Every year, on the 1st Monday of May, I perch myself in my corner of the room and my inner fashion critic comes alive. As people strut down the carpet in their interpretation of the theme, I watch them, making notes in my head about what I think about what what they are wearing. This year, in anticipation, I made a list of my favourite MET Gala looks of all time. Also known as “fashion’s biggest night out” the MET Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and the Gala signifies the opening of the annual exhibit.
The MET Gala Theme This Year
Every year, there is a theme and the attendees ideally must follow it. This year the theme is- “In America: An Anthology of Fashion ” and it will be gilded glamour, white tie. I did my research- “Gilded Glamour” refers to the “Gilded age of New York” which was roughly around 1870 to 1890. During this era, the people had a “More is More” approach when it came to fashion and dressed up in the most extravagant and over the top styles. The rich threw over-the-top costume parties during this time, which the celebrities attending can take inspiration from. Therefore, we can expect the celebrities to show up in corsets, lavish gowns, tuxedos, feathers, hats. Bottomline: Expect drama. The theme honours the history of American fashion and is succeeded by the 2021 theme “In America- A Lexicon of Fashion.” The 2022 gala is hosted by Regina King, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Lin-Manuel Miranda while Tom Ford, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri and Anna Wintour will be honorary co-chairs.
CHER
This Cher look is one of the most talked about looks of all time. She wore Bob Mackie to the “Costumes of Royal India” Gala in 1985.
NAOMI CAMPBELL
Naomi Campbell set the tone for all supermodels with this Versace number at the 1995 Haute Couture Gala.
CHER
Cher dazzled in Bob Mackie once again at the 1974 Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Gala. Now popularly known as the “naked dress”, this look is said to be the inspiration for Kim Kardashian’s 2015 Roberto Cavalli Met look.
AMBER VALLETTA
Amber kept it glam yet edgy at the 1999 Rock Style gala. She matched the theme perfectly.
GISELE BUNDCHEN
Gisele looked all kinds of stunning attending her first Met in Versace at the 1999 Rock Style gala.
NICOLE KIDMAN
Nicole Kidman graced the steps in Gucci by Tom Ford befitting the 2003 Gala’s Goddess theme.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
Jennifer Lopez slayed in this. It was in 2015, the MET Gala theme was China Through the Looking Glass She wore Atelier Versace with Donatella as her date for the evening.
RIHANNA
This look is definitely one for the books. Rihanna looks sensational at the 2015 China Through the Looking Glass Gala wearing Chinese designer Guo Pei. Does Rihanna ever not look perfect on the Met steps? Doubtful.
LADY GAGA
The theme for 2016, Manus x Machina: Fashion in the age of Technology seemed tailor-made for Lady Gaga. She wore a leotard, a jacket made out of circuit boards and HIGHHH heels. This look was curated by Versace.
BLAKE LIVELY
The 2018 theme has to be one of my favourites. Blake Lively looked like a goddess at the 2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination Gala. She wore a Versace gown which took about 600 hours to make. The details on the dress are just incredible and she completed the look with a spiked headpiece which made her look like an actual goddess.
RIHANNA
Rihanna was the co-host of the 2018 Heavenly Bodies gala with Amal Clooney. And well- she showed up as the pope. Left all of us shook. She wore Maison Margiela at the Met for the first time with Louboutin heels.
LADY GAGA
Lady Gaga did a whole performance at the Met Steps where she presented us with 4 looks. The theme of 2019 was Camp: Notes on Fashion- and let’s be honest, Lady Gaga is the embodiment of Camp, so we didn’t expect anything less. She was the co-host of the evening, her looks were made by Brandon Maxwell, who was also a part of her performance. She won, period.
KIM KARDASHIAN
This look was so controversial- but I ABSOLUTELY love it. The vision behind this look was as if Kim just stepped out of the ocean. Designed by Thierry Mugler- the latex dress is designed in a way that accentuates her body with the tiniest waist. She wore a custom-made corset by famous corset maker Mr. Pearl to execute the illusion of a tiny waist. Camp in the most genius way possible.
Want to know everything about the MET Gala this year? We have the details here.
