The Fashion Olympics. The Style Super Bowl. More sports analogies. It’s the first Monday of May, and the Met Gala is here.
Fashion’s biggest night means celebrities and designers collaborating to showcase the absolute best they have to offer. It’s the red carpet to end all red carpets, and the world is watching.
This year’s theme is “Costume Art,” and the Costume Institute will be exhibiting artistic depictions of the dressed body alongside garments themselves. The dress code for the red carpet, “Fashion is Art,” encourages attendees to explore the human form as a canvas for works of art.
The carpet is set. The lights are on. The guests are arriving. Let’s do this.
Emma Chamberlain in Mugler
Wow. There’s so much I love about this Mugler dress. It looks like Chamberlain is dressed in strokes of paint, dripping off and pooling at her feet because it’s not quite dry. And she’s posed perfectly to showcase the sleeves, which really complete the illusion. Chamberlain has perfectly molded her body into a canvas for Mugler, and I see this as a harbinger of incredible things to come on tonight’s red carpet.
La La Anthony in Wiederhoeft
No one does corsetry like Wiederhoeft, and that prowess is evident in this fabulously fitted gown. The rich brown hue and detailed texture give the impression that this dress has been carved from wood, turning Anthony into an ornate figurine. The old Hollywood swoop of her bangs is also the perfect finishing touch.
Deborah Roberts in Christopher John Rogers
I have to say this look disappointed me. Roberts has had some great looks over the years, but tonight she sticks out like a sore thumb. The dress itself is fine, but I feel like it’s very casual for this event. I also couldn’t help but notice that this design is extremely similar to the jumpsuit Anne Hathaway wore on “The Late Show With Steven Colbert” back in 2022. This feels like a missed opportunity for Roberts and Rogers to show us something new. Maybe next year.
Anna Wintour in Chanel
Anna. Be serious for a minute. This is the Met Gala. I don’t even hate this look (I actually quite like it), but I am so tired of Wintour wearing slight variations of the same outfit to every single Met Gala. For someone who’s basically the face of the fashion industry, she sure doesn’t seem to be all that interested in changing things up. Maybe biggest thing “The Devil Wears Prada” got wrong was putting Miranda Priestly (famously inspired by Wintour) in interesting outfits.
Nichapat Suphap in Robert Wun
I want to like this so badly. I really do. I love Robert Wun, and in theory I love this idea, but the execution just isn’t there for me. The sculptural elements of the hands wrapped around Suphap’s bodice are cool, but the rest of the look doesn’t feel that well thought out. I think maybe the square neck, gloves and trumpet skirt just don’t really work together, and it ended up feeling disjointed.
Lena Mahfouf in Burc Akyol
This is a great example of the metallic hands concept done right. This bustier is so beautifully crafted, a work of art in and of itself, and it feels harmonious with the skirt instead of competing with it. And the skirt really is beautiful. I love a tasteful cutout, and the draping really is divine. I also love the coordinating eyeshadow. Minimalist makeup has been the trend for a while, but it’s always refreshing to see a little color.
Chase Sui Wonders in Alexander McQueen
This dress isn’t on theme, and it doesn’t really make sense for the Met Gala, but it’s very pretty. I especially expect more from McQueen, but it seems like I need to start lowering my expectations now that former Creative Director Sarah Burton has moved on to Givenchy.
Tyriq Withers in Louis Vuitton
It’s menswear, so of course my standards are low and my expectations are lower. But this look caught my eye with the embellishments across the chest and shoulders, which remind me of raindrops sparkling in the sun. I will say that Robert Wun did this before and better, but it’s still cool to see it on the red carpet.
Sam Smith in Christian Cowan
You know what? Hell yeah. I saw someone compare this look to Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove,” and if that’s not the highest praise imaginable then I don’t know what is. This look is a reference to the work of French artist and designer Erté, and I’m obsessed with the opulence of the final product. If I was a widow whose very wealthy husband had just died under mysterious circumstances, this is what I would wear to the funeral.
Naomi Osaka in Robert Wun
Oh, how I love a costume change. Osaka arrived on the red carpet in this spectacular red coat featuring several slash marks with feathers and sequins peeking out, almost as though the entire ensemble was bleeding. I loved this look on its own, but the wow factor came for me when she removed the coat to reveal this red dress decorated with crystals that crate an image of the muscles underneath, almost as though Osaka’s skin has been peeled off to reveal the jewel encrusted body inside.
Gustav Magnar in Robert Wun
This is a cool look by Robert Wun, but I don’t love how it’s presented here. The red carpet works best as a collaboration, but it seems like Magnar just kind of put it on and showed up. I wish he would have kept the sunglasses he was wearing when he arrived to speak a little to the futuristic vibe of the suit. As presented, the lack of accessories is… noticeable.
Jordan Roth in Robert Wun
Now THIS is the Robert Wun I was hoping to see. I’ve always loved these sculptural designs, but they’re not the easiest to pull off on the red carpet because, you know, they’re completely impractical. But this? This is perfect. The greige color gives this look the foreboding, ominous look it needs to really shine. The slicked back hair and nude makeup are also the perfect touch, adding just the right amount of scariness to this haunting ensemble.
Gwendoline Christie in Giles Deacon
This look, created as a collaboration between Christie and longtime partner Deacon, is truly a labor of love. The outfit is inspired by the work of British Surrealist photographer Madame Yevonde, New York poet and photographer Ira Cohen and American painter John Singer Sargent. I love the use of color and texture, and I would be remiss not to talk about the mask, which was created by British artist Gillian Wearing. It’s modeled after Christie’s own face, and it’s really just the cherry on top of the whole ensemble.
Gigi Hadid in Miu Miu
Somebody always has to show up to the Met Gala in a naked dress. I actually like this dress, but it succumbs to my number one naked dress pet peeve: visible underwear. I get the need for a bit of modesty with a dress like this, but here I feel like my eyes are instantly drawn to Hadid’s underwear because they are so glaringly out of place.
Alysa Liu in Louis Vuitton
I love Alysa Liu! I’ve loved watching her blossom as an athlete and as an artist this year, and it’s such a joy to see her on the red carpet. I was very excited earlier today when I learned that she would be a new brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, and this is a great way to begin that partnership. This dress is meant to emulate the vascular and muscular systems of the body in the deep red fabric and the elaborate ruffle, and I love how the cut of the skirt makes it feel almost like a cross-section of Liu’s body.
Hunter Schafer in Prada
Hunter Schafer never disappoints. The white panels make me think of a marble statue, and the way it’s tattered makes it seem like the real woman is breaking out from inside the statue. The look is inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Mäda Primavesi, and Schafer just looks so beautiful that I have to love it.
Sabrina Carpenter in Christian Dior
Carpenter looks absolutely incredible in this custom Dior masterpiece. The dress is made of strips of film featuring stills from, you guessed it, “Sabrina.” I’m in love with the idea of dressing up like an old Hollywood star while literally wrapped in an old Hollywood film. I don’t love the shoes, but I’ll let it slide just this once. Bravo, Sabrina.
Gracie Abrams in Chanel
A rare Chanel win. This looks like another (more subtle) Klimt reference, and I really like the way the glittering gold bodice dissolves into the softer, rosy skirt. This is a beautiful dress, and it’s on theme while still feeling very in-character for Abrams.
Hudson Williams in Balenciaga
Sign me up for 10 more years of Hudson Williams at the Met Gala. The outfit is fine, but mostly I’m obsessed with the makeup. I love the bold liner. I love the colorful eyeshadow. I don’t know why there’s eyeshadow on his ears, but honestly I love that too. More men wearing makeup, PLEASE.
Madonna in Saint Laurent
I didn’t know I needed a ghost ship sailing through and ocean of tulle on top of Madonna’s head, but I’m so glad I got it. The dress is whatever. The hat is everything.
Bad Bunny in Zara
You know what? Sure. Why not?
Chase Infiniti in Thom Browne
Teyana Taylor wore a very similar Thom Browne Dress to the Actor Awards back in March. I loved it then, but I have to say I love this colorful version even more. The bright primary colors really enhance the feel that the dress has been painted onto the body, which is perfect for tonight’s theme.
Audrey Nuna in Robert Wun
I’m a little baffled by how many people showed up in Robert Wun, but I’ll take it. The I love this look for Nuna, and it fits perfectly into the brand she’s built for herself. The black outlines on the coat and hat make the ensemble feel almost like a drawing with ink splattered on it, transforming Nuna into a designer’s sketch come to life.
Beyoncé in Olivier Rousteing
It’s been so exciting to see all the ways the human body has been highlighted tonight, and this skeletal gown on Beyoncé is truly fabulous. And who doesn’t love a train? I’m a little confused about why the rib cage extends all the way down her legs, but it’s sparkly, so whatever.
