Here we have an artisan soul, bringing the light and fabulousness. There is likely a good dash of priest soul energy somewhere in his casting. I was delighted to have discovered this rare beauteous soul. Definitely, he gets my vote for best-dressed male at Met Gala, 2022 – number one of ten.

The executive looks especially refined in a white halter, topped with clipped, ruffled floor-length skirt by Azzedine Alaia.

August, inordinately handsome couple of notable heritage.

Kaia looks and seems like a warrior soul – mature soul cycle possibly.

Understated and dignified. Madam First Lady’s jewel-toned gown is elegant and unfussy.

Ms. Lee’s gown is perfect; her legs are revealed yet partially concealed and without a slit, there is no chance of her feet being photographed sickled in.

This is a very beautiful dress; very elegant and tastefully executed. The dress must make the most beautiful music as she glides along. Wonderful.

Camila’s matte gold sheath is a complex design. What is especially winning is the pair of flesh-toned gloves.

Like Precious Lee, Chloe Bailey has thick thighs; however, Precious was styled to perfection. Nothing about her look aesthetically misses the mark.

From the highs of being Bridgerton’s heartthrob to disappearing into the oblivion of TV car commercials.

90s American model, looking effortlessly chic in golden vintage Azzaro.

Smartly attired rapper; I love the lapel detailing. With legs on show, it would have been more appropriate to have worn a kilt or male skirt.

No idea of this artist’s range. I do, though, know that his attire is by no stretch of the gilded age.

Formerly of NASA, the dashing renaissance man also has impeccable tastes. Definitely one of the top 3 best-dressed men at the Met Gala, 2022. Without doubt, he has my vote as the third best-dressed.

Naomi Campbell remains the most dominant, dignified supermodel. The ingenuity of the Burberry logo incorporated into the gown works beautifully.

Bella’s bejewelled left ankle seems as though a foot still planted in the gilded age. The lace and leather bustier are a modern interpretation on the gilded age.

In her on-air interview with La La Anthony, who along with Vanessa Hudgens and Hamish Bowles hosted Vogue’s streaming red carpet arrivals, this performer proved embarrassingly unaware among other things.

As with Naomi’s gown, Lila’s sheer gown is also bejewelled with Burberry’s horse logo.

Supermodel mum, Kate with daughter Lila whose modelling has successfully launched.

The other Queen to be dressed by Burberry, Wagon’s still got it as the song proclaims and as is plainly obvious. Stunning.

I don’t know about the gilded age but if you are going to be bound and stuffed into a gilded cage, your every fantasy would be realised on having leather-clad Irina Shayk predatorily stride in, famished and ready to have her way with you…

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Looking like a bearded reanimation of Frida Kahlo, as my musical tastes do not stray beyond Jazz and classical, I have no idea the state of his music.

Coming on strong is young Mr. Jacob Elodi; he is central casting’s bid to cash in on the millions of screaming little Beliebers as they grew away for the Canadian pop star. Tall, dark and handsome.

Conventionally, he is the best dressed; however, he comes in number two, as Frederik Robertsson visionary presentation/performance was unsurpassed. Everything about Stormzy and his debonair style has winner written all over. White on white on white complements his beautiful complexion.

The hair swept up, elongating the neck, the jewellery, the clutch, the appropriately placed roses and that lovely smile. Indeed, the lady graciously captures the gilded age.

The lovely Tessa Thompson is a vision of soft cherry blossom pinks in a delightful ode to the gilded age. Incidentally, as pitting women against each other is one of the many insidious ways that sexism thrives within the culture, unlike the men, I will elect not to declare a best dressed female.

The gold touches and opera glasses are winning odes to the gilded age… to be sure.

Feathery wisps below the knees, though evocative of the Jazz age, we will nonetheless take it. Beautiful colour combination.

Light, airy, delicate and a modern ode to the gilded age wonderfully executed.

Dame Anna Wintour, November 3, 1949, year of the Ox. 3.5.1 = 9. When you take into account Dame Wintour’s pedigree, an earl and duchess among them, here is someone who has used their numbers not only masterfully but in their most positive expression. 9 in the fourth position is that of the gatekeeper – her aristocratic heritage affords her a confidence that would escape a self-made individual. No one else, save Dame Wintour could have masterfully run Vogue, held it together and been in such an esteemed position of power and for so long save Dame Wintour. 3 in the first position; she thinks before opening her mouth and her word carries much weight; 3 governs the world of intellect, books, publishing and refinement of expression. She is of hybrid heritage as suggested by her mindset, 5, thereby allowing her to be more open to the ‘other’ than say someone who was not of multicultural heritage. Lifepath of 1 simply means that she was born to lead and has staying power of Wellingtonian scope much as the 1st Duke of Wellington. This is a human who is living a life in full and with the greatest mastery of their numbers rather than being ruled by those numbers and thereby expressing the negative manifestations of those numbers. Anyone else wearing a tiara to the Met Gala would be readily dismissed as pretentious, not so Dame Wintour. As ever, her ensemble is understated and elegant.

