Ahead of one of the fashion industry鈥檚 biggest nights, The Met Gala, 人民瓜报 Dean Shannon Mirabelli-Lopez sat down with NBC Bay Area for an insightful conversation about what it takes to present the event, a parade of dazzling celebrity fashion statements from the cutting-edge to the over-the-top. 
The Costume Institute Benefit, the gala鈥檚 official name, is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is home to the institute. A one-time associate research curator for the Met鈥檚 Costume Institute, Mirabelli-Lopez, now dean of the WVC Bill and Leila Cilker School of Art and Design, brought a first-hand perspective to the proceedings, held May 5 at The Met in Manhattan.
鈥淭he party itself, as it should, looks effortless and beautiful and everyone鈥檚 enjoying themselves,鈥� she said during the broadcast interview. 鈥淏ut the years of research and labor that go into mounting the exhibition is easily overlooked.鈥�
Guests attending The Met Gala are invited to take inspiration from a dress code informed by the Costume Institute鈥檚 spring exhibition. For 2025, the exhibition, 鈥淪uperfine: Tailoring Black Style,鈥� explores the importance of sartorial style to the formation of Black identities.
In her NBC Bay Area interview, Mirabelli-Lopez, dressed head-to-toe in a trademark black ensemble, discussed what motivated her move from the Met into higher education. Her overriding desire: look to fashion鈥檚 future, not its past.
鈥淚f I wanted to impact the fashion industry and art and design at large in terms of sustainability, in terms of diversity, you have to get in there when the students are being educated,鈥� she observed. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the ones who are going to impact the industry later.鈥�
Before assuming the role of dean for SoAD, she previously served at some of the fashion industry鈥檚 leading art schools, including the Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design, both in New York City.
The high price of obtaining an art and design education at top schools, however, disappointed Mirabelli-Lopez. When the opportunity arose to lead the SoAD at West Valley, she seized it, noting it鈥檚 the only community college she knows of with a school of art and design.
鈥淚 wanted to offer a world-class education specifically in fashion, which is my area (of expertise), at a price which makes it much more accessible and work to diversify the industry and impact it,鈥� she said.
See the full interview at: