For his first time at the Met Gala, Morgan Spector worked with fellow California native Willy Chavarria on a “Willy Chavarria vision of a tuxedo.” The suit was with poppies, an homage to both Palestine and to John McCrae’s classic World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” which Spector was asked to record for the exhibit by curator Andrew Bolton.
Below, WWD chats with Spector ahead of the night about his look, being part of the exhibit and…the illuminati.
WWD: Tell us about your look.
Morgan Spector: I’m wearing what I think is a Willy Chavarria vision of a tuxedo: elegant and luxurious but also filtered through his style. It’s based on a couple of existing designs, but we made some changes to elevate it and bring something fresh.
WWD: Have you previously met Willy?
M.S.: Never, and I’ve been a fan, so I was excited to meet him. We didn’t have a ton of time but he was delightful. Really creative in the moment and welcoming.
WWD: What do you love most about your look?
M.S.: The fabrics and the tailoring, the overall silhouette. It’s all very clean.
WWD: How does it interpret the theme?
M.S.: I was actually asked by Andrew Bolton to record John McCrae’s World War I poem “In Flanders Fields” for the “Sleeping Beauties” exhibit at The Met. It’s a very moving poem, more or less written in a trench in 1915 when McCrae was serving in the war. Poppies are a recurring motif, and I believe that poem is part of the reason poppies are used as a symbol of remembrance in the U.K. and throughout the Commonwealth. The piece is written from the point of view of the dead, exhorting the living to carry on the fight. It made me think of the war in Gaza, and the responsibility we have to the dead on both sides to try and do what we can to bring about a just peace. The poppy, as it happens, is also a symbol of Palestine, so I asked Willy, who often adorns his clothes with beautiful flowers, to add poppies to my jacket.
WWD: What are you most looking forward to about the night?
M.S.: I’m assuming this is the night I’ll be inducted into the illuminati, so I’m looking forward to that.
