Inside Bruna Marquezine’s “Surreal” Debut at the 2024 Met Gala
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Bruna Marquezine has been waiting for a moment like the 2024 Met Gala.
Marquezine—who starred in the 2023 DC superhero movie Blue Beetle—last night became only the third Brazilian actress ever to grace the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the event’s 76-year history, and it’s a career feat she doesn’t take lightly.
“It’s surreal [to think about],” she tells Harper’s Bazaar ahead of fashion’s biggest night in New York City. “The Met Gala is the most iconic fashion event—one that I’ve dreamed of attending—and I’m honestly still in disbelief that I get to be part of it this year.”
For the evening, Marquezine wore a custom pale blush Tory Burch gown constructed of pebbled silk organza, with a hand-molded corset and a multilayered horsehair mesh hoop skirt. According to the designer herself, the dress’s colors—it was dyed in shades of ivory, pale green, and rust—were purposely chosen so it would look appropriately vintage, and of course nod to this year’s dress code, “The Garden of Time.”
“This collaboration with Tory Burch and my stylist Dani Michelle has been so much fun,” Marquezine says. “Their vision aligns with my own, and together, we’ve created something really special and magical. The process has been so collaborative, and I’ve been blown away by it all. From the sketches, to multiple fittings, to seeing this one-of-a-kind look come together, and all the creatives behind it, it’s been a surreal experience. The dress is a work of art.” The Tiffany & Co. earrings and rings she wore, the actor adds, pulled the ensemble together “in such a beautiful, subtle way.”
With help from her longtime makeup artist Henrique Martins and YSL Beauty, Marquezine opted for what she describes as a “nude ethereal look” to complement her gown, wanting her glam for the night to feel “timeless.” Of course, the star had a fair amount of prior inspiration to draw from when it was time to select her gala outfit, and looked back at images of Zendaya and Rihanna over the years to prep for her debut.
“There have been so many groundbreaking looks over the years, but they always stand out to me—I always look forward to seeing what they’ll do next,” the actor says of the two reigning fashion queens. “And of course, Sonia Braga, who was the first Brazilian actress to attend the Met Gala, in 1990. She’s an icon.”
For Burch, conceptualizing Marquezine’s look meant looking to the past for inspiration, but applying a modern twist. The designer’s team presented the actor with over 20 different versions of the gown before they settled on the version that graced the steps of the Met.
“Bruna and I focused on bringing a sense of modernity to historical techniques,” Burch tells Bazaar, noting that they started with the corset and hoop skirt, and that the pebbled organza served to highlight the piece’s intricate construction and boning. “We imagined flowers from the past [as inspiration for the look]—preserved, beautifully aged, and not too precious.”
Marquezine’s stylist for the night, Dani Michelle, also spoke highly of the trio’s creative collaboration.
“When Bruna and I first connected, I felt overwhelmingly inspired, as it’s very rare to find someone that, stylistically, you align with so closely. We found ourself constantly falling in love with the same look, and she brings it to life in remarkable ways,” she says. “The Met was our biggest chance to dream together, and each step of the way it had been an honor.”
Aside from wearing her dream dress, Marquezine knew that Monday night’s gala would be a chance to really relish what was happening around her.
“Sometimes big events like this feel like a fever dream, and I’m not able to fully live in the moment, but I really want to soak it all in,” she says. “I pinch myself every day. This last year has been beyond what I could’ve pictured for myself. From Blue Beetle and being the first Brazilian protagonist in a DC movie, to now being at the Met, I’m so grateful to be in this position, and my hope is that Brazilians and Latina women continue to get the opportunities we deserve and feel represented in TV, film, fashion, and all aspects of life. I’m so proud to represent my country on such an iconic evening.”
You Might Also Like
