FASHION

Leonardo DiCaprio, Gwyneth Paltrow Hold Court at LACMA gala, the Met Ball of the West

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Art+Film Gala is one of L.A.’s biggest night, drawing Hollywood and fashion luminaries like Brie Larson, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Demi Moore and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele.


GettyImages-619138718_master.jpg
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

It was 6:09 p.m., and Garrett Borns, better known as BØRNS, was the first to walk the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Art+Film Gala red – or in this case, green – carpet.

“Garrett! Garrett!” shouted a group of high school students, who had gathered across the street. Just that morning, he had announced via a Gucci Snapchat takeover that he would be the night’s performer.

He smiled and waved, before making his way to the step-and-repeat.

Dubbed “the Met Ball of the West”, the fundraiser – a cocktail followed by a dinner – is one of LA’s biggest night, as Hollywood’s elite come together to celebrate art and film. Presented by Gucci, it’s cochaired by LACMA trustee Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, and this year, for its sixth year, they honored artist Robert Irwin and filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.

“Somehow film and art, which had been so obviously representing Los Angeles had never been together in an event, and it was surprising how many artists knew of filmmakers but didn’t know them or [vice versa], so the idea was to just bring people together, the creative community – of course there’s music and fashion, architecture and design,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “We think of it as a big dinner party for LA.”

It’s also a night for fashion.

“Yes, and speaking of — ” Govan cut it short, as Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele, who serves as gala host committee chair, appeared. The two exchanged “how-are-yous” and posed for photos.

Cameras flashed left and right, with Michele holding court, as LACMA’s “Urban Light” sculpture, two-hundred and two restored cast iron antique street lamps, and surrounding palm trees served as a backdrop; there was Brie Larson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zoe Saldana, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Salma Hayek Pinault, A$AP Rocky, Jaden Smith – all dressed by Gucci; Hari Nef, Petra Collins and Gia Coppola arrived as a trio, Demi Moore with Eric Buterbaugh, Liberty Ross with Jimmy Iovine.

By 7:34 p.m. the cocktail was packed, and guests began feeling the heat – literally.

“I’m sweating,” said Mary-Kate Olsen to younger sister Elizabeth, as Ashley stood nearby.

“I know. I keep going like this,” responded Elizabeth, as she wiped her upper lip.

They made their way outside, joining others. Amongst the bunch were Laura Dern, Sylvester Stallone, Melanie Griffith, Courtney Love, James Corden, Kate Upton, Alessandra Ambrosio – and Kathryn Bigelow with Eva Chow.

“You look so beautiful,” Bigelow told Chow, who had opted for a pink number.

“No one better than Kathryn to represent the merging of art and film,” Govan had said earlier in the night, speaking of the honorees. “She started as an artist, is an Academy Award filmmaker […] Robert Irwin is one of the greatest artists of the world, but he also represents Southern California in such a cool way.”

With the soon-to-be Academy Museum of Motion Picture next door, he continued, “LA will be represented well by art and film right here”.

Inside LACMA’s Art+Film Gala

Adele Irwin, honoree Kathryn Bigelow, honoree Robert Irwin, host Eva Chow, co-chair Leonardo DiCaprio, and CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of LACMA Michael Govan.

Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

Gwyneth Paltrow

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

Brie Larson and Alex Greenwald

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Demi Moore

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Alessandra Ambrosio

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Laura Dern

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Courtney Love

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Jaden Smith

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Monique Lhuillier

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Hari Nef

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Petra Collins

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Gia Coppola

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

James Corden and Julia Carey

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Liberty Ros

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Brie Larson, wearing Gucci, and Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele

Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele and director Gia Coppola, wearing Gucci

Photo by Venturelli/Getty Images for LACMA

Francois-Henri Pinault and actor Bradley Cooper, wearing Gucci

Photo by Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA

Elizabeth Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Mary Kate Olsen

Photo by Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA

Zoe Saldana, wearing Gucci

Photo by Venturelli/Getty Images for LACMA

Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault

Photo by Venturelli/Getty Images for LACMA

ASAP Rocky

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Asia Chow

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Michael Chow and Eva Chow

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Erica Pelosini

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Jeremy Everett and Gaia Repossi

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images
1/28

Watch W’s most popular videos here: