Wayman Bannerman, Micah McDonald Dish on Met Gala, Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

Keeping up with styling team Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald (aka Wayman + Micah) is a full-time job. The power duo, who celebrated a milestone 10th anniversary last year of working in tandem, just wrapped another whirlwind Met Gala at which high-profile clients like Colman Domingo (one of the night’s co-chairs), Danielle Deadwyler, Taraji P. Henson and Regina King made a stylish splash. The pair partnered with the new tech-savvy Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses during their styling session to capture exclusive behind-the-scenes content. The Hollywood Reporter managed to catch up with the two in advance of Monday’s hectic fashion blitz to hear more about why, how it worked and what their clients had to say about it.

Hi guys, first of all congratulations on the Daily Front Row men’s stylist of the year award last week, and nice to see you at the gala. Seems like a perfect segue to jump into the Met Gala and a theme of “Tailored for You.” How are you holding up just hours before the Met?

MICAH MCDONALD Thank you! It was such a full circle moment to win such an amazing award when we used to vision board about being in these spaces. We love Da’Vine and we appreciate her so much for presenting it to us. As far as the Met, we’re excited for the day that we’ve been planning and working towards for a couple of months.

Tell me about this partnership with the tech-savvy Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Why did you take this on amid a hectic styling day?

WAYMAN BANNERMAN We thought it made sense, because of how chaotic the day will be. For an event like the Met, we’re running around from room to room ensuring our clients have everything they need, so it’s helpful to use the Ray-Ban Meta glasses to stay hands-free. We’re taking notes and coordinating with our extensive team, while in the midst of final adjustments.

How do you use the Ray-Ban Meta glasses to your benefit while styling for this year’s Met Gala?

BANNERMAN The glasses are helpful for communication and staying organized. We like to stay in contact with our wider team using hands-free calling while capturing the design process and moments that we want to come back to with the camera, or Meta AI assistant.

What’s your favorite feature?

MCDONALD The camera is definitely our favorite feature. It’s super helpful for us to be able to take a picture hands-free that we can reference later or to share on social media in real-time.

What do clients think?

MCDONALD Clients love them. As people in the fashion industry, we and our clients appreciate a good design, and everyone comments on how stylish the lenses are.

What’s the best way to style the Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses if you were to incorporate them into an outfit for yourself or a client?

BANNERMAN The glasses are so stylish and classic, they can really be worn with everything. We like to keep it simple and pair them with a well-fitted jean and a simple T-shirt. Or, throw on your favorite statement piece and level up the look with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

How late do you plan to be out at the Met Gala after parties? Is there a curfew for either of you?

MCDONALD Never heard of a curfew before, actually.