Photo courtesy of Olivia Wyffels.
I recently attended a black-tie gala at the Minneapolis Institute of Art also known as MIA. As long-term supporters of the museum, my husband and I have attended many events and galas over the years. This year’s Fall Gala theme was based upon a current exhibition, Paris Couture, on display through January 2027. We invited family members and a few esteemed guests to join us at the preview party.
Black Tie and Paris? Count Me In!
I love dressing to the nines (or tens), and I adore Paris. Believe it or not, my first airplane ride took me there during my senior year of high school, on a spring break trip to France sponsored by my French class. Someday, I’ll write more about that first visit and the countless trips to Paris that followed. For now, suffice it to say my love for the city has endured for decades as has my love of French fashion.
Preparation for an evening like this is one of my favorite parts of attending these galas. It can take me days to figure out which dress, shoes, bag, and jewelry to wear. For this gala I had the perfect old Chanel dress that I have worn several times in the past for different occasions. (Visit my Berit’s Bits Instagram to see the full attire). This year, however, I had my work cut out for me as I was also helping my two daughters’ outfit themselves for this event. There were hours spent shopping with my youngest daughter for the “right” dress, shoes, and other essentials. My oldest daughter flew home from NYC to join us, and she was able to shop my closet for most of her outfit. Much to her chagrin she doesn’t share the same shoe size as me.
The afternoon preparation before an event such as this is often one of the most fun parts of attending occasions. Sometimes, getting ready for a glamorous evening is nearly as enjoyable as the event itself. Sports fans reading this, this type of preparation is a fashionista’s version of a “pre-gaming” experience. Don’t most of us like a tailgating experience?
This year, I hired my friend Terra to style me, my daughters, and my sister-in-law. This pre-gaming experience includes snacks, drinks, and camaraderie. I so enjoyed watching Terra “do her magic” by creating glamorous evening looks for all of us. Here are a few pre-game shots:
Pre-Game
A few pre-party pics and off we went to the museum.
The Red Carpet
The Gala was as glamorous as ever, including a red-carpet entryway.
At the Paris Couture Gala
Post-Gala Glamor Shots
After the gala, my daughter and I took glamor shots of each other. The end of the evening came too soon and we were having too much fun in our glamour styles. Back to our sweatpants the next day!
And now for my true confession. Despite all the excitement and anticipation for the Paris Couture exhibition, I barely had time to see it. Between the pre-gaming, the gala festivities and the wonderful company, the evening simply flew by.
Clearly, another visit to the museum was in order. I was determined to see these magnificent clothes! Stay tuned for my next Beauty & Style post where I’ll share pictures from the Paris Couture exhibit and more about my own lifelong love of French fashion.