Billie Eilish Met Gala
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Finneas O’Connell and Billie Eilish attend 2021 Costume Institute Benefit – In America: A Lexicon of Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

This week Billie Eilish stepped onto the red carpet at the Met Gala as one of the event’s youngest ever co-chairs. As such, we always knew the 19-year-old singer would spare no expense for her look which paid homage to her favorite childhood past time, holiday barbie. But what we didn’t know about the custom Oscar de la Renta gown was that Eilish struck an important deal with the directors.

While the New York-based brand hasn’t sent fur down the runway for some time, it does sell the luxury item in its boutiques. According to the New York Times, Creative Directors Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim didn’t find it “chic, modern or relevant” for shows. But it did account for a “meaningful amount of sales and profit,” Oscar de la Renta’s Chief Executive Officer Alex Bolen told the publication.

Billie Eilish
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Billie Eilish attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images For The Met Museum/Vogue)

The “Happier Than Ever” artist has been vegan for seven years. She has long been an activist for animals and thus asked the brand to go fur free if she was to wear a custom gown.

“Thank you @oscardelarenta for designing this BEAUTIFUL dress and bringing my ideas and vision to life,” Eilish wrote to Instagram following the event. “it was an honor to wear this dress knowing that going forward oscar de la renta will be completely fur-free!!!!” she wrote on Instagram after the Met Gala red carpet.

She continued, “i am beyond thrilled that @fernandogarciam1205 and @tokibunbun and the entire team heard me on this issue, and have now made a change that makes an impact for the greater good, not only for animals but also for our planet and environment too. i’m honored to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter. i urge all designers to do the same.”

This was Eilish’s first involvement in the Met Gala. Speaking to Vogue on the red carpet she admitted she always wanted to attend but fought insecurities.

“It just was time,” the singer said. “It was time for this, and I feel like I’ve grown so much in the last few years.

“I’ve always wanted to do this. I was just scared and didn’t feel comfortable in my skin and I feel like I finally did.”

 

Panoramic footage: Getty Images Video