Every year, Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters on Broadway, makes a statement with his theatrical outfits at the Met Gala. This year, he opted for a floral-inspired ensemble that was anything but ordinary—a “decaying” hooded cape custom-designed by Valentino. Inspired by the lifecycle of a flower, the cape features over 20 meters of brown tulle as the base, upon which are appliquéd 120 meters of silk taffeta in 17 different colors, forming intricate roses and leaves. The leaves are made from eight meters of lacquered dark green fabric, and the 3-D roses alone took over 1,800 hours to create. The gesamten cape took 600 hours to complete. Roth’s choice of a decaying cape not only aligns with the Met Gala’s “Garden of Time” theme but also holds personal significance as it represents the end of Pierpaolo Piccioli’s extraordinary chapter as Valentino’s creative director. For Roth, the cape symbolizes the lifecycle and transition, as well as the sorrow of seeing an era come to an end. When Roth first slipped on the cape, he felt a sense of wholeness and a new understanding of beauty. The exclusive photos of Roth’s fittings and Met Gala night capture the breathtaking artistry and emotional resonance of this unique and thought-provoking couture creation.
Jordan Roth’s Floral-Inspired Couture Cape by Valentino Stuns at Met Gala