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Sleek, understated as a Chanel man of worth would be.

Always funny and always keeping it real and casually of the gilded age.

A quartet of cool ladies’ interpretation of the gilded age with the help of the house of Chloe.

Like Caroline Trentini, Venus Williams is pitch perfect. Tall, long lean lines; she is perfectly elegant, understated, confident.

Look at that statuesque lady. This Sudanese goddess is in a rarefied class all by herself. She does for that Christian Lacroix dress what no one else could. Stunning!

Ravishing, Alexa is at all times über raffinée. Those shoes are everything.

Normani ought to have worn lacquered, fire-engine red lipstick to set off the outfit; it would make her complexion pop against the monochromatic ensemble.

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen Caroline but she has served up a winning point with this rich maya blue cape.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah’s look proved both historic and as such an homage to the trailblazing work and life of Elizabeth Hobbs Ketchley, whose life did straddle the gilded age. She was a slave who transitioned to working at the White House where she served as a dressmaker to Madam First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln.

Without doubt, I must acquire this book.

Perhaps, this is how the Harkonnens dressed during the latest gilded age on Giedi Prime in the year 10, 125.

As a large-bodied professional model, Paloma has thorough awareness of the aesthetics of looking good on camera. The bustier gives a flattering presentation of her form and she knows well, as does Precious Lee, that one does not expose thick thighs by way of a side or front slit. Her look is handsomely august.

That neck, that waistline and the hoop skirt create the bustle-like look of the gilded age. Caroline and her performance truly capture the style of Martin Scorsese’s masterful film, Age of Innocence.

Commanding. Handsome and theatrical which is welcome in the gilded age or any other for that matter.

Clean, simple, elegant, though, her hair ought to have been gathered. Clearly, her hair was worn down as a way of detracting from her cleavage.

Look sweetheart, just because your grandmother was the official fart sniffer and second-hand smoke filter for HM The Queen’s notoriously uncouth sister, The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, does not give you the right to come pissing all over the Yanks and their perceived quaint culture. No American actor, if that’s what you’re comparably supposed to be, would ever dear show up at the annual Serpentine Summer Party thusly attired. We all know on that frightfully frigid, racist isle of yours, a damn Yank would be ejected from the gathering at once. Nobody wants to be acquainted with your lopsided quail egg boobs. You are fucking ridiculous. Go home. Stay gone and pluck that inbred-looking unibrow; you blasted desperate, no-talent attention whore.

Beautiful feet, lovely smile, great dress and without doubt, unlike the racist Poundland aristo’s, the nacre her pearls are of the highest quality.

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Sneakers and a Dior smoking… the gilded age revisited.

Soft, delicate and fluid with beautiful complement of colours and textures. I especially love the shoes; this young man’s is a very elegant, beautiful look.

He would only be better dressed if carrying white gloves and a cane. Handsome in every way; got the memo and dialled it in. This earns Mr. Doherty the fifth spot on the best-dressed list.

Ms. Chen could not look any more lovely or elegant. The lined gloves are ingenious and she’s got great feet.

Can you feel the music that he radiates? Can you feel the love? I sure do. Beautiful human.

A gentleman always wears his white gloves. Very elegantly handsome indeed. Tails, white shoes and tie but, of course, Mr. Elgort clocks in at the tenth position on the best-dressed list.

Classic Fendi highlighted by the hat, bracelet and the most smashing shoes. Handsome and an eclectic winner!

White on white, beautiful. If only one had a good look at the double strand necklace. The mermaid and off-the-shoulder accents beautifully set off by the elegant gloves.

Red feathers delicately perched never looked so good. Beautiful creation.

There is a lot going on here but it all remarkably comes together beneath that beauteous high forehead.

As can be expected, everything is sheer perfection. Not a soft pink feather is out of place.

Coming through, looking like a Na’vi goddess just returned from Pandora; I know truly fierce makeup when I see it.

Great gown and she has sure got moxie.

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That is a very elegant brown suit; his vibe is wonderfully laidback.

Beautiful. Stunning as is her personality.

There is so much happening here that her dress seems as though a runaway vine that’s consuming her and everything close by.

Interesting.

Lace catsuit with a dripping effect created beads partout. Very cool.

Sexy. Stylish. Beautiful. Stunning and the outfit only heightens her beauty.

The beautiful, charismatic, palpably in love thespian couple.

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He’s definitely got a vibe and it is seriously infectious.

His look is rather 19th century – the beard the defining signature. His style and the ensemble are rather fluid, elegant and decidedly musical.

