What Angela Basset Wore to the Opera

This spring, scorching color is all around. At a party to celebrate the premiere of Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” at the Metropolitan Opera this month, attendees wore fiery orange, gold fringe and academy red pantsuits. Opening night festivities for the new opera, based on the life story of the former middleweight boxing champion Emile Griffith, drew Mayor Eric Adams, Angela Bassett, Queen Latifah, Al Roker and Spike Lee, who wore purple.

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‘Champion’ at the Met Opera I have been looking for a reason to wear this jumpsuit. I have only worn it once since I purchased it. I have a friend that works at the Met, and as soon as she invited me, I knew that I wanted to wear this. — Ravon Allen Latonia [Moore] is one of my best friends, and every time I go to one of her premieres, I try to outdo everyone else, and it gets me invited. — Randall Woodruff The New Museum Spring Gala The top, my husband bought for me. I never tried it on, and it fit me perfectly. — Judy Chicago I really wanted to wear this Simone Rocha dress that I wore a year ago at an opening I had uptown, and I just felt like it was maybe too over the top. I was ready to go for it, but I chickened out. — Cindy Sherman I had this old schmatza, and I was like, it is such a boring color. And so I popped by the art supply store, grabbed a couple of cans of spray paint, and voilà. — Caledonia Curry I’m from Oakland, California, and I grew up in a low-income area, so I pulled from styles that I saw there — people wearing different chains, grills — but I wanted to upscale it and make it sartorial and make it my own. — Ajai Kasim

Days later, at the New Museum’s Spring Gala, artists and philanthropists stood and sipped in the former ferry building that houses Cipriani South Street, wearing bright blues, greens and pinks, before moving onto beet salads and plates of sole. The dress code of electric sunset was inspired by one of the night’s honorees, the artist Judy Chicago, who will have an exhibit at the New Museum in October. The event, attended by the photographer Cindy Sherman, the designer Aurora James and the curator Antwaun Sargent, raised $2.5 million for the museum.

‘Champion’ at the Met Opera

Queen Latifah paired a Simone Rocha jacket with a Gucci bag and Celine boots outside the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Jessica Crawford and the designer Montana Levi Blanco assembled a layered look for the premiere.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Ravon Allen in an Ivy Park jumpsuit and an Urban Outfitters jacket at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

I have been looking for a reason to wear this jumpsuit. I have only worn it once since I purchased it. I have a friend that works at the Met, and as soon as she invited me, I knew that I wanted to wear this. — Ravon Allen

Spike Lee toasted the premiere in monochromatic purple.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Kamari Saxon in a leather jacket by Ksubi at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Randall Woodruff, a close friend of the soprano Latonia Moore, who plays Emelda Griffith in “Champion,” bought his outfit on Alibaba.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Latonia [Moore] is one of my best friends, and every time I go to one of her premieres, I try to outdo everyone else, and it gets me invited. — Randall Woodruff

Jude M. Perry-Evans wearing a Guess jacket and carrying a Coach bag at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Melanie Bacaling in a Vinta Gallery jumpsuit at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Alexander Smalls, a chef, at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Jarmar Saunders at the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Sidney Blanchard in a gown with tassels outside the Met Opera.Credit…Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

The New Museum Spring Gala

Judy Chicago, one of the honorees at the New Museum gala, wore an Oleg Cassini top and Dior pants.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

The top, my husband bought for me. I never tried it on, and it fit me perfectly. — Judy Chicago

Donald Capoccia’s look at the New Museum gala was all in the details: a cuffed Taakk shirt revealing a Breitling watch and an emerald ring.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

The artist Cindy Sherman, in a single-breasted Marni suit, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Marc Armitano, in Bode, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

I really wanted to wear this Simone Rocha dress that I wore a year ago at an opening I had uptown, and I just felt like it was maybe too over the top. I was ready to go for it, but I chickened out. — Cindy Sherman

Yvonne Force Villareal, in a Bonnie Young dress and Gucci gloves, and carrying a Rebecca Minkoff bag, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Caledonia Curry, the artist known as Swoon, wore a spray-painted Free People dress at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Cipriana Quann, in a red Kalmanovich skirt, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

I had this old schmatza, and I was like, it is such a boring color. And so I popped by the art supply store, grabbed a couple of cans of spray paint, and voilà. — Caledonia Curry

Paula Naughton’s headpiece for the New Museum gala was made of zip ties.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Alicia Kamien Kazhdan attended the New Museum gala in a vintage Lane Bryant jacket and a bolo tie from a friend’s grandfather.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Ajai Kasim, in a shirt by his label, Children of the Urf, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

I’m from Oakland, California, and I grew up in a low-income area, so I pulled from styles that I saw there — people wearing different chains, grills — but I wanted to upscale it and make it sartorial and make it my own. — Ajai Kasim

Jazsalyn, in a vintage dress, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Daren Brotherton, in Gucci, at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

Naomi Beckwith, the deputy director and chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, in Maria Pinto at the New Museum gala.Credit…Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

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