Daily Mail
Met Gala 2019: Bette Midler, 73, pays homage to her character from Hocus Pocus in a green sequinned gown as she arrives with daughter Sophie Von Haselberg
By LAURA FOX
PUBLISHED: 7 May 2019
Susan Sontag’s “Notes On Camp” Was The Theme. Research Involved Camp Icons, Bette Midler, Cher, Diana Ross, Elton John, And Liberace
American actor Bette Midler receives an “Entertainer of the Year” award at the Conference of Personal Managers West, alongside musician Liberace (1919 – 1987) and actor Charlene Tilton, November 1980.(Photo by Fotos International/Getty Images)
Mister D Disagrees With Fashion Writers And Bette’s Designer Looks
Mister D: I’m sorry and may be totally off base when I first saw the photos of Bette Midler and Sophie von Haselberg, I did not think of Winnefred Sanderson at all. Bette and Sophie came together and I personally thought they made a statement within the first split second I saw. them. Bette was even incited as an icon of camp.
What I saw right away were bookends to her career so far. Bette’s get up reminded me of a more over the top version of herself in the ’70s. I kept seeing her on the Grammy’s in 1974 in that black stolen gown of Cher’s that she bragged about. And every once in a while I saw Mary Rose Foster, but I really didn’t think that was what she was going for. Sophie, automatically, reminded me of a hopped up version of Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly! It just made sense to me. I guess I could write to Jill and test out my hunch, but my interpretation makes so much more sense than the hocus pocus of what the fashion journalists came up with.
I never once saw Winifred Sanderson in the look, plus it just left Sophie out of the equation. I know I’m getting older, but I usually get my hunches about Bette Midler right. In fact, I may have to write. Maybe they weren’t working as a team, but I guarantee you it was no update of Mother Sanderson.
And On To The Fashion Journalists
Bette Midler paid homage to her character from Hocus Pocus at the 2019 Met Gala, as she walked the red carpet for the star-studded event on Monday.
The actress, 73, threw it back to her iconic role in a gorgeous green sequinned gown and matching butterfly headdress, as she arrived with daughter Sophie Von Haselberg, 32.
Bette famously played the witch Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson in 1993’s Hocus Pocus alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, and the film has gone onto becoming a Halloween cult classic.
We’re here! Ahead of the glamorous occasion, Bette made a dramatic exit from the Pierre Hotel
Arriving At The Met Gala
As she arrived for the lavish fashion celebration, Bette displayed her ageless beauty in a statement black sequinned dress with intricate butterfly detailing.
Styling her copper tresses into corkscrew curls, the iconic actress finished her look with the intricate headdress, perfectly embodying the gala’s ‘camp’ theme.
For many die-hard fans, the look hearkened back to her famous role in Hocus Pocus, which saw her play one of three sisters, who try to out-smart a teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts.
Throwback: The look was a dead ringer for her character Winnie in the 1993 film.
Bette’s daughter Sophie also embraced the Gala’s camp theme with an amazing flame sequinned gown, along with an enormous matching headdress.
Once inside the event, the pair rubbed shoulders with the legendary actress Joan Collins, who dressed as her own character Alexis Carrington from the TV series Dynasty.
The Met Gala is the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and is the most glittery and exclusive event on the New York fashion calendar.
Mister D: Especially in her early days, Katy Perry had a campy side to her with big helping of humor. I had thought she was really influenced by Midler. Not so much today/
It is famous for attracting luminaries of Hollywood, of fashion, music, sports, TV and the stage for an evening of fashion and charity to mark the museum’s spring exhibit.
This year, the exhibit and gala are dedicated to the idea of ‘camp,’ as defined by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay Notes on ‘Camp.’
The Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit, is always chaired by a team of high-wattage celebrities, and this year was no exception.
Mister D: After that it was off to the after parties. I think Lady Gaga was outside still changing into different costumes until she realized the party had moved on!
The 1st After Party: Hosted by Gucci’s Alessandro Michele
Mister D: Thought I’d throw down a little gallery of some that attended the Gucci party which was held at a gymnasium. I’m sure the rich and famous got a kick out of that!
Must have brought back memories of stale jockstraps and deodorized tampons. Ah! The good ole days!
Everybody was kung-fu fighting! 
Dakota Fanning, Jared Leto and his severed head, and Alessandro Michele 
Harry Styles, supposedly showed up in sheer black exposing his nipples! OMG 
Katy Perry 
Miley Cyrus, Rami Malek, and Demi Moore 
Elizabeth Olsen 
Lupita Nyong’o
Michael Kors and Tiffany Haddish 
Trevor Noah 
Billy Porter 
Miss M meet the new Miss M
Mister D: More To Come In The Next Post >>> Michael Kors Party! Ain’t This Exciting!
I think if anything it kinda resembled Oh Industry type look, the hat and CC wig. Haha.
I agree with you Don, “Hocus Pocus” never even entered my mind. I had no idea Bette was even there or anything about this event this year and when I first saw the picture with Sophie it remidned me of Bette circa “Beaches” look, on Bette, not Sophie. They both look great and Sophie seems to be having fun!
You can vote for Bette’s look on Billboard Magazine’s survey/poll. I also thought the Hocus Pocus connection was a head-scratcher. Bette’s locks reminded me more of Bernadette Peters, and OMG, the thousands of hours it took to put together Bette’s and Sophie’s fashion gowns is amazing. This year’s Met event may have topped the list in outrageousness, with its camp theme. This had to be a fun time for all.
https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/8510473/met-gala-2019-fashion-poll-musicians