Why they did not throughout hold hands and passionately French kiss, is a true mystery; to have not done so, made the whole getup flat-footed and insipid.

Silver, black, mauve, metallic and matte; there is a lot going on with this exquisitely elegant dress. The gloves really makes this outfit both a classic and winner. Lovely.

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Handsome. Refined. I love a man in a cape and all that monochromatic white on white on white is breathtakingly elegant.

HEAD OF STATE

Like true African royalty, she carries a blond fly whisk. Love the overall effect.

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Gilded age, catamite or castrato… take your pick.

Though the colours work beautifully for not being a sculptural creation, this van Herpen comes off as merely conventional.

Classic van Herpen design. Clean architectural lines.

The creative genius in one of her angelic designs. Truly, her designs are uplifting works of art.

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21st century human male – spiritually focussed and spreading love and the light fantastic. Top of the list it is, indeed. #bestdresedmale Met Gala 2022.

This is a very beautifully complex design. Remarkably, Phoebe looks like a young Helen Mirren.

Positively love the riot of beautiful blooms on the marvellous cape’s interior. Beautiful hands handsomely framed by frilled sleeves.

By far, this was one of the most beautiful, understated elegant designs at the Met Gala 2022. The gloves like the head scarf and train are touches that come together beautifully, creating one of the evening’s most memorable looks.

Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy

Gilded age or not, this is pure romanticism and glamour. The facial adornment is parfait. Lovely, elegant couple.

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Gilded age, Jazz age or Great Gatsby, take your pick. A very beautiful man, wonderfully dressed and love the tie. To all this fluidity and one can only raise a glass and say, ‘Bottoms up!’ Patrick is ninth on the best-dressed list.

One of three hosts of Vogue’s live stream of the Met Gala, 2022 red carpet arrivals, La La’s outfit was strange. One does not wear a fascinator to an evening event. Ladies with thick thighs should always wear a column or mermaid gown, failing that extra wide pants would be wisest. Her exposed hips makes it look as though she is wearing a bath sheet as a wrap with train. I can appreciate her wanting to support a black designer but if I were her and this item showed up, I would have hightailed it to an appropriate boutique and rented a Balmain outfit. Even knee-high boots would have saved the outfit. No way to high heaven was Hamish Bowles going to co-host with Ms. Anthony looking as she was.

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Elegant and refined; he is a winner through and through.

Simple and unpretentious. Great legs and lovely feet; her look is ever kaleidoscopic.

African royals’ take on the gilded age set in Zulu territory.

Chole Grace’s look, especially the eyes, bare so distinct a connection to Brooklyn Beckham’s that it would be surprising if they did not have a soul connection.

Lovely skirt, though, I rather suspect that so much midriff would not have been on display during the gilded age.

A pearl choker would handsomely have anchored Phoebe’s look in the gilded age.

Her top is interest, if modern; more than all that, those feet are everything and are nicely set off by the stretch leathery-looking pants.

Absolutely every detail of Ms. Jung’s outfit and élan is pitch perfect. Her stance… everything is utterly flawless.

Unless anticipating immient sea level rise, this hemline missed the gilded age timeline by inches. Truly unbecoming of Ms. Chan to have gotten it so wrong.

Mr. Ghesquière is creative director at Louis Vuitton under whose stewardship, the future looks uneclipsed.

Perhaps because she is expectant; however, little thought seemed to have factored into abiding by the gilded age theme.

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Mr. Cooper is way too big a star to be on the best-dressed list. I have always warmed towards this human vibrationally.

Even more details appear in Emma Stone’s chic Louis Vuitton dress as she walks the carpet to this utterly intriguing man’s rear.

And in exciting news, spring follows winter…

Eiza Gonzalez

Here’s to the many who truly own and enjoy being a woman. Go ahead Eiza!

Sweet, gorgeous, beautiful light and a lady to boot. A truly remarkable gown.

And this is how you own the gilded age!

Beautiful lady, beautiful dress.

One would never expect a professional model to not own it. Stunning woman wearing a stunning outfit.

This glamourous lady always gets it right each time she graces a red carpet.

This may as well be gold leaf, it looks just as magically delicate.

Ever she will be the ageless, fearless, Ripley.

He’s got the best showmanship energy. Wonderful.

Beautiful gold dress with contrasting black detailing. This precisely is what La La Anthony ought to have worn. Just imagine crawling to the top of those stairs then met by the sight of what the Vogue live streaming host was wearing.

Teal to pine-green either way, this is an outstanding costume. I especially love the matching lace up boots. I suspect that the designs on the train are more spectacular in person than they photograph.

Lace and beading on an elegant column dress; nicely dignified young lady; I especially favour the choker.

Got up like that, she may as well be six inches tall. Next!

Mature, elegant and spot-on august. This is a truly ladylike human as she presents for the gilded age. Monochromatic sophistication from head to toe, gloves to clutch. Brilliant.

