Chase Sui Wonders humorously refers to her first Met Gala as "effortless"—check out all that happened…

      The Met Gala operates in two vastly different timelines simultaneously: the meticulously styled final looks that appear on the carpet and the contrasting chaos that unfolds in hotel suites in the 24 hours leading up to the event. For actress Chase Sui Wonders from The Studio, the latter involved late-night movie marathons, juggling five different beauty treatments, and a fast-paced playlist covering various music genres and decades in just 30 minutes. This year marked her first Met Gala and her debut as a host committee member, an experience that she described, in her own words, as a “fever dream” in the most positive sense.

      While many celebrities try to portray the day as a seamless and aesthetically pleasing event, Sui Wonders candidly revealed that her day didn't start with meditation or green juice. In fact, it kicked off somewhere between fiction and excitement. “I watched Total Recall and Die Hard back-to-back until 3 a.m., so technically, it began with John McClane saying ‘Yippee ki-yay, motherf—ker!'" she shared. That tone may sound somewhat disordered, but the day itself mirrored that sentiment, ultimately leading to a look that was deeply romantic.

      The dress code this year, Fashion Is Art, allowed for various interpretations, yet Sui Wonders chose to draw from a surprisingly specific source of inspiration. “I thought about my favorite artworks from the past year and immediately remembered the wall murals I fell in love with on my recent trip to Pompeii,” she told Who What Wear. “These are almost perfectly preserved portraits of daily life in ancient Rome. They were crafted using all-natural pigments. They’re incredibly romantic, and some date back to 200 BC.” She ended up wearing a lilac silk georgette and satin gown from McQueen's A/W 26 collection, which featured an oversized bow and raw edges that added an element of deliberate imperfection. Styled by Thomas Carter Phillips, the gown was complemented with Wolford layers, McQueen's satin sandals, and Jean Schlumberger Tiffany & Co. jewelry, which adorned her ears. The overall effect was a blend of ethereal and grounded elements. “The raw edges of the dress made the look feel wonderfully complete yet slightly undone. Also, I didn’t have time for a manicure! Sue me!” she remarked.

      Choosing McQueen felt instinctual for Sui Wonders, especially with Seán McGirr at the helm. “I’ve always admired McQueen, and Seán McGirr has introduced a brilliant freshness to the brand,” she noted. “I was in awe when I saw his latest collection. Plus, the Jean Schlumberger Tiffany & Co. jewels that climb up the ear elevate everything.”

      Ultimately, her appearance leaned more towards romanticism than her previous red carpet looks, a transition she fully embraced. “It’s more feminine. I’m quite the tomboy, but there’s a little lady hidden in there, and she was on display tonight,” she said. If there's one misconception about preparing for the Met Gala that deserves correction, it's that everything unfolds gracefully and effortlessly. The truth is, it’s quite the opposite.

      “I underwent five separate beauty treatments today. Life is effortless. ✨” Her glam team—makeup artist Shayna Goldberg and hairstylist Blake Erik—brought everything together, with Ilia makeup and Milk_Shake hair products contributing to the soft, romantic finish. While one might assume that there would be green juice and elaborate snacks in the hours before stepping on the carpet, Sui Wonders opted for a more minimalist approach. When asked about her go-to meal for the day of the event, she honestly replied, “Air, deep breathing, maybe a cube of ice, perhaps a mint as a treat. Just being real here.”

      Like any great getting-ready moment, the playlist set the mood: eclectic, nostalgic, and a bit chaotic. “Madonna, Addison, Daft Punk, Skatt Bros, Air, Peter Ivers. The freakin' classics,” she recommended. Balancing her role on the host committee with her first climb up the Met steps added additional significance to the night, and once it concluded, she began processing it almost immediately: “[It was] such an honor! Baby's first Met, and I got to be on the host committee?! Having the chance to gossip on the pod with Chloe Malle and Chioma Nnadi right after the big night was a dream. [It was the] perfect way to process the fever dream. (Also, see photos for when I got the news.)”

      As for what she will remember the most? That part, it seems, remains off the record. “Nothing I can put in writing ;))))))))),” she mentioned. However, she did express the lingering feeling after the event wrapped up—the sentiment that isn’t captured in photos. “Feeling like life is beautiful 🔮 and it 🔮takes 🔮