As the seemingly endless red carpet wore on Monday night at the Met Gala, attendees clearly fit in one of two categories: safe and pretty or avant-garde and fantastical. Brie Larson’s Chanel ensemble was no doubt beautiful, but she also took some chances when it came to her gold leaf–decorated hair and makeup, which featured tiny pearls around her eyes.
Her longtime hairstylist Mara Roszak, a big fan of Comme des Garcons, took inspiration from Rei Kawakubo’s innovative spirit. “We took to hear the idea that this was the perfect time to get a little bit weird,” she says.
Roszak combed old archives from the fashion house, and got excited about the “rad designs and the idea of not taking her look too seriously. We did not want it to seem overdone or too symmetrical.” The creation she came up with is, in her words, “artistic, structured and creative, with an old glam twist.” Larson’s Old Hollywood–leaning style is updated and modernized by gold foil flakes Roszak applied to the left side of her part to make the look special for the Met Gala.
The ‘do itself, however, is one she says works in real life for day or night. Easily re-created (L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Boost It Volume Inject Mousse and Lock It Clean Style Gel are key products for hold and shape), it has several fun and interesting elements, like a wavy side part and ends that hang out of the faux bob. She added texture and swept Larson’s hair into a ponytail, which she pinned to the nape of the actress’ neck for a faux bob.
Bottom line: “It was all about not taking it too seriously and really having fun.”