Soft. Delicate, though, I don’t know how well the flaccid-looking bell sleeves work.

Monochromatic mess. She should be wearing large costume rings on her gloves ruby, emerald, sapphire; further as the dress is one piece in the back, the separate bra serves no point.

Lovely dress but the raccoon eye makeup is too distracting. Lovely blue tonalities.

One of the three Vogue red carpet live stream hosts, Vanessa’s dress is perfection; her legs are on display but discreetly as is appropriate. Hair up and lots of rings as is the current vogue. She is sensational.

Megan Thee Stallion

Don’t call her stallion for nothing. Here is one exception to the don’t wear a side slit dress if you’ve got thick thighs. Megan is next level sexy and she knows it. All that gold to match all that attitude and sex appeal. A hands down winner.

No complaints here… Madam is looking next-level perfect.

Simone’s style is much too casual for the occasion; definitely, not of the gilded age.

Pearls, bustle, pearl choker and plenty of sex appeal for the gilded age or any other.

The newly minted best supporting Oscar winner is as charming as she is eloquent. A winner, to be sure, in any age, gilded or otherwise.

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Hands down, sixth best-dressed male. A man in lace leaves me utterly besotted.

Tycoon Jenner decides to give two effs and do as she pleases. Honestly, a baseball cap turned back-to-front? The flouncing skirt is beautiful.

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Beautifully stunning man, impeccably dressed; when is velvet not elegant? I do, though, think that the different leg styles do not work; perhaps, it were in a lighter colour. He’s still a winner either way.

Mama sure made some profitable lemonade out of the fin de siècle lemon that was O. J. Simpson… and a sex tape, of course. When is an Oscar de la Renta not exquisitely chic? Certainly, this dress brings back memories of the icon of Olympic proportions, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis.

Clean, elegant and understated. Super cool and elegant. Beautiful.

Like Miranda Kerr, Katy has a child with super cool Buddhist actor, Orlando Bloom. That aside, this is the most conventional costume she has worn to the Met Gala. Layered, it is elegant and marginally risqué.

A true amazon in a very big beautiful gown. And what a gorgeous blue dress it is.

Boom! What a joyously vibrant dress. This, without doubt, is one of the most memorable dresses at the Met Gala 2022.

Beautifully golden; however, I do think that this should have been a one-piece outfit.

This woman is too short for all the chaos going on with this gown and that shoelace-looking effect at the bust does not work.

The rather stylish Ashley is beautifully put together. The train works, the feathered skirt with front rather than side slit does work and she also knows how to present her feet – sickled/winged out rather than gauche/pigeon-toed. The bows work and the jewels are beautifully displayed. The white feathers add elegance and pull the eyes from being exclusively focussed on the upper body.

Beautiful sublime wonderfully adorned princess. This is a truly wonderful gown worn by a gorgeous lady.

Denée’s jewellery are exquisite and the dress beautiful. From afar, the wraparound bustle (what is it really) seems not to work; however, up close you discover the blooms in varying degrees of bloom and then the wraparound bustle make sense. For this to have truly worked, the blooms out to have been white – carnations, peonies or roses. Red on red simply does not work.

Everything about this is just wrong. The blooms placed as they are shrink her already short neck. Her thighs too thick for a side slit – the camera adds weight and volume where undesired. Hems too long and precludes walking comfortably. The split train at the shoulders further accentuates the fact that she’s neither tall nor lean – they should be at mid-back to waist; that way, it would elongate the line of the torso. Most of all, apart from the sickled in feet, the colour is too pale, making her appear darker and her eyes more recessed than not. Darker fabric would have had a desirably slimming effect.

The grand dame has arrived. Same designer as Camilla and Mindy but just look at the difference. Again, the shoulders are bare and the train begins at mid-back; it also allows for her jewellery to be best displayed. The colour is warm, enveloping and embraces more when she smiles. A heavy fabric, it also has enough flair at the feet, allowing to kick-step as one does in such gowns. Most of all, it covers up that most important feature, the feet; you can never tell if they are turned out or sickled in, which matters immensely. Just look at the elongation of the lines when Hoyeong Jung poses with her booted working leg extended and turned out. Straight away, the line is long, perfected…. aesthetic.

Now, we come to the statuesque Kiki doing her return turn in a beautiful rose gown, same designer of course. Like Mindy, hers is not an especially long neck but her afro creates a crown-like halo effect thereby creating no umbra to the neckline. Here too, as with Mindy’s, there are blooms; however, here are placed at the gloves and at or below the bosom. With the placement of the blooms on Mindy’s gown, it makes it appear as though her head is submerging into her shoulders. Kiki’s gown has a fluted, thereby allowing her to kick-step and confidently stride. Jewellery is kept to a minimum, allowing both Kiki and the design to shine. As with Mindy, we have no idea if her feet are large and sickle in. You get done up to look your best not to have your great grandkids wonder, ‘what were they thinking?’

