Co-hosts Edward Enninful and Colman Domingo made it one of the biggest stops of the night.
It’s 12:21 AM and a heaving crowd of people are frantically swarming the doors of Casa Cipriani. Uptown, the 77th annual Met Gala wrapped, setting the stage for the annual after parity pilgrimage. Here, at the very southernmost tip of Manhattan, is Richie Akiva’s 11th annual Met Gala afterparty. The 1OAK founder — known to some as Leonardo DiCaprio’s “nightlife companion” — has garnered a reputation for holding the biggest night’s biggest celebration. Originally conceptualized by Rihanna and Akiva 11 years ago, the Afters has become a destination with previous hosts like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Travis Scott, Gigi Hadid, and Kate Moss often returning. This year was no different, with Doja Cat and Tyla as top billing alongside co-hosts Edward Enninful and Colman Domingo.
Sporadic bouts of rain tortured partygoers who scrambled between umbrellas and shelter, the more desperate (and forgetful) using their designer coats as shields. Some wiped water droplets off their sunglasses — a fashion party staple that never comes off, even in the middle of the night — as they sighed and lit another cigarette. Someone loudly laments that they’ve been waiting for an hour. But the security guards only parted their impenetrable barriers for those pouring out of black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.
Inside, the party is well underway. Bartenders dressed in white suits fervently shake up cocktails using Cointreau and 1800 Tequila like the Cristal-rita, Diamond Water, and a range of spritzes. As the bass from the hip-hop heavy soundtrack vibrates, the dance floor is packed. Almost everyone is dressed to honor this year’s theme — Superfine: Tailoring Black Style — with crisp white shirts, long black ties, tailored blazers, towering hats, and sleek suits.
from left to right: Tyla, and Doja Cat. Photo Courtesy: BFA
On the decks, Kitty Kat unleashes Juvenile and Soulja Slim’s Slow Motion to an elated room, the center of which are two pole dancers clad in bikinis. Young Thug snakes through the dancefloor as Colin Kapernick politely says hi to familiar faces. Beyond this point, the space becomes a dark fortress. A slew of comfy grey couches and lacquered tables piled with drinks are offered as refuge for those who come with security guards in tow. Offset walks by, stoic with sunglasses on, arm-in-arm with an unknown person. Moments later, a blonde Cardi B is ushered to a couch followed by her stylist, Kollin Carter. I briefly make eye contact with Cardi B when she catches me staring. She’s beautiful, her face is perfect like a doll.
As Drake’s latest bop, Nokia fills the room, Serena and Venus Williams dance at their table in short party dresses, laughing and reciting the words with their friends, like any other friends on a night out. Celebrities, they’re just like us, huh?
“There are so many icons in the building, but there’s one that I got to give a shout out to: Stevie Wonder,” Akiva says into the mic. In the crowd, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sam Smith, and Tom Brady cheer.
from left to right: Colman Domingo, and Edward Enninful. Photo Courtesy: BFA
Doja Cat brushes up beside me. She’s followed by a flurry of cameras, ring lights, and phones. As one of the hosts, she takes the attention in her stride, unfazed as she climbs up on the pole which is no longer occupied by dancers but patrons in long sparkly dresses living out their Hustlers fantasy. She smiles at everyone around her as she climbs off after a brief stint, before greeting Black Coffee with a big grin and a hug.
We briefly escape the star-studded room, pushing past Jaden Smith in his pearl-embellished suit, careful not to get snagged on his wire headpiece. Gossip Girl star Evan Mock, rapper Central Cee, and Simone Biles swayed to the fourth Sean Paul song played that night. The smell of fried chicken leading happy drunk patrons to a Raising Canes speakeasy where the dizziness of too many cosmos and margaritas are remedied with fries and Texas toast.
Outside on the balcony, footwear designer Philipp Kern asks for a cigarette as he recounts how he was flown out to work with Patti Wilson for the gala. He’s excited to tell me he bumped into Madonna on the dancefloor. “She’s the same height as you,” he quips. We laugh and wonder what other stars we’ve missed because of the height difference as I walk inside and pass Future, who towers over everyone.
from left to right: Jaden Smith and Evan Mock. Photo Courtesy: BFA
As Kaytranada takes over the DJ booth, the mood is electric. Charli XCX walks by in a baker boy hat. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough pulses through the speakers — everyone is a little sweatier, more disheveled, and drunker than they were when they entered. Suddenly on my left Lauryn Hill appears, in a cobalt blazer and oversized gold earrings, swaying her hips and scanning the crowd. Hunter Schaffer, Alex Consani, and Dara giggle as a girl next to me holding a Sephora shopping bag tells her friend that the bar has stopped serving drinks. The end is nigh but before I even have time to swipe a bottle of champagne from a table, the music cuts off. It doesn’t stop everyone from dancing and singing, expecting a brief technical issue, but Kaytranada looks confused. The lights come on and it’s time for everyone to scatter like the little party roaches we are.
As I walk down the winding stairs, ready to endure the battle of the Ubers, a beautiful man in a Vivienne Westwood tartan skirt and blazer approaches me and tells me he loves what I’m wearing. I tell him I love his outfit too. “Takes one to know one,” he smiles as he leaves. I walk outside and the sun is rising. Met Gala Monday is officially over.
