by Grayling Holmes

FGI Saint Louis presents THE red carpet fashion event of the year! Join them at the Ritz-Carlton Solarium for a watch party of the Met Gala held live in NYC on Monday, May 5th. This year’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” honoring the museum’s exhibition, which will highlight the archetype of the Black Dandy.

The Fashion Group International Saint Louis (FGI) wants you to don your best “Tailored for You” look for a chance to win best-dressed male or female. After walking the red carpet, enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while mingling with fellow fashion-minded individuals.

Jill Manoff, FGI Met Gala Watch Party Emcee

Emcees Jill Manoff and Ali Breitbach will walk the carpet and ask guests to tell them who they are wearing and how they interpreted this year’s theme!

Enter the best-dress contest, judged by St. Louis fashion greats Susan Sherman, Susan Barrett, Yoro Newson, Ted Wight, and Darryl Tyler.

Ali Breitbach, FGI Met Gala Watch Party Emcee

Your ticket includes a complimentary cocktail of your choice and hors d’oeuvres, photo opportunities, a live stream viewing of the Met Gala red carpet in New York City, and a gift bag.

FGI Watch Party At-A-Glance

What: Met Gala Watch Party

Where: The Ritz-Carlton Solarium, 100 Carondelet Plaza, Saint Louis, MO 63105

When: Monday, May 5, 2025; 5:30 - 9:30 pm

Details: $55 ($45 for FGI Members; $35 for Students with valid ID)

Ticket Link: fgimetgalawatchparty2025.eventbrite.com

Parking: Paid Valet or Self-Park Garage

About the Met Gala

Photo from “The Chata”, photo credit Zoe Portia

The costume Institute Benefit, also known as The Met Gala, takes place annually on the first Monday in May and provides the department with its primary source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.

With around 600 attendees, the guest list is generally kept top secret until the evening before the event. Past guests have included everyone from Rihanna and Lady Gaga to Blake Lively and Kim Kardashian, all wearing unforgettable looks.

While the Met Gala is a fundraising event for the Costume Institute and all attendees must pay for ticket, many celebrities do not pay their pay own way. Fashion houses often often host tables and invite their chosen guests, including celebrities, as part of a promotional strategy.

A single ticket to the Met Gala can cost upwards of $50,000, and a table can cost over $300,000. Celebrities typically don’t pay for their own gowns or other attire, as they often collaborate with designers to created their looks or wear pieces from the designer’s archives.

Zendaya attends **The 2024 Met Gala** Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024, in New York.
Neilson Barnard/mg24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, FILE

About The Fashion Group International

The Fashion Group International (FGI) is a global, membership organization of professionals in fashion and related industries providing resources and education for career advancement while creating a forum for discussion and connection across all industries such as fashion, beauty, home, retail, textiles, designers, publishers, marketers, brands, content creators and more. FGI was founded in 1930 (and our FGI Saint Louis chapter started in 1936.) The FGI mission is to provide our member network with a forum for discussion and connection across all sectors through programming focused on the industry’s most current and crucial topics, and recognition of emerging talent and trends at the zeitgeist of innovation. To open access to industry leaders by offering a platform of resources for business development and career advancement at all levels. We believe that providing a forum for professional development and career advancement unleashes creativity, and innovation and advances the business of fashion.