Ahh the Met Gala, the fashion event and party of the year. For celebrities it’s a time to walk the entrance in extraordinary outfits designed specifically for this occasion. For us regulars, it’s a time for us to judge said celebrities and outfits. It’s a win for everybody.
When talking about it to a friend recently, they asked what the purpose of the event was, why it actually happened if it wasn’t an award ceremony. The Met Gala is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
“It was once a free-standing museum, but when it merged with the Met in 1946, part of the deal was that the Costume Institute would have to pay for itself. It is the only curatorial department in the museum where that is true. Hence the gala, which raises all the funds for the institute’s operating budget.” – Venessa Friedman, The Show, New York Times, 2024
While it might seem like an extravagant, over the top event, it is crucial to the operation of the Costume Institute which supports the art of fashion. Many people still roll their eyes at the concept that fashion can be art but if you look at some of the ensembles that these celebrities were wrapped in, you can see they are clearly works of art. Using different mediums, textures, colors, and cuts to create unique looks.
Now onto the fun part, here are some of the looks that stood out to me. These were ones that I thought were extraordinary. They captured my attention and kept it. In the sea of images that I scrolled through last night and this morning, these were the looks that stopped me in my tracks so I looked closer. Made me feel something or question something or simply smile. If that’s not art I don’t know what is.
Taylor Russell in Loewe – This was the very first look that caught my eye, I couldn’t stop staring at it. The wood-like bodice with the delicate floral detail and the white skirt draped below. It fell gracefully, allowing a small window for a leg to peek through. Taylor’s skin tone paired seamlessly with the color and tone of the top piece and her shoulders and arms looked powerful framing the outfit.
Tyla in Balmain – Are you kidding me? Tyla was dressed in sand but my goodness did she pull it off. I can’t come up with the words to properly convey this look, you’ll just have to search the image and see it for yourself. Love it or hate it, you won’t be disappointed.
Dakota Fanning in Balmain – I mean, just ethereal. The material of that dress made it look like she was draped in translucent silk that was somehow also wet. Dakota’s skin was glowing, the dress was glowing, her makeup and hair were simple but perfect. She looked like Snow White if Snow White was also an Ice Queen.
Lana Del Rey in Alexander McQueen – This outfit embraced the meaning of the Gala’s theme without making it too “Disney”. It was fairytale but in a dark, ominous way.
Zendaya in Vintage Givenchy by John Galliano – No explanation needed. You don’t even need to see pictures to know she killed it. In both her looks.
Colman Domingo in Willy Chavarria – Suave. Elegant. Handsome. Sharp. Fabulous. Regal. I could stare at this forever. This is not out of the ordinary for Colman Domingo who consistently shows up to events in awe inspiring looks.
Kendall Jenner in Vintage Givenchy – Kendall looked incredible. The dress wasn’t big or show-stopping but it fit her like a glove and it was all in the details for me. The stiff fabric around the neck and the shoulders along with the delicate design of the neckline, the tassels that draped the arms and the little “V” of skin below the waist. *Chef’s Kiss* She looked like a modern day sorceress.
Alton Mason in Thom Browne – My jaw dropped when I saw this look but I will admit, it was less about the outfit and more about the person wearing it. Alton looked gorgeous and almost unreal.
Harris Reed in Harris Reed – They looked like a goddess draped in gorgeous Baroque tapestry with a matching head piece. This is another one that I feel like I can’t properly put into words.
Honorable Mentions:
Gwendoline Christie’s Cape – This was absolutely fabulous and if I had a cape like that I would wear it over everything and to everywhere. Brunch. Gym. Work. Grocery Store. Need to feel instantly sophisticated? Put on this floor length, black, mesh, Snow-White-esque cape. Stunning.
Kim Kardashian’s Sweater – Kim’s outfit looked fantastic, wearing a corset that made my insides hurt just looking at it. Then, she wore a sweater over it? Admittedly, I am a little confused by the sweater. It just looks like a gray cardigan that you would pick up at H&M. The concept isn’t crazy, when Kim wore Marilyn Monroe’s dress for the 2022 Met Gala, it wouldn’t zip all the way so she covered it with a fur shawl. It worked well and went along with the look and theme of the outfit. So it might be a similar situation this year but the choice of cover up confused me a little.