The designer, Prabal Gurung, with two smartly dressed clients, Philip Lim & Michelle Yeoh.

Gloved and she even had a large fan which she used to dramatic effect… Delightful to have watched her work the red carpet.

I rather admire this family; here you have six strong powerful women who have made their mark. They could have chosen to be reborn male and been successful; instead, they used the spotlight of the O. J. Simpson trial to step centre stage and took off like greased lightning. They have served as admirable role models in the age of female empowerment. They are all anchored by Kim Kardashian who has master numbers of 11; never under estimate the power of persons with master numbers.

Beautiful beading and wonderful train. Lovely dress.

Talk about survivor; this woman is phenomenally resourceful with incredible staying power. She is truly inspirational.

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Feel the love; look at this adorable creative soul weave his magic. The shoes, the cape, the beading and that very alluringly kiss-inducing sternocleidomastoid…

There are conflicting reports which design house this man is wearing. Ether way, it is trop gauche to be stuffing non-straight leg trousers into books.

I can’t see this man playing Elvis Presley; however, Baz Luhrmann certainly thinks so. Incidentally, Elvis is a young soul entity mate of mine and Merlin’s as for that matter are Robin Williams and James Baldwin – all three entity mates’ Michael overleaves will be shared at the end of this commentary. .

My, but he has the most beautiful eyes and is possessed of superior style. Kelvin places eighth on the best-dressed list. Kelvin also appears with Austin Butler in the forthcoming Baz Luhrmann Elvis Presley biopic.

The always elegant and sophisticated Janelle working the crowd, her priest soul-looking eyes doing a very good Gloria Swanson turn à la Sunset Boulevard.

Don’t step on my trains! So very good to see Shalom. For me, she was the most exciting model arriving on the scene in the early 90s and she is a Canadian model too. She has that old Hollywood glamour aura about and looks not dissimilar to a young Barbara Amiel. Great red carpet drama.

How appropriate is that cape’s motif. Not since Frank Sinatra’s New York City anthem has a new anthem and by a native New Yorker the insanely creative, Alicia Keys. The music power couple look devastatingly handsome.

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Red carpet host and emcee, as ever Hamish Bowles reigns supreme, laurel and all.

A gentleman always wears a white tie and a smile.

Guess who owns every square inch of sexy. Rings, cane, white tie, stache and yeah, that hair too.

His humour like his fame utterly escapes me. C’est la vie.

Suave, engaging and inordinately creative, he is the bringer of light and musical joy. And he has style in spades too; look at that suede jacket.

Work those feet darling. It’s is a barely there dress that celebrates her youth and thriving sexuality in a world where her name is a global grand. She knows and understands her role in the pecking order at present.

This dress work beautifully and the gold does not outdo nor overwhelm the rest of her look. Beautiful.

Trans, drag-king, who knows… more to the point, who fucking cares.

Something about her look, I think that it is the hairstyle, reminds me of Coco Chanel. Black and gold always proves a winning combination. What I really like about this outfit is the gorgeous hemline to the tulle; certainly a dress like hers or Chloe Finemann’s is precisely what Mindy Kaling ought to have worn. The gold work here is masterful and I do love those shoes.

Quirky hat, okay; however, those daft Balmain platforms are ridiculously out of place at the Met Gala… or anywhere else for that matter.

Nothing says gilded age accessory like hanging off a billionaire’s arm. Interesting fabric combinations but gold & black always magically work. It does seems as though her dress would be a noisy affair.

Not since the wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Sussex has the lovely couple been working a global red carpet event. He wears an outfit designed by Turkish-German, Umit Benan

He’s got a lock on old Hollywood good looks and glamour and his designs are incredible.

The ensemble works and she definitely looks happy.

Jewellery should never resemble plucked chicken legs, as for the rest, nothing here resembles the gilded age.

Lizzo

Lizzo is here and makes no apologies for anything. Perception is all and all she sees is beautiful talent and a lot of love & light to give.

Must be strange to see a clown suit in the mirror when naked. Their outfits are trifling but what do they care when carnally consumed like semi-feral gibbons en chaleur.

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How cool and damn sexy is this man, who has no qualms about wearing a kanga. Awesome.

Had he been wearing white gloves, he may have made the top ten on the best-dressed list. Then, again, how is he to compete with post-twink fare like Manu Rios and Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Child please…

Go on, Lady. Now that is how you do it and not a lick of jewellery.

