What's a woman to do when she has WNBA practice in Chicago and the 2024 Met Gala in NYC—on the same day? For Angel Reese, the answer was simple: Hop on a private jet straight from the gym and start the glam process then and there.
“I'm super excited and just taking it all in,” Reese tells Vogue while en route to her very first Met Gala. "Everyone always looks so amazing, and I’ve been dreaming of this moment for so long. Today is also my birthday, so being here on my 22nd birthday is surreal.”
Reese—who was drafted to the Chicago Sky last month following a stunning college career at LSU—turned to Vogue's Naomi Elizeé to style her for the occasion. (Elizeé also styled Reese for draft day and for the Vogue shoot announcing her decision to go pro.) The two landed on a custom look by 16Arlington, inspired by two pieces from the fall 2023 collection, titled Wake. (16Arlington creative director Marco Capaldo coined the name of the collection, which references a wake, following the passing of his partner, but it also “carries the meaning of a reawakening and a stepping out into a new world with a set of new circumstances,” Capaldo says.)
“The sequin bodice—layered with a delicate cover in the shape of a low V-neck floor-length gown—is made of lace and appliqués, all applied by hand,” Capaldo says, before adding that the look was finished with a halo of ostrich feathers encircling the lower waist.
“Marco and his team at 16Arlington are incredible," Reese says. “From the moment Naomi shared the initial sketch of the dress with me, I knew it was the one." The fact that it lined up so nicely with the night's dress code, The Garden of Time, was also key. “The mint green, the delicate bodice, and the ostrich feathers around my waist were the subtle kind of nods to nature I was looking for,” Reese says. "I feel beautiful in this dress.”
Reese wore custom Stuart Weitzam shoes and accessorized with jewels by Bernard James, Briony Raymond, and Material Good. Hairstylist Bella June pulled the basketball star's hair back into a low, cascading ponytail, and makeup artist Deja Blackwell created an impactful yet understated beauty look, marked by bold lashes and glossy nude lips.
“I love using fashion as a vehicle for creativity and expression in everything I do,” Reese says, noting how much attending the Met Gala means to her. "It’s been amazing to have the fashion industry really embrace the WNBA—and female athletes overall.”
Ahead, a glimpse at how Angel Reese got ready for the 2024 Met Gala.
Met Gala 2024: See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access Here