While some were rushing to a last-minute facial or doing one final fitting, friends of LaQuan Smith took the night before the Met as a chance to unwind before the big day. 

Smith hosted a dinner at Cafe Zaffri with VIP guests like Taraji P. Henson and Babyface on Sunday evening — though it was the designer himself who drew the most flashbulbs when he arrived, a full crew in tow.  

He and Henson exchanged kisses on each cheek, the actress sparkling in a strong-shouldered bejeweled look, while Babyface introduced himself to Smith with a handshake. 

“I’m overwhelmed, I’m excited — I’m not nervous, I’m just more anxious,” Smith said of his feelings ahead of the Met. “I’m anxious to just really debut the looks that I’ve been working on for so long.”

Smith said he and his team have been conceptualizing the looks they’ve made for the Met for the last six to eight months — “which is not a lot of time.” 

“I’m still doing fittings. I’m doing one tonight,” he said. 

While we’ll have to wait until the red carpet reveal to see the guests he is dressing, the designer previewed his own outfit.

“For me, my approach was more about sticking within the theme of really strong suiting, strong tailoring, and bringing that glamour and pizazz that everyone knows LaQuan Smith to be,” he said. “I’m bringing the glamour and a level of sophistication.”

As for what he’s looking forward to from everyone else? 

“I want to see what Teyana Taylor is going to wear. I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone is going to interpret this incredible dandyism theme,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing Black excellence on the carpet.”