NCT’s JOHNNY Shines During His First Met Gala

NCT's one and only JOHNNY made his Met Gala debut last night in New York City, and he was a sight to behold.  Often praised by his fans for his fashion sense, the Chicago native has joined the small list of K-pop idols who have attended the Met Gala, being only the seventh idol to do so. In fact, last night, he was the only K-pop idol in attendance at the white-tie event.

Taking On NYC

While the reason for his trip to New York City wasn't confirmed right away, fans were quick to put the pieces together on Twitter, speculating early on that JOHNNY would be in attendance at the big event. After spoiling fans with constant content—from seeing Hamilton to photoshoots in Brooklyn and yoga in Central Park (with a hint at a possible JCC episode on it)—it was a photo of him and Olympian Chloe Kim at The Mark Hotel that essentially confirmed the fan theories. For those unaware, The Mark is a hot spot for the paparazzi, who take photos of celebrities headed to the Met Gala as they exit the hotel's lobby.

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Arriving in Style

Then came the most important question of the night—who would JOHNNY  be wearing? The answer? Vietnamese designer Peter Do. Having created his label roughly four years ago, this year's Met Gala was not only the first time that Do would dress someone for the event, but also the first time he would be attending himself. Featuring instantly recognizable Peter Do boots, the all-black satin ensemble was a modern take on the three-piece suit of the Gilded Age. The outfit hit the mark with this year's theme, tying in Do's signature style of a luxury take on women and menswear. The two stepped out of The Mark looking dashing as ever, with screams from fans waiting to get a glimpse of JOHNNY filling the airways on the livestream coverage of the event.  

The Main Event

To no surprise, fans online stayed up to date with everything JOHNNY was doing at the Met Gala. From geeking out over his table (sitting with the likes of SZA and Sebastian Stan) to reposting photos of him and Gigi Hadid, to catching him on the Vogue livestream talking to Kris Jenner (one of our favorite moments, actually), fans watched as his follower count climbed with the names of stars he encountered.

JOHNNY changed into another Peter Do look for the Met Gala after-party.  JOHNNY charmed in an ensemble from the Fall 2022 RTW line consisting of an open white button-down, oversized black coat and pants, complete with a Cartier necklace and those famous Peter Do boots once more. JOHNNY's looks from the night put a unique twist on traditional menswear, perfectly capturing the addition of luxury that Peter Do strives for with all his pieces.

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The One and Only…

When it comes down to it, JOHNNY's attendance at the Met Gala makes perfect sense. Aside from being a member of one of the top boy groups globally, JOHNNY has made a name for himself as a fashion icon amongst NCTzens. From magazine spreads with his fellow members in W Korea and Vogue Korea to Instagram posts and "Fashion Evaluation" segments on the NCT Youtube channel, JOHNNY's label as a fashion king has stuck with him for most of his idol career. The Met Gala is an event that would, at its heart, be an event where JOHNNY could fit right in.

One thing is certain after such a significant moment in the idol's career—it can only go up from here for JOHNNY, and we're eager to discover what the rest of the year has in store for him. Will 2022 be the year of JOHNNY? Only time will be able to tell, but we're predicting that yes, it will be.

Can't get enough of JOHNNY? Click HERE to read our interview with JOHNNY on his beloved YouTube series, Johnny's Communication Center.