Every film, every photoshoot. this extraordinary human makes my soul purr. Like all redheads, she is literally magical in dreams… I have encountered her in two or three dreams. I don’t do gushing fan nonsense in dreams. She like every redhead female encountered in dreams, is acutely telepathic. She understands and owns her magic and effortlessly pulls it off in her films. Elegant, she is in Jacqueline de Ribes, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis territory in this white Tom Ford masterpiece.

Super handsome couple, Henry places fourth on the best-dressed list. He has the most beautiful smiling eyes. Those eyes had me see Crazy Rich Asians a third time. By the way, her sheer dress works.

Always amazing to watch how a couples eyes morph over time, looking and feeling vibrationally similar. Perfect in every way, both; and he has got his white gloves.

As ever, Mr. Ford looks marvellous. I certainly pray that he is having the most sublime dreams with his departed love.

Don’t know his music and in no hurry to explore it.

His style is admirable; love the jacket.

Now that’s how a gold dress should look and, of course, he is elegantly attired.

Sadly, there were no good photographs of this exquisite-looking model to be had; the dress though was divine and its two black bows priceless.

A rich creamy white, it is hard to tell whether it is silk or not. In keeping with the gilded age theme, Sydney ought to have been wearing gloves, even long black gloves would have anchored all that white fabric.

Hello! Kerry has great feet and her legs are not thick. She beautifully works that side slit and look at her work those feet. The off-the-shoulder draping cape is an ingenious effect that beautifully keeps her body nicely silhouetted in all the right places.

All primary-coloured outfits in this photograph work handsomely to best display the individual.

Lovely hoop earrings and that skirt attached to the scalloped-like bodice is simply goddess-like. It is an ingenious design.

There is no red like the Valentino red; clearly, too, there is no pink like the Valentino pink. Coquettish, casual, breezy and pretty. She is a winner.

Billionaires. Internationally famous. Celebrities. To these groups some cross two possibly all circles. To them Nicola was no more than Honey Boo Boo’s third cousin who had won 500m on the Powerball lottery. Not enough to be Rich Kids of Insta; small time is just that. So fils Beckham is dowried, shall we say, as he is a ticket to getting to the big leagues. She has the cache of papa’s minor billions and he, the SNDP (serves no discernible purpose) kinder of the world famous. 1.5 kids later, if at all that much, and she should be on to social/class passport number 2 – minor Euro royal of obscure note or perhaps a Tech billionaire if her entrée to the social inner sanctum proved a dismal misfire. On attend… time, indeed, reveals all.

Ah yes, and now we come to the real McCoy… the gold standard. One of cinema’s greatest actors – think Meeting Venus, Fatal Attraction & Dangerous Liaisons.

Though not set in the Gilded Age, John Frears’ masterpiece costume drama, Dangerous Liaisons puts Ms. Close’s acting chops to excellent use.

And, of course, rightly so she is escorted Valentino’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli whose show below was on the most sublime moments in fashion theatre.

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He really ought to have made an effort.

Diaphanous and solipsism – youth is myopically silly like that.

The most extraordinary Queen.

If you are going to so drastically self-alter, at the very least also consider a name-change.

WAP WAP WAP. It is so deliciously real to watch this woman, use her dagger-like nails to stab at cucumber, slide the stabbed sliced vegetable around the plate to sop up sauce, devour it all whilst speaking with her sexy overbite seductively drawing you in with a smattering of profanities keeping it real. Get a bucket and a mop, the Lady is the most glorious tramp! Power to her, she has succeeded at working and owning the ultimate pole – fame/success/money and all that.

Auteur, genius, creative powerhouse and as can be expected she knows how to keep it real when suited.

Seriously darling, it would not have been too much to have gotten a pedicure. Love the creative weave of mesh and beading, beautiful tone of grey; a marvellous Versace design.

That’s a whole lot of train and ingeniously it is reversible. Stunning!

Late one evening after the playwright John Douglas had been by as they worked on a script, which eventually Merlin would have me proof and give feedback on, Merlin and I began discussing an upcoming dinner party that we would be hosting. Names were proffered and invariably Merlin would pause, scowl then dismissively scrawl next to someone’s name SNDP… there were always many such persons. Some mix of persons just made little sense. I have always thought this woman just that, SNDP (serves no discernible purpose). She perpetually foists her ill-proportioned body in varying degrees of undress whilst claiming to be a model. Kate, Naomi, Cindy, Linda, Christy these are models and they are professional not this SNDP; just look at the way she is dressed.

The shiny silver sheath, the smoky train afloat with puffy white blooms all centred by that giant red bloom. Of course Ms. Union came enrobed in the love of Dwayne Wade. Perfection.

Three queens shining uneclipsed.

Gigi Hadid

Look at darling Gigi, mother, model and the legs that aesthetically look good in a side or front slit dress. This is how you slay.

Just look at the details and tailoring of her gown. Basta! So much style and personality; it could only be larger-than-life Donatella!

