The red carpet outside the David H. Koch Theater was a more muted affair than usual on Wednesday evening, as the New York City Ballet dancers who usually walk the carpet dressed to the nines were nowhere to be seen. Later it would emerge that the dancers were boycotting the carpet and dinner due to a lack of pay increases, as noted by the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Word had yet to reach those attending the event in the early hours of the evening, as the carpet carried on as usual. This year’s event featured the premiere of “Foreseeable Future,” choreographed by Jamar Roberts and featuring costumes by Iris Van Herpen. The designer was in attendance, and stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Fox and Nicole Ari Parker wore her designs. 

The night also featured performances of Gianna Reisen’s “Composer’s Holiday,” with costumes by Virgil Abloh of Off-White and William Forsythe’s “Herman Schmerman Pas de Deux,” with costumes by Gianni Versace.

Other guests included Hugh Dancy, Amy Sedaris and Bridget Everett, who were each gala co-chairs, and Mick Jagger, Helena Christensen, Matthew Broderick, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Olivia Palermo, Bianca Lawson, Mary Leest and more.

Van Herpen’s gowns made for quite the statement on the carpet. Parker, dressed in a flowing crimson concoction, played with the train of the dress as photographers snapped away. 

“Did you get it?” she asked, before heading inside with satisfaction. 

“Here’s my girls,” Sarah Hoover said gleefully as she spotted her favorite party photographers at the end of the carpet. 

Everett carried a clutch that read “rock” on one side and “bottom” on the other. There also were Schiaparelli eye detailing accessories and Saint Laurent thigh-high leather boots on the carpet, and many a fur shrug, including an especially pristine white number paired with an orange feathered clutch. One older woman, sparkling in a long gown, worked the carpet before collecting her cane and a Neiman’s shopping bag from a handler. And, yes, there was a tiara sighting — of course there were tiaras. Jagger practically broke into a trot down the carpet, tugging girlfriend Melanie Hamrick along.

“She’s here. She’s literally right here,” said an especially excited onlooker to her friend, having caught glimpse of Sarah Jessica Parker entering the lobby.

The founder of the Fall Fashion gala, Parker’s arrival is always the most anticipated of the evening. (This year, her reps relayed she would not be speaking to the press upon arrival.) Her Iris van Herpen wings were hard to miss on the carpet, and she was rather deft at navigating her way through the crowd and into the theater. Word is the wings were removable so she could sit and enjoy the performance.