Sleeping Beauties at The MET
📍 Upper East Side, NYC

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Dress || Heels || Similar Handbag || Earrings || Lip Color

Each May, any self-described fashion lover will have their attention on the Metropolitan Museum of Art to watch the red carpet for the annual MET Gala. The Gala is dedicated as the kickoff event for the Costume Institute’s latest exhibit. This season’s collection, called Sleeping Beauties, is a multi-sensory masterpiece. Using the uniting theme of Nature, the exhibit attempts to reawaken pieces that can never be worn again because of their status as a work of art. Between three groups (Earth, Air, and Water), over 220 garments and accessories are on display.

On our most recent trip to the city, we took advantage of our MET Member hours and viewed the exhibit without the crowds. It allowed us to view the collection at our leisure, savoring every stunning piece. If you can’t visit the exhibit before it closes in September, I wanted to give you a chance to see a few of my favorite pieces.

Dior Favorites

I’ve long known that I have a deep love for Christian Dior, particularly anything from the ‘New Look’ era of the 1940s. Now, imagine my sheer delight to find an entire gallery dedicated to Dior’s Garden right in the heart of the exhibit. One piece that I wish I could wear right out of the museum was the stunning black cocktail dress from the 2013/2014 winter and autumn collection (Above-Top Right). A strapless LBD seems simple enough, the intricate and monochromatic details took my breath away. A combination of silk overlaid with black leather flowers and black glass seed beads makes this a beautifully understated piece. 

Floral and Fauna

As you walk along the exhibit, you’ll instantly see the running theme of Nature embedded throughout. From flowers to birds and even bugs, Mother Nature has long inspired the fashion world. While I knew I would love the florals and ocean life motifs, the biggest surprise was how much I loved the insect galleries. Bugs are not it for me, but you cannot deny how beautiful they can be when looked at with a discerning eye. A particular dress that made me stop in my tracks was a white silk dress from Dauphinette (Above-Bottom Right). Although impossibly fragile, the dozens of beetle brooches almost made it look like a suit armor. In fact, many of the pieces from this part of this exhibit, with their iridescent patterns, toe the line between whimsical and melancholy.

The Grand Finale

The final gallery is appropriately titled “The Mermaid Bride”. A wedding ensemble (Above-Bottom Left) created by Callot Soeurs in 1930 serves as the focal point. Mind you, that was at the very onset of the Great Depression. Still, that didn’t stop socialite Natalie Potter from donning her dream gown on her wedding day. To bring this gallery into the 21st century, scan the QR code to a chat with Natalie Potter herself. Ask away about her wedding day and get to know her through the power of AI. 

This post is honestly just scratching the surface, if that, of all that Sleeping Beauties can offer. It is truly a stunning display of craftsmanship and imagination that is often critical to the fashion world. While the MET Museum calls visitors from around the world for countless reasons, this exhibit alone is worth a visit. Take as much time as you can in each gallery, and don’t be surprised if you need to make a second visit. I just might see you there!

Love from NYC,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England. 

Upper East Side Mom
📍 Upper East Side, NYC

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When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.

Button-Down || Shorts || Similar Flats || Earrings || Stroller || Baby Bag

Oh, how I love the Upper East Side! Although we’re incredibly happy in our little slice of Coastal Connecticut, this particular NYC neighborhood will always feel like home. Since Brennan first arrived, I have been itching to get her to the city as soon as possible. We want to introduce her to our favorite places but, more importantly, adjust to having mini-adventures with our latest addition. Last weekend was our first visit, and I must say it was a smashing success! I learned a lot about travel essentials, which I’ll share soon, and I am beginning to see the city through a new lens. What’s stroller accessible? What restaurants are baby-friendly? What do I do if a bathroom doesn’t have a changing table? There are so many things to consider as a mom in the Upper East Side!

Wandering Through the MET

Bringing Brennan to my favorite place was such a surreal experience! Although she was still too young to appreciate or even see the art, I was sure to narrate everything I saw. Since we’re MET members, we were able to get in an hour before they opened. This gave me the perfect opportunity for a quick bottle feed, and she was pretty much sound asleep during the rest of our visit. I can tell you, if we still lived in the Upper East Side, I would be here every day with Brennan. With AC and seemingly unlimited places to explore, it would be the perfect place to walk with le bébé, especially since she loves rides in her stroller. 

Coffee in Central Park

Since traveling with such a young one is not for the faint of heart, we desperately needed caffeine. By the time we left the MET, the Israel Parade was happening on 5th Avenue, and the crowds had arrived! Instead of our usual visits to Ralph’s or Sant Ambroeus, we grabbed coffee and pastries from Butterfield Market on Madison Avenue. This was part of our regular weekend routine anyway, so it felt ceremonious to have their iced coconut coffee again. When they start serving that flavor, you know summer is officially here. From there, we found a shady spot in the park and chatted with some other young parents. Although Brennan is still one of the youngest, she was making quite a first impression!

Lunch at the Boat House

Our last stop for this big day was meeting friends at the Central Park Boat House for lunch. Brennan was so happy to finally meet Aunt Sydney and Uncle Andrew. They have seen me almost every step of my pregnancy, from first telling them on a Statue of Liberty sail to a dinner in Tribeca when I was 8 months. They are the dearest friends, and I can’t wait for them to be a huge part of Brennan’s life! Lunch at the Boat House was delicious, and I can’t believe we could snag waterfront seats. Since get-togethers with our friends always turn into swapping stories and belly-aching laughs, not many pictures were taken. However, I was able to say cheers with a delicious Cosmo.

Whenever we return to NYC, David and I ask ourselves if we did the right thing by leaving. New York has had the biggest impact on our lives, and I miss living in the Upper East Side every day. While Connecticut is just a quick train ride away, moving back to the city is never truly off the table. Who knows what the future will bring, but until then, I will have a blast pretending to be an Upper East Side Mom. 

Love from NYC,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.