Remember When We Got Ready with Mary J. Blige?

There’s a small handful of dream scenarios that just kind of scream “Oscar night.” The type that truly captures the idea of real, unabashed Hollywood glamour. Like getting ready with Mary J. Blige as she preps for the Vanity Fair Oscar party at a lush gardenside suite at Hotel Bel Air. Yeah, pretty sure the sounds of that fit the bill juuuuust right.

It all went down something like this: We arrived to Blige (we were posted up on the red carpet for the night, but we collaborated with David X Prutting of BFA to capture the entire thing) cozied up in a fluffy white Bel Air robe, herbal tea in hand. Hairstylist Kim Kimble put the last few finishing touches on her slicked-back blonde bob, and makeup artist D’Andre Michael finished her off with a little NYX (it’s good stuff, guys) setting spray. And while Blige’s stylist, Maeve Reilly, came equipped with no shortage of sparkly, spangly options, Mary went straight for the most classic choice on the rack: a form-fitting, full-length black gown with intricate embroidery trailing each side and a blinged-out neckline by Stella McCartney. Because of course.

Once the dress was sorted (phew), it was all down to the details. After slipping into a pair of strappy Alaïas, we watched as Blige’s fire-engine red nails trailed her jewelry options before settling on a Pasquale Bruni necklace, Casa Reale earrings and ring, and Loriblu clutch. Nailed it. And with that, she was out the door, into her limo, and off to one of the biggest nights of the year in Hollywood. See? Dreamy.