I interned under Andre.

[Shawn Garrett]

I remember. Yeah, yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

And so Andre would swan in and out of the office, and he was just truly larger than life. And so even Colman Domingo, I know people thought his look was underwhelming, but that cape that he. That's definitely a tribute to Andrey. So everyone who did, like, a nod to Andre, I really appreciated, which I.

[Shawn Garrett]

Want to also, like, acknowledge. Chanel had made a big presence, and Andre was so close to the house of Chanel while Carl was there. And so I did like seeing Chanel be so involved because they don't always participate in every metal.

[Brooke Devard]

Who did Chanel dress?

[Shawn Garrett]

Lupita? They did Lupita. They did Jenny from Blackpink. They also did EB Akmara. They styled him, and I think he styled all the Chanel looks. They did a lot of people. It was a few more that I saw this morning, I can't remember. But, yeah, they styled a lot of people.

[Brooke Devard]

Yeah. I think anyone who was Able to incorporate Andre into their look was special. I love what Jodie Turner Smith did. Love that with that Burberry look with the very exaggerated silhouette, which was a tribute to a black equestrian. So she really did her homework.

[Shawn Garrett]

Also, Louis Hamilton, also. He's so sexy.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh. Oh, Lewis Hamilton.

[Shawn Garrett]

Lewis Hamilton, yes. He's so gorgeous.

[Brooke Devard]

I know. I mean, I think the whole world agrees.

[Shawn Garrett]

I love everything about him, though. Like, I love how soft spoken he is, but I love, like, his vernacular. Like, he's just. I don't know, he's everything.

[Brooke Devard]

Are there any other men that impressed you?

[Shawn Garrett]

Other men? No, no, no.

[Brooke Devard]

Any women that were standouts?

[Shawn Garrett]

Nicki Minaj. I'm a barb.

[Brooke Devard]

Okay.

[Shawn Garrett]

So I love. Okay. I think the thing about Thom Browne is that the aesthetic can get a little bit.

[Brooke Devard]

Everyone wore Thom Browne. I wish we were tired. Yeah. I wish we saw more black designers, to be honest.

[Shawn Garrett]

I do. The thing is, I wanted. Obviously, one of my best friends is Christopher John Rogers. I would love to have seen him be involved in the Met more.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

But I think the other side that I think a lot of people who aren't involved don't understand, kind of like the politics of it.

[Brooke Devard]

We could do a whole podcast on the politics behind politics.

[Shawn Garrett]

Politics about it. Because it's like the thing about being invited to the Met. You have to buy a table, which is very expensive. Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

It's like $350,000.

[Shawn Garrett]

$350,000.

[Brooke Devard]

You can't just buy a table. Anna has to invite you to buy.

[Shawn Garrett]

A T. She has to invite you to buy a table. And then the guests have to be approved, and then the guests have to be dressed, and then that they have to be approved with their look. So it's a lot that goes into it, but I was happy to see a few people there wearing Chris. But I feel like this was, like, the Met. That could have been amazing for him.

[Brooke Devard]

I agree.

[Shawn Garrett]

I think it was great for Law. I think Burberry really fell flat with having Law be the representative. And then the looks not really hit. I think it was.

[Brooke Devard]

What did you think of Zendaya's look?

[Shawn Garrett]

I was actually very disappointed. I mean, that's my Virgo sister. I loved the Bianca Jagger of it all. You know, the mahogany reference, Diana Ross. But then seeing another actress from Shogun come in, almost the identical look as her.

[Brooke Devard]

Can I give you a very hot take about that?

[Shawn Garrett]

Yeah.

[Brooke Devard]

So people were looking at it and they were like, oh, Law's probably really upset. Have you read Law's book?

[Shawn Garrett]

No.

[Brooke Devard]

So one of the things that Law talks about in his book is that when Zendaya was coming up as, like, no one knew who she was. He would look at Intouch, Us Weekly, all the tabloids, and he would put her in the same dresses that someone else wore because he knew they would run her photo and who wore it better. And he's like. And I knew that Zendaya would win every time. And he's like, we couldn't get her press any other way. So looking at.

[Shawn Garrett]

I don't think she won this time, though. No shade.

[Brooke Devard]

Oh, wow. See, that's that. Now that is a very hot take. Because the tailoring, I agree, underwhelming. I think we expect so much from her in Law, but the tailoring was.

[Shawn Garrett]

Perfection, I think, for a young actress like her to be able to rival Zendaya. And I also think I understand where Zendaya was coming from, though, because last year was her Met. She opened and closed the carpet. She wore two John Galliano looks, one from Givenchy. The John Galliano era that she actually bought and paid for.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes, yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

So I think she was like, you know, this year it's about Law. This is his moment. I want to support but not be the stalker stick. She was standing on the side. She didn't take up the carpet. She came in kind of like just the middle of the carpet. Like, she didn't really try to make a statement. However, I'm like, we want to see you people tune into the Met now to see what Zendaya's wearing.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I think a lot of her Met looks before last year kind of weren't my favorite. And so I feel like last year set the precedent for, like, me to want to see Zendaya be.

[Brooke Devard]

Gag us.

[Shawn Garrett]

Gag us.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Like, I want a gagalicious dandyism diva look.

[Brooke Devard]

Well, Riri closed the carpet announcing her.

[Shawn Garrett]

Third pregnancy, which I knew for months she was pregnant.

[Brooke Devard]

I feel like many of us have known. But one of the things she said, she gave an interview to Scott Evans, you know, who was just on Naked Beauty. Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

He does some of my favorite interviews.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes, yes. I loved having him on the show. But she said, I'm just happy that I don't have to hide my bump anymore. And so now we're gonna get more pregnancy fashions from Rihanna.

