Pom Klementieff’s Met Gala Gown was Made for the Warrior with a Sweet Tooth

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The biggest party of the year already has a larger-than-life dress code, but add to it the notion of camp (whatever it may be) and this year’s Met Gala was bound to be an outsized parade of clownery, buffoonery, and fashion flexes. Exhibit 1: Our in-house Trench expert, Billy Porter, who made a gilded entrance. But while the Pose star was being ferried down the red carpet, Pom Klementieff, a Met Gala rookie, was sipping on espresso and getting her eyes bedazzled in rose-tinted Swarovski crystals at The Pierre Hotel, where Interview followed her as she got ready for the festival of eccentric style.

The French actress, who first gained our attention playing Mantis in the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy franchises, was surrounded by a glam team, carefully spraying a hair bow in place. “One more,” Klementieff waved, flouting a glistening manicure, “just in case.” A mauve organza cape was tied at Klementieff’s neck, and lightly fell over a double-breasted Salvatore Ferragamo suit in a loud shade of magenta. Her debut at the Costume Institute party would also be the storied Italian house’s first time dressing a celebrity for the occasion. At Klementieff’s side was Paul Andrew, Ferragamo’s creative director, who in addition dressing the actress, artfully camped up Solange Knowles, Cole Sprouse, Lily Reinhart, and Hero Fiennes, among others. “I didn’t know what camp meant before I heard the theme,” Klementieff confessed. “Plus, I’m French. It’s different for me. It’s hard to translate camp. I had to do some research.”

As her look neared the final stages of completion, a flute of champagne materialized. Klementieff took a hands-free sip from a straw before descending to the hotel’s entrance. Once in front of the Pierre, the actor Michael B. Jordan walked by. Klementieff jokingly fan-girled over her Avengers co-star. “Michael B. Jordan! Michael B. Jordan! I’m a huge fan!” The Black Panther hero, dressed in a satin and sequin tuxedo, leaned in for a quick hug and a kiss. A mini-motorcade of black vans rolled in and the flash of the cameras, at last, began.

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“We were going for a more alien look, so we bleached my eyebrows. It’s going to be scary when I wake up with no makeup and no brows [Laughs].”

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“With camp, there’s no limit. You can just have fun with it. Look at me, I wouldn’t dress up like this everyday.”

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“I feel like a warrior in this, and at the same time, I feel like a piece of candy. The color of the organza makes me think of yogurt mixed with blueberry jam.”

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“Paul [Andrew] came up with the idea of the outfit being covered in organza. He knows how the cape has to fall. Paul will help me on the carpet. He has to grab me, I can’t grab anything. “

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“I’m excited to see all of the looks. I can’t miss the fucking carpet.”

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“I’ve been invited to a couple after parties, Gucci and then one at The Boom Boom Room. I want to go, but I can’t make it to all of them.”