May 13, 2026
Paige Haehlke
Lara Winkler ’16 leads Vogue x eBay Met Gala partnership that dressed SZA
In her role as the Director of Global Production and Account Management for Condé Nast, Lara Winkler ’16 led the partnership between Vogue and eBay for the Met Gala that dressed 10 attendees—one of whom included singer-songwriter SZA.
The Met Gala is an annual, invitation-only charity gala held on the first Monday in May to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. It’s known to be one of fashion’s biggest cultural moments.
This marked Winkler’s sixth year working on Met Gala partnerships and her fourth with eBay. The Vogue x eBay Met Gala partnership included dressing 10 gala attendees in eBay-sourced accessories or custom looks. Attendees involved in the partnership include singer-songwriter SZA, supermodel Paloma Elsesser, fashion influencer Wisdom Kaye, designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla, and more.
Vogue documented the full creative journey of making SZA’s Met Gala look, from early design ideation and fittings through getting ready for the gala. Designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla collaborated with Vogue and eBay in creating SZA’s look.
Photos taken by Bucci.
For Winkler’s part, she oversaw the development and execution of the content across creative, production, partnerships, and client management. She assembled and led the cross-functional team responsible for bringing the project to life, touching every element from creative direction and scripting to verbal messaging guidance for red carpet interviews.
“I’m passionate about projects that combine storytelling with innovation,” Winkler said. “Through this partnership, we weren’t just creating content; we were shaping how audiences think about fashion, sustainability, and luxury through the lens of pre-loved, vintage, and archival fashion. Seeing an idea evolve from early creative conversations into a live experience watched by millions is incredibly rewarding.”
Winkler majored in business and communication at the College, and balancing her coursework with other responsibilities like student organizations and part-time jobs prepared her for the high-pressure and fast-paced career she now excels in.
“One of the biggest advantages of a liberal arts education is learning how to think critically, communicate clearly, and navigate a variety of perspectives and disciplines, all of which directly translate into the work I do every day,” Winkler explained.
Right: Photo taken by Bucci. Left: Photo taken by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
Celebrating her 10th class reunion at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, 2026, Winkler is excited to connect with fellow Foresters and share additional stories from her work with Condé Nast and the Met Gala.
Read more about and watch behind-the-scenes videos covering the Vogue x eBay Met Gala partnership: