The crowning jewel of the evening's decor, the 30-foot-high floriated centerpiece created by gala designer Raul Avila and his army of staffers evoked the evening’s theme. The structure was inspired by a jeweled tiara, "the most striking component of the Pope's ensemble," said Avila, that once belonged to Pope Pius IX.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty Images for the Met Museum/Vogue
Made up of 80,000 roses, the soaring floral display echoed the papal headpiece's gilded metal work with roses in gold and off-white. The flowers at the top of the crown are faux silk blooms, which were used to reduce the total weight of the 4,000-pound structure. The triple-tiered tiara also boasted faceted Plexiglas "jewels" that resembled rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
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Large, antique-gold candelabras with 24- and 48-inch-tall candles fitted with battery-powered bulbs flickered on the Great Hall stairs; some 70 candlesticks in three-armed candelabras lined the steps. The ethereal setting served as the backdrop to this year's receiving line.
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