HOMMES/MEN/UOMINI

This may well be Dylan; no idea who they are but in some sources it was said to be Dylan. Definitely, this look would have been considered futuristic in the gilded age.

All that swagger and some Courvoisier on the side. With good reason, Dwayne makes it to lucky seventh place on the best-dressed list. The cane, the gold pocket watch chain and that diamond necklace! Yes, indeed, metrosexy does the gilded age.

Hats at night indoors is a definite no! How it never dawned on anyone that this woman looks like Yosemite Sam in drag, is all you need to be mindful of. Clueless!

HOMMES/MEN/UOMINI

Nyjah gets an honourable mention. Seriously, though, unless it is Japanese, I really don’t get the appeal of tattoos, especially on clearly unaware Blacks, who get inked and it proves barely perceptible against their rich expanse of melanin. The suit and boots are an exquisite combination.

She s a model and knows how to work it. I really love that emerald.

Honourable Mention Ladies

Adrienne Adams, Amy Griffin, Autumn de Wilde, Amirah Kassem, Nicola Coughlan & Radha Blank.

Nowhere did I find mention of exactly what design house these persons were wearing.

Honourable Mention Gentlemen

Andy Blankenbuehler, Ben Platt, Franklin Leonard, Gunna, Jeremy Strong, Odell Beckham Jr. Stromae, Mark Guiducci & Lenny Kravitz.

Lenny Kravitz certainly looked sexy and I loved his choice of jewellery.

Honourable Mention Couples I

Kim Kardashian-Thomas-Humphries-West & Pete Davidson, Agnes Chu & Tom Gilmore, Aurora James, Diana Taylor & Michael Bloomberg, Marc Jacobs & Charly Defrancesco, Vanessa Nadal & Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The persons who had Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress loaned out need to be sacked. It’s like some parvenu Parisian hostess having the Mona Lisa in her dining room for her next dinner party. Just no!

Honourable Mention Couples II

Edward Enninful & Alec Maxwell, Diane von Furstenberg & Barry Diller, James Corden & Julia Carey, Maya Haile & Marcus Sameulsson, Stephen Jones & Amy Fine Collins & Tracey Collins & Eric Adams.

All the stylish glitterati to be had were out in force; however, their designs origins were never mentioned anywhere.

With his recent passing, this exquisite cape of Mr. Talley’s has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute. Back in 1983, New York City milliner, Frederick Jones and I were walking along West 57th Street en route to Bergdorf Goodman’s. Frederick was going to shop; however, it also meant that he was going to be hustling. Frederick positively loved Merlin and was chiefly Merlin’s friend. That summer because Merlin was in Toronto, working on Fraggle Rock and a couple of theatre productions, he asked Frederick to keep an eye on me. By this point, Merlin and I had spent a very memorable weekend at the Hotel Chelsea in one of those rooms that faced the courtyard and that first night as we fucked all night, at one point, Merlin his limbs wrapped around my frenzied, sweaty body, let out a sigh and began convulsing. As it was early in our relationship, I thought that perhaps he was having an epileptic seizure. Pulling out, concerned, I watched as Merlin’s eyes rolled back and he climaxed without once having touched himself. The look of ecstasy on his face, I will never forget. He professed his love and told me that it had never happened before and that I was his for life… more importantly, Merlin said that he was mine for life. We remained inseparable thereafter.

Walking east along the wide boulevard, coming towards us was the tallest most striking man. I would learn afterwards that it was Andre Leon Talley with whom Frederick was upset. Just imagine, Andre had not said hello to him. Later that week, at an Upper West Side dinner party someone spoke of Andre and how well he was doing, Frederick chimed in and declared, ‘The day he arrives in heaven, all god’s coloured queens will bow down.’

From there, it was on to more partying, which culminated in going to the Ab’sinyan Ba’tist Chuch, as Frederick would proclaim. Frederick always attended because it was all about the hustle; he was there to sell his hats and see who wore which of his hats. First met Frederick when he came to dinner in early December, 1982 to the Trocadero loft in Chelsea on Sixth Avenue below 23rd Street. The following February, whilst still staying at the Trocadero loft, Grace Jones appeared at the Grammy Awards, wearing what we all knew was a Frederick Jones creation but which was lauded as a Lagerfeld creation.

This, I can assure you, caused Frederick to drink to excess for weeks devastated as he was; he wailed at the betrayal as though his mama had died. Eventually, I would in the summer of 1983 spend most of my time blocking and shopping in the garment district for fabrics, returned to his West 43rd Street in mid-afternoon after dance classes and auditions; it was an exciting adventure working for Frederick and earning some under-the-table cash. His tall fiercely jealous Puerto Rican lover was cool towards me. Frederick and I, though, managed a hot sex life with all the feverish brevity of Bonobos at play. Both Leos born in early august our bond was filial rather than not. I drove him on to be more productive all the while, managing to serve him less gin, which Frederick, sadly, drank all day long.

