Everyone knows the MET Gala is something like a celebrity prom; singers, actors and I suppose anyone with enough buzz will be in attendance and the internet is the ultimate judge of the night. The formal name of the event is the Costume Institute Gala and it is a fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Each year’s event celebrates the theme of that year’s Costume Institute exhibition, and the exhibition sets the tone for the formal dress of the night, since guests are expected to choose their fashion to match the theme of the exhibit. This year’s theme collected some confusion as it was Camp: Notes on Fashion. This meant exaggerated fashion, which makes sense considering the looks that stars debuted.
Expect to see a truly outrageous and over-the-top red carpet this year. The theme of the Met’s 2019 Costume Exhibition is “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” No, not camp as in sleeping bags and tents, but camp as in exaggerated fashion. The exhibit is inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay that defines camp as “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.”
Camp fashion can be humorous, ironic, or simply extreme in its nature.“We are going through an extreme camp moment, and it felt very relevant to the cultural conversation to look at what is often dismissed as empty frivolity but can be actually a very sophisticated and powerful political tool, especially for marginalized cultures,” Andrew Bolton, Costume Institute curator, told the Times. “Whether it’s pop camp, queer camp, high camp or political camp — Trump is a very camp figure — I think it’s very timely.”
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a23695711/met-gala-2019-theme/
The inside exhibition this year featured over 200 pieces of fashion, along with sculptures, paintings, and drawings from the 17th century through today. The works of designers from Virgil Abloh to Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Rei Kawakubo, Mugler, Bob Mackie, Karl Lagerfeld, and more will be featured in the exhibit. Fresh off the Couture Week runways, the Viktor & Rolf slogan couture gowns that sparked an endless stream of memes were also on display.
But the normal public comes, and truly only sees, the red carpet and after party. I have put my together my list of THIRTEEN red carpet looks (picking ten was simply too hard) which are phenomenal in their own right. Regardless of theme relevancy. This list is not in any specific order, I tried but gave up on numbering them that way.
Elle Fanning
First and foremost, the fact that Elle Fanning is 21 makes me feel old. Elle was styled in Miu Miu with nails by Mar y Soul and vintage charms from E Village Vintage Collective. Sis showed out and had fun with her look! I adore the nail chains, and actually everything else about it.
Janet Mock
There was a rather lot of looks that incorporated feathers and icy tones but few rocked it as well as Janet Mock. The Pose actress was wearing a custom Alberta Ferretti embroidered silver paillette gown with a plunging neckline, hand painted feather embellished shoulders and train. To die for!
Jared Leto
Although I am superbly disappointed there is no Lana Del Rey in tow I guess only a Gucci replica head would be a sufficient enough date to replace her. Leto is wearing a Gucci hammered matte satin tunic with padded shoulders, front ruffle and body accessory with crystals, lame trousers, tulle gloves with crystal embroidery and bracelets with aged palladium finish and crystals.
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae had all eyes on her not only for the gorgeous Christian Siriano gown but also for the literal winking eye attached to her. So on theme and “eye-catching”! That is the ultimate top hat. Can we take a moment for the sliver of toned chocolate peeking out?
Hailey Bieber
I love this look. I am on a current pink phase and she hit the nail on the head. Hailey was styled by Alexander Wang, as evident by the logo thong. Her makeup is flawless and she is giving subtle Barbie vibes. Bieber didn’t go crazy with theme but I didn’t expect her to anyways. Still a 10/10.
Laverne Cox
HunTYY! That’s truly what this image screams at me. Not one bit shocked at how hard Laverne came last night for her first ever MET Gala. She is truly drop dead and showing other attendees how to wear all black and not look boring. Giving me allllll the drama in a custom Christian Siriano gown and headpiece by Rinaldy Yunardi.
Lily Rose-Depp
I will probably get some backlash for adding her to this list but tell me she doesn’t look amazing?! I love how Lily seems to have adapted a “less is more” mentality when it comes to her style. She is a year-long fashion icon for me and MET was no different. Her archival early ’90s Chanel dress was pulled together with over the top ’90s makeup by Nina Park.
Bella Hadid
If you know me, you could have guessed no matter the wear Bella Hadid was going to make my personal list. It certainly helps that she sparkled in Moschino by Jeremy Scott with her silver embellished and gem covered matching gloves and teardrop emerald earrings. Timeless elegance.
Lupita Nyong’o
I love the vibrancy of this look. Lupita is a bombshell reppin’ for all us chocolate girls and I love to see her win. She was styled in an Atelier Versace macrame column dress constructed from leather stars embroidered by hand with fuchsia-tone crystals. Her hair and purse are both adorned with golden picks. I love the way in which this ensemble was put together and I don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off.
Ciara
Is it just me or is Ciara coming for 2019? She’s been on my radar quite frequently and she simply killed last night. With an afro that touched the Heavens one was reminiscent of Diana Ross and completely in awe of Ciara. Dripped in Emeralds, she wore a custom Peter Dundas emerald green gown complete with cut-outs and lined with hundreds of ostrich feathers.
Lily Collins
I am in love with this look. I am a Lily Collins fan anyways, and we should not be surprised remembering just how on point she came to MET in 2018. Lily herself captioned “More is More is More” and this look was exactly that. Styled in a Giambattista Valli Haute Couture 16 silk gown and heels with new Cartier High Jewelry Ms. Collins is a dream. Her look is an ode to Priscilla Presley done justice.
Kendall & Kylie Jenner
I struggle with the Kardashian/Jenner clan but I can’t deny these two killed their look which Kendall hinted was inspired by Cinderella’s step sisters going to the ball. Kendall is elegance and grace, as usual, standing vividly in orange with the night’s feather trend while Kylie is a cool compliment but nevertheless stunning. Versace commented the Atelier gowns the pair wore took nearly two months to complete and included Swarovski crystal embroidery and feather trims applied by hand.
Zendaya
Our Cinderella. I love a good fairytale and the show in which Law Roach, her fairy ‘GodBruva’ and Cinderella put on was enchanting. Her dress literally lit up when her long-time stylist waved his magic wand around her in a bippity-boppity-bop moment. Zendaya’s Cinderella scene, according to Roach, is a last hoorah as it is the “last time people will identify her as Disney princess” in anticipation of a new type of role for her debuting in June; a gritty teen drama titled Euphoria.
It was so hard for me to select these thirteen looks, as there are so many fabulous ones. As you can tell this is reflective of my taste and not of the overall theme. I do enjoy noting who follows the theme but on theme doesn’t automatically translate to my style. Let me know what were your favorite moments on the pink carpet and whether or not you agree with my list.