Dear reader, last night’s 2024 Met Gala was quite the spectacle, with Miss Simone Ashley channelling Cher on the red carpet. Make-up artist Hung Vanngo told Vogue that Ashley’s look was not only inspired by the music industry legend but “the element of water” (this year’s Costume Institute exhibition is designed around three zones: land, sea and sky).
Like Cher’s signature make-up in the ’70s, Vanngo created statement eyes on Ashley, using a purple eyeshadow—L’Oréal Paris’s Colour Riche Eyeshadow Palette in Violet Amour—followed by a precision application of lipstick in a mauve hue, in keeping with the Prabal Gurung midnight-blue sequined dress that Ashley wore.
Hairstylist Shon Hyungsun Ju also looked to the pop icon to inspire Ashley’s hair for the Met Gala, celebrating the exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” “The original idea was to create floor-length, super long hair inspired by Cher but I adapted it as I was more inspired by Botticelli hair—more like a goddess with soft waves.” To recreate this on Ashley, Shon first straightened Simone’s naturally curly hair, before using a curling iron to make “a big, flat wave.” Once the wave was set, the hair was finished with L’Oréal’s Shine Serum and Elnett hairspray for extra shine.
Finishing the modern-retro beauty look were the Cher-inspired long almond nails, which manicurist Betina Goldstein created with press-on nails by Aprés Nail Official. These were coated in a navy gel with elongated gunmetal crystals to match the crystal details of Ashley’s dress.
See All the Celebrity Looks From the Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet: