Because who isn't an expert in fashion nowadays?
In last year’s Met Gala ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’, there was one look in particular on the Met Gala red carpet that brought everyone to a halt and rightfully so. Iman stole the show with her striking gold look by Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reed. Exploding like a firework from her headband, Iman’s gold foil-painted headdress is quite the statement hat, and gives the impression of a sun; a motif that extends to the bottom half of her outfit as she wears a completely handmade crinoline. Underneath her tiered skirt, Iman wore a gold leaf-printed corset with flares. Reed describes how the look focused on “the idea of a ballroom scene” and “the idea of her being a Queen.” For her first time at the Met, Iman’s glowing look will most definitely go down as one of the most memorable.
The theme of the 2019 Met Gala was Camp: Notes on Fashion – a theme which I thought was beautifully embodied by Janelle Monae’s abstract look. Collaborating with Christian Siriano, this blinking-eye, custom dress was inspired by Monae's favourite artist, Picasso. Janelle particularly wanted “to highlight Picasso’s African Period in the early 1900s”, when the painter took inspiration from tribal masks to create his fragmented portraits. The colour palette was primarily black and white with a distinct pop of pink, and it had a fragmented red lip on the balloon-shaped skirt of the dress. Most notably, there was a robotic eye on Monae's top that blinked as she walked down the carpet. However, the part of the look which particularly won me over was the towering stack of hats arranged on Monae's head. I appreciate the fluidity that Monae brought to the red carpet with the duality of the masculine and the feminine within the look.
I appreciate the fluidity that Monae brought to the red carpet with the duality of the masculine and feminine within her look
When discussing Met Gala favourites, it’s difficult not to name all the looks from the 2018 Met Gala – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. That year was a particular favourite amongst many and people have aligned their expectations of this year’s Gala with the 2018 Met Gala. Zendaya’s Joan of Arc look from that year was one of my personal favourites. Dressed as one of Catholicism’s most famed icons, her custom, metallic gown was made by Versace, and featured an armoured neck and shoulder piece and a spiked belt. Draped in glittering chainmail, she also wore a cropped wig in the style of Joan of Arc’s famous bob. Despite this look being argued as slightly more minimalistic compared to Zendaya’s other Met Gala looks, I enjoyed her imitation of the famous heroine that undoubtedly channelled the theme perfectly.
Another look that stood out for me from 2018’s Met Gala was Blake Lively’s grand, regal ensemble. Also created by Versace, Lively wore a crimson gown with gold embroidery and an intricately beaded corset. Along with the bejewelled straps and an extra-long train, this dress, made by hand, took over six-hundred hours to create. With my apparent love for headpieces, I particularly enjoyed the golden spiked headpiece too, which took the form of a halo, giving the impression of an angel. Attention to detail is key when it came to this look, as Lively’s rhinestone-embellished clutch handbag had scenes depicted on each side. On the front, there was ‘sacred heart’ iconography behind a veiled woman, which was very in tune with the theme, and on the back, was a mediaeval family crest, which read ‘Reynolds’ – adorable.
Along with the bejewelled straps and an extra-long train, this dress took over six-hundred hours to create
Last but not least, this list would not be complete without mentioning Rihanna’s red carpet winning statement look from the 2015 Met Gala’s China: Through The Looking Glass. Designed by Chinese couturier Guo Pei, Rihanna’s vibrant, yellow cape gown, weighing fifty-five pounds, was fur-trimmed and embroidered with gold thread. Encapsulating the theme, Rihanna also wore a matching, golden headpiece by Pei that imitated the Chinese dragon. Supposedly, the original look included a corset and shoes, but Rihanna chose not to wear those and Pei said “the cape should be enough” – and it certainly was.