[Shawn Garrett]

But she's never good at hiding it.

[Brooke Devard]

But I just love whenever she starts.

[Shawn Garrett]

Wearing those big ass clothes, I'm like, girl, whenever she starts wearing the Rick Owens and like, the big dresses, the tents, I know Rhea's Fire.

[Brooke Devard]

But I do, I do really love and appreciate the looks that she does. When you get to see the bump, like the bump outlooks that Mew Mew was chic.

[Shawn Garrett]

Ashley.

[Brooke Devard]

So chic. She's so chic.

[Shawn Garrett]

So good.

[Brooke Devard]

I want to give one shout out to Tracee Ellis Ross and Diana Ross because I think that they are truly black style living black style icons. Very few people are on Diana Ross level when it comes to just.

[Shawn Garrett]

I mean, she's the epitome of glamour.

[Brooke Devard]

The epitome. So when I just saw her descending up those stairs. She's 81.

[Shawn Garrett]

Yes.

[Brooke Devard]

Incredible.

[Shawn Garrett]

I had to Google. I was like, how old is Diana? She's like such an irreverent beauty and she's such an. I'm glad that her son asked her to come.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Because she is the definition of black beauty in that era and every era after it. She is the standard of what black beauty is. Hair, makeup, glamour, stage presence, and the fact that she's still on tour at 81.

[Brooke Devard]

Incredible.

[Shawn Garrett]

Is incredible.

[Brooke Devard]

Diana Ross is on every single Pinterest board. I have makeup Pinterest boards, hair Pinterest boards, outfit Pinterest boards. Same from every 60s, 70s, 80s.

[Shawn Garrett]

You know what, I would have loved to see more, though. Like I said it earlier, like the funk of it, which is kind of what they were going with. K's look, kind of like the funkadelic kind of dandyism of like the Afro futurism. I would have loved to see more Tina Turner reference, which Doja Cat did with Marc Jacobs.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

Like, I really wanted to see that because I think people think of dandyism as one thing. Kind of like almost this very obviously tailored. But it's tailored to you, like Anna said.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

It's tailored to who you are as a person, your creativity, who you are individually. It doesn't mean just like a three piece suit and you know, like brooch and a top hat and you know, like the loafers and all of that. It can be to who you are as a person. So I would have loved to see a little bit more again. Creativity.

[Brooke Devard]

Absolutely.

[Shawn Garrett]

I think Tommy Hilfiger was one of the worst looks ever.

[Brooke Devard]

I didn't see it.

[Shawn Garrett]

They were some of the worst looks I've ever seen.

[Brooke Devard]

I didn't see. I saw Amelia Gray in that durag and I said, okay, what we're not gonna do is have a white woman in durag.

[Shawn Garrett]

Hey, bro. The way she stormed in that carpet like she was gonna eat. Did you see when she walked in, girl, she stormed in that carpet, like, she. I'm like, babe, you are not Bella Hadid. Like, no shade. And I would have loved to see Bella because she would have gave you something. I know, but Emelia is like. But I think it's the perfect thing of, like. I'm not gonna say it, but.

[Brooke Devard]

Well, okay. We could talk about this literally all day before we wrap on this Met Gala conversation, what do you want to in future Met galas? And I'm going to give you a bonus question. What do you think that just us as everyday people can take from seeing all of this glamour on the red carpet?

[Shawn Garrett]

What I would love to see in the future is me, Sean Garrett at the Met.

[Brooke Devard]

Yeah, let's manifest me too.

[Shawn Garrett]

Let's manifest that. Okay. I want to see me and Brooke.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

With Naked Beauty hosting the Vogue livestream, period. Talking about black beauty every year at the Met Gala. Right.

[Brooke Devard]

It shouldn't just be.

[Shawn Garrett]

It shouldn't just be one year. It shouldn't just be an exhibit. And I think that's what this year taught us is one. When you give black people the platform, we're always gonna show up, we're always gonna show out, we're always going to support. Because we want to see more of our culture, especially in this weird political time we're in. We need to see the fabric, the true fabric of America.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And that's what the Met should represent.

[Brooke Devard]

I couldn't have said it better myself. What do you think we can take from the carpet in terms of just our day to day inspiration?

[Shawn Garrett]

I think it's all about individualism.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And I think we went through that whole period of quiet luxury and quiet girl. And I always said, I don't subscribe to that. I said, this is like a Nylon magazine thing. I said, if I'm rich, you're gonna know I'm rich. You're gonna see every ounce of money on me. Okay. And I think that's what. That's what black people bring to the table. Like, even if we don't have even. We don't have a penny in our pocket, we're gonna look the part.

[Brooke Devard]

We look good.

[Shawn Garrett]

We're gonna look the part. That's what we're always taught when we were young. You know, even if you don't have it, you show up and you look the part. You get in the room and then you show them what you can do. I think what we can take away from this is one, don't be afraid of self expression. Always show up in the room and be yourself, because you never know, 20, 30 years down the line, you might have started a trend. That may be a new Met exhibit.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes.

[Shawn Garrett]

And so it's like, you know, explore your creativity. Give black people, all people of color, the platform to show their culture and their creativity and to just be yourself and celebrate yourself. Celebrate your culture.

[Brooke Devard]

Yes. Perfect. Sean really said it all. Sean really said it all. It was such a pleasure recapping All Things Met Gala with you, and I'm excited to chat all things skincare.

[Shawn Garrett]

I'm excited.

[C]

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[Shawn Garrett]

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