Doodleverse
May 2025
Met Gala
There are Met Gala moments, and then there are Diana Ross moments. After a 22-year absence from fashion’s biggest night, Diana Ross made her triumphant return to the 2025 Met Gala in a look that can only be described as legendary. Draped in elegance, glittering with drama, and crowned in custom Sarah Sokol Millinery, her appearance was nothing short of a show-stopping spectacle.
The theme of the night was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style with accompanying dress code: Tailored for You. Leave it to Diana Ross, the ultimate icon, to deliver a look that felt like a divine apparition descending upon the Metropolitan Museum steps. She wore a sculptural, floor-length gown and cape ensemble by Eleven Sixteen, designed by the insanely talented Ugo Mozie. The dress featured a sweeping, miles-long train adorned with hundreds of hand-sewn crystals appliques featuring the names of her family members. The cape sparkled in silver accents that shimmered beneath the lights, evoking old Hollywood opulence and celestial drama in equal measure. Working with Ugo is always a pleasure and I am always astounded by his creativity and refinement when it comes to creating fashion statements like this.
And then — there was the hat.
For this historic return, Sarah Sokol Millinery created a custom wide-brim white hat, dripping in luxury and drama. The brim was lavishly edged with a white ostrich feather boa, fluttering with every step like clouds encircling a halo. Scattered across the crown and brim were hand-applied crystal appliqués, catching the flash of every camera on the carpet and casting tiny rainbows with each tilt of her head.
Creating this hat for Diana Ross, a woman whose influence on fashion, music, and culture is immeasurable, was both a dream and a deep honor. When the request came through, the creative direction was clear: go big, go glamorous, go Diana. And that’s exactly what we did.
We started with an oversized base for dramatic structure, reinforced to hold its shape while still being comfortable and wearable. The crystals were selected to reflect stage lights (and camera flashes) the way Diana’s legendary performances always have, because even at the Met Gala, she’s always on stage. Finally, the white ostrich feather boa was carefully stitched along the edge of the brim by hand, giving the piece its signature softness and movement. It framed her face like a crown of clouds, a regal aura worthy of music royalty.
As she arrived, the crowd gasped. The cameras couldn’t get enough. Social media lit up. “Diana Ross is back!” headlines quickly followed. And there she was, smiling under the brim of that hat - the embodiment of glamour, grace, and show-stopping brilliance.
To have a piece of Sarah Sokol Millinery play a part in such an unforgettable moment in fashion history is something we’ll never forget. We don’t just make hats, we make statements. And on Met Gala night, Diana Ross made the ultimate one.
There are Met Gala moments, and then there are Diana Ross moments. After a 22-year absence from fashion’s biggest night, Diana Ross made her triumphant return to the 2025 Met Gala in a look that can only be described as legendary. Draped in elegance, glittering with drama, and crowned in custom Sarah Sokol Millinery, her appearance was nothing short of a show-stopping spectacle.
The theme of the night was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style with accompanying dress code: Tailored for You. Leave it to Diana Ross, the ultimate icon, to deliver a look that felt like a divine apparition descending upon the Metropolitan Museum steps. She wore a sculptural, floor-length gown and cape ensemble by Eleven Sixteen, designed by the insanely talented Ugo Mozie. The dress featured a sweeping, miles-long train adorned with hundreds of hand-sewn crystals appliques featuring the names of her family members. The cape sparkled in silver accents that shimmered beneath the lights, evoking old Hollywood opulence and celestial drama in equal measure. Working with Ugo is always a pleasure and I am always astounded by his creativity and refinement when it comes to creating fashion statements like this.
And then — there was the hat.
For this historic return, Sarah Sokol Millinery created a custom wide-brim white hat, dripping in luxury and drama. The brim was lavishly edged with a white ostrich feather boa, fluttering with every step like clouds encircling a halo. Scattered across the crown and brim were hand-applied crystal appliqués, catching the flash of every camera on the carpet and casting tiny rainbows with each tilt of her head.
Creating this hat for Diana Ross, a woman whose influence on fashion, music, and culture is immeasurable, was both a dream and a deep honor. When the request came through, the creative direction was clear: go big, go glamorous, go Diana. And that’s exactly what we did.
We started with an oversized base for dramatic structure, reinforced to hold its shape while still being comfortable and wearable. The crystals were selected to reflect stage lights (and camera flashes) the way Diana’s legendary performances always have, because even at the Met Gala, she’s always on stage. Finally, the white ostrich feather boa was carefully stitched along the edge of the brim by hand, giving the piece its signature softness and movement. It framed her face like a crown of clouds, a regal aura worthy of music royalty.
As she arrived, the crowd gasped. The cameras couldn’t get enough. Social media lit up. “Diana Ross is back!” headlines quickly followed. And there she was, smiling under the brim of that hat - the embodiment of glamour, grace, and show-stopping brilliance.
To have a piece of Sarah Sokol Millinery play a part in such an unforgettable moment in fashion history is something we’ll never forget. We don’t just make hats, we make statements. And on Met Gala night, Diana Ross made the ultimate one.
