Everything Awkwafina Packed to Travel to NYC for the Met Gala

In ‘Pack With Me,’ celebrities and editors give us a rundown of their travel must-haves and a few travel hacks to go along with them. For this installment, Awkwafina shared what essentials were in her suitcase for the 2024 Met Gala.

Perhaps the only thing more daunting than prepping your look for the Met Gala, is packing your suitcase for it — just ask Awkwafina. The multihyphenate certainly isn’t new to the event’s red carpet; she donned a golden Altuzarra gown in 2019 and channeled old Hollywood radiance in an embellished Gucci frock for the 2022 celebrations.

With multiple Met Gala appearances under her belt, the actress has learned a thing or two about what goes into conquering fashion’s biggest night — from the beauty prep to the design details that can make or break a look. And as someone who regularly travels between Los Angeles and New York City for work, she finally has her packing list down to a T, with a few staple products that she likes to have handy whether she’s traveling for business or pleasure.

“I enjoy using packing cubes and am obsessed with any tiny portable steamer. I [also] brought a white noise machine and heard great things about magnesium as a vitamin supplement, so I packed that too,” Awkwafina tells PS in an exclusive interview.

This year, the star collaborated with H&M on a “breathtaking” look which paid homage to the event’s theme, “The Garden of Time,” a concept borrowed from writer J.G. Ballard’s short story of the same name. “I think my dress is a bit geometric, and it kind of reminds me of a beautiful pillow,” she explains.

Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor and Head of Womenswear Design for H&M, says that the brand’s design team pulled inspiration from archival H&M looks — namely a beaded 1950s wedding gown — to create the style. “We also drew a lot of inspiration from flowers and nature, in line with this year’s gala theme, and you can see that come to life through the intricate floral embellishments featured on this gown as well as the tulip shape of the skirt,” Johansson tells PS.

Beyond her ethereal H&M gown, Awkwafina relied on a handful of product essentials to ensure her 2024 Met Gala experience went off without a hitch. From a Drunk Elephant hair mask to boob covers, keep reading for a breakdown of what the star made sure to have packed in her suitcase to travel to NYC for the big occasion.