Victoria Beckham who hands down wins best red carpet feet!

One day as Frederick pored through the latest photos of his clients wearing his hats, I explained the importance of standing sickled out when being photographed. Yes, indeed, not standing like a pigeon-toed oaf was truly elegant. Soon, Frederick became obsessed with feet. I was being made to show his clients how to properly stand when they were being photographed whilst wearing his creations, which were genuine masterpieces; these quick tutorials, I did whilst wearing a pair of black patent leather high heels, purchased just off Times Square. Pretty soon, Frederick was bragging to Merlin that thanks to me, his photographed creations looked more sophisticated. To this day, I often smile when seeing someone walking a red carpet and posing sickled in. Frederick would actually yell, ‘Lord Jesus’ as we were anywhere or watching TV and someone stood around pigeon-toed.

Looking at the arrivals for the recent memorial for Andre Leon Talley, I was reminded of Frederick when accompanying him to the Ab’sinyan to which Merlin when in town made it on a few occasions.

Anna Wintour escorted by her son, Charles Shaffer attending the memorial for Andre Leon Talley at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York City.

Veronica Webb is the most articulate, eloquent American model of the 1990s and I lived for Saturdays when Jeanne Becker hosted Fashion Television as she just might be featured saying something… anything.

Photographer Dario stylishly attired in kanga; I love the puffy-sleeved jacket.

An elegantly demure Kate Moss departs Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Coming through, none other than Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons.

Dame Anna Wintour’s daughter, Bee Shaffer-Carrozzini whose handsome husband is the late editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani’s son.

Journalist, writer critic Emil and über soignée fashion editor, Claire Sulmers elegantly representing.

The grand dame of the wrap dress; I rather admire this human.

Gosh, they grow up fast.

Writer, journalist and one sexually magnetic human.

The socially ubiquitous Mr. Blasberg escorting Karlie Kloss.

Ever stylish and still elegantly striding forth.

Gucci executive arriving at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.

TV journalist and maverick arriving to memorial service in Harlem.

Well, of course, he’s elegantly dressed.

Yes, why wouldn’t the Queen be in attendance?

Near 40 years later, I smiled on the day that I heard of Andre Leon Talley’s passing. I was comforted in knowing that among all god’s coloured queens bowing down as Andre arrived in heaven, was Frederick Jones.

MICHAEL OVERLEAVES

Baldwin, James 2/8/24 <0>30/11/87

This fragment, a priest, was a fourth level mature soul – second incarnation at this level.  The mode was repression with a goal of growth – internally abrading overleaves.  An idealist, he was in the intellectual centre moving part. 

Body type was Mercury/Saturn. 

James’ primary chief feature was Impatience and the secondary martyrdom.  There was also some degree of self-destruction due to early childhood traumas. 

Casting was fourth-cast in a fifth cadence in a sixth entity, cadre one, greater cadre 7, node 414, same entity as Arvin. 

The essence twin is a priest, incarnate and the slave task companion is discarnate. 

James’ three primary needs were: freedom, power and expression.  ________________________________________________

Presley, Elvis 8/1/1935<O>16/8/1977

Michael: This fragment was a fifth-level young sage – third life thereat.  Elvis was in the passion mode with a goal of growth.  A spiritualist, Elvis was in the intellectual part of moving centre. 

Elvis had a Venus/Mars body type. 

Elvis’ primary chief feature was arrogance with a secondary of greed fixated on experience. 

Elvis is seventh-cast in the second cadence of the first greater cadence.  Elvis is a fragment of entity six, cadre one, greater cadre 7, pod/node 414 – an entity mate of both Arvin & Merlin. 

Elvis has a sage essence twin and the task companion is an artisan to whom he was wed — Priscilla Presley. 

Elvis’ three primary needs were: expression, power and freedom. 

There are 12 past-life associations with Arvin and 8 with Merlin. 

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Williams, Robin 21/7/1951<O>11/8/2014

Michael: This fragment was a sixth level mature sage — second life thereat.  Robin was in the passion mode with a goal of dominance.  A sceptic, he was in the emotional part of moving centre. 

Body type was Mars/Venus. 

Robin’s primary chief feature was arrogance and the secondary was self-destruction. 

The fragment Robin is second-cast in fifth cadence; he is a member of greater cadence six.  Robin’s entity is six, cadre one, greater cadre 7, pod 414 — another entity mate of both Merlin and Arvin. 

Robin’s essence twin is a sage and the artisan task companion was known to him. 

Robin’s four primary needs were: expression, adventure, communion and security. 

There are 18 past-life associations with Arvin and 12 with Merlin. 

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As ever, life is like a flying dream; if you look down, you’re fucked. Enjoy the ride and fear no one!

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