The just ended Met Gala is fashion’s big night out and celebrities are known for saving their most striking outfits for its often-theatrical red carpet.
Stars across industries including TV, film, politics, and sport did not disappoint, bringing exaggerated gowns, elegant accessories, and moments of drama to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
On a normal day, the event would have taken place after a year. However, due to pandemic-related rescheduling, it meant that it had been less than eight months since the annual fundraiser was last held. This gave designers less time to think about the event’s dress code, ‘Gilded Glamour and White Tie’. Per some reports, the theme continued 2021’s exploration of American style, ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion’, and many attendees took direct inspiration from the Gilded Age, an era that saw America transformed at the end of the 19th century.
At a press event before the gala, First Lady Jill Biden used her opening remarks to emphasize American design’s rich and deep history.
“It is a story of innovation and ingenuity, of rebellion and renewal,” Jill Biden said. “It has often been written by those in the shadows, not recognized for their influence and art, but here at the Met their stories are told”.
Several guests chose to pay homage to the historical theme with vintage jewelry, per reports. Actress Tommy Dorfman, YouTuber Emma Chamberlain, and Vogue magazine’s Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles were among the celebrities who accessorized with vintage tiaras.
Gala co-host, Blake Lively, also paid tribute to New York City’s Gilded Age architecture. With the assistance of several helpers, she undid the enormous bow of her shimmering Versace gown, unveiling a hidden train in an aged copper color inspired by the patina of the Statue of Liberty.
Prior to the event, American designer, Tommy Hilfiger, told local media that the event offered designers a chance to “showcase their unique interpretations of fashion and pop culture”.
“The Met Gala is all about having an open mind and thinking outside the box,” says Hilfiger.
Former Yeezy designer, Maisie Schloss, who now runs her own LA-based label Maisie Wilen, said the fundraiser’s combination of high fashion and mainstream appeal makes it a unique red carpet.
“The events embraced by industry insiders and the masses alike allow for peak creativity”, Maisie said.
Some Best Dressed Celebrities at Met Gala 2022
Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress, the one she famously sang ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ at John F. Kennedy’s birthday fundraiser in 1962. Pete Davidson kept things simple in a suit and sunglasses.
Billie Eilish stunned in an upcycled Gucci dress with a corseted bodice and sheer sea-foam-hued gloved sleeves. Every part of the dress was made from “already existing materials” she said, nodding to its eco-friendly design.
Actors, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds embraced the theme, with Lively in a glittering Versace beaded gown with an oversized coppery satin bow and matching gloves, and Reynolds in a classic tuxedo.
Kylie Jenner gave her bridal gown a streetwear twist with a veil covering her backward baseball cap. The outfit was designed by Off-White’s late founder Virgil Abloh.
Actor, Louisa Jacobson is no stranger to the theme. She was in HBO show ‘The Gilded Age’, which premiered earlier this year.
Emma Chamberlain in a cropped, two-piece look with a modernized nod to 19th-century tailoring.
With her outfit and jewelry both designed by Louis Vuitton, actress, Gemma Chan arrived in a crystal-embellished leather cape and a dress with theatrically exaggerated hips.
While many celebrities opted for tiaras, singer, Janelle Monáe went for a full glimmering gown with a full blinged-out headpiece and matching wrist cuffs.
Winnie Harlow and Teyana Taylor dazzled in Iris van Herpen ensembles and headpieces. Harlow opted for a black-and-white sculptural dress, while Taylor wore a gauzy purple gown. Taylor told Vogue on the red carpet that it was a futuristic take on the “Gilded Glamour” theme but also like the villain Ursula from ‘The Little Mermaid’.
Hillary Clinton wore a custom Joseph Altuzarra design featuring the embroidered names of 60 women who inspire her, from Rosa Parks to her own mother.
Elon Musk arrived in Tom Ford with his mother, the model Maye Musk, who was wearing Dior.
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