Getting Ready for the Met Gala With Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver getting ready for the 2022 Met Gala in NYC.
Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.

For Sigourney Weaver, the Gilded Age describes a period of glittering, stifling excess. “Rich Americans threw their untaxed money around and millions of wild birds were slaughtered to be put on women’s hats,” she says. “Dressing for women was a labor-intensive ritual. Encased in corsets and bustles, women had no freedom of movement.” So when she notes that she can run through Central Park in the glimmering Michael Kors Collection gown she’s wearing for the Met Gala, the styling choice becomes immediately clear. 

To complement the effortless glamour of the dress, makeup artist Brigitte Reiss-Andersen relied on a palette of warm, timeless hues. “I kept the eyes defined but not too dark, and contrasted the dark color of the dress with two shades of lipstick that I layered: First a rusty shade of red, 118 L'Absolu Rouge Ruby, followed by a pop of candy red Color Design Lipstick in Retro Rouge, both by Lancôme,” she says. A deep side part and soft, irregular waves courtesy of Peter Gray lent to the overarching theme. “Sigourney oozes a quintessential ease and elegance that is a classic American style,” he says. Gilded earrings and a coat of Hypnôse Drama Instant Volumizing Mascara finished the moment. To Weaver, tonight’s festivities doubled as a celebration of the attention to detail and design that defined the Gilded Age. “The craftsmanship in these gowns is dazzling,” she says of the era. “I’m happy we still get to see this kind of workmanship, at least at the Met Ball.”

Hairstylist Peter Gray creating Weaver’s soft waves for the night.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Brigitte Reiss-Andersen’s array of makeup products for the evening. 

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

“I was lucky to be working with Sigourney last week,” Reiss-Andersen says, “so I gave her a little skin-care routine with products from QMS, such as the 7-Days System and the Intense Collagen Oil Serum so her skin would be super hydrated and radiant for today.”

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

A little lemon tea never hurts.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

“We go back many years and Sigourney is always open and enthusiastic about each occasion,” Reiss-Andersen says. “She understands the process and is a willing participant in it, which gives her creative team a lot of freedom.”

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Weaver’s custom Michael Kors Collection gown. Weaver has known the designer since his early days. “I think I was at the opening of his first store,” she said on the Met Gala red carpet.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Striking a pose at The Pierre.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Hair tools and a delicate drink—the sign of a good night to come.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

An elegant Michael Kors Collection shoe for the evening.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Jewelry by David Webb.

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

Weaver appreciates the melding of elegance and ease that her Michael Kors Collection gown embodies. “Like all his classic American designs, it shimmers with glamour, but it’s a completely modern dress and I can run through Central Park in it.”

Photographed by Caroline Tompkins

See All of the Celebrity Looks From the Met Gala 2022 Red Carpet:

Met Gala 2022: See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Here