Jeremy Pope in Vivienne Westwood
I loved these jackets when I first saw them, and I’m thrilled to see that one made its way to the Met Gala. The back of the jacket is what really sells it for me. I’m intrigued by the contrast between the heavy, jewel encrusted fabric and the imagery of bare, vulnerable skin. I love that tension, and it truly does feel like this collection was made for this night.
Rachel Sennott in Marc Jacobs
I love some good color blocking, and this Memphis Group-esque design is just that. The geometric pops of neon color with the otherwise simple black silhouette are so fresh and fun, turning Sennott into an abstract painting. And the bubble gum is an excellent touch.
Heidi Klum in Mike Marino
Hell fucking yes. I will admit that this look scares me a little (a lot), but Klum’s commitment to the bit is exactly what this Met Gala needed. Marino is actually a prosthetic makeup designer, and he used latex and spandex to create this absolutely phenomenal marble statue effect. Seriously, this is so cool. Taker a closer look here.
Sabine Getty in Ashi Studio
This is definitely a standout of the night for me. The hand-painted corset is stunning on its own, but the ring on the painted hand matching the one on Getty’s real-life finger is really something else. She’s wearing a portrait of her own body, and it’s breathtaking.
Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo in Jean Paul Gaultier
Multiple looks on this carpet referenced the “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” but this one is my favorite. I love how Kuo uses this dress to turn her body into a frame to highlight this beautiful sculpture. She said she was inspired by the Japanese art of origami, and that inspiration really comes through in the wings of the dress. It’s such an elegant way of combining forms of culture into something new and unique.
Karan Johar in Manish Malhotra
I have to admit I’ve been impressed by the menswear this year, and this look in particular is truly phenomenal. It’s inspired by the work of Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma, who was known for pioneering modern Indian art by combining the European style of academic realism with Indian cultural themes. The outfit itself was created using a variety of techniques including hand-painting, quilting and embroidery. There’s so much exquisite detail here, but I think my favorite part is the portrait peeking out from behind the golden brocade on Johar’s shirt. It adds an extra dimension that really helped me to fall in love with this look. Take a closer look at the details here.
Grace Ling in Grace Ling
First of all, how badass is it to design your own look for the Met Gala? The bodice of this incredible piece was actually 3D printed and plated with platinum, and I’m so excited by all the silhouette possibilities opened up by this technique. It’s always cool to see how movement can be created in sculpture, especially with rigid materials like this. I also love the hint of sandwich styling by using the black flower Ling is holding to speak back to the black fabric of the skirt. Ling said she wanted to push technology in couture with this look, and if that’s the goal then I say this is a job well done.
Eileen Gu in Iris van Herpen
I’m so glad to see an Iris van Herpen look make its way onto this carpet. This is a designer known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in fashion, but this dress is out of the ordinary even for van Herpen. It was created using 15,000 glass bubbles, meant to represent the atomic composition of the human body: 99.9% empty space. To add some pizzazz, van Herpen didn’t stop there. Throughout the night, the dress released pressurized gas and bubbles that floated in the air around Gu, turning an already impressive look into a showstopper.
Rami Malek in Saint Laurent
I don’t particularly like this look, but I’m including it because it made me laugh. What was so funny, you ask? When I first saw this outfit, I was wondering why Malek looked like a Bond villain. Then I remembered that he IS a Bond villain. He portrayed bioterrorist and evil scientist Lyutsifer Safin in 2021’s “No Time to Die.” So that’s kind of funny, I guess.
Jen Rubio in Ashi Studio
I want to love this, and it really is beautiful, but unfortunately I feel like the originality is missing here. Taylor Russell wore a really similar look with a wooden bodice and draped white skirt at the 2024 Met Gala, designed by Loewe. While normally I love a callback, I feel like the short time between the original design and this one make this less of a tribute and more of a copy. Ultimately, that cheapens the look for me.
Rachel Zegler in Prabal Gurung
If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love Rachel Zegler. This look references Paul Delaroche’s “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey,” and it’s so wonderfully appropriate for Zegler. She’s been crucified by the court of public opinion for basically as long as she’s been in the public eye, and I love to see her persist and continue to create art while standing up for what she believes in.
Two days after the Met Gala, I’m finally done with my coverage. Maybe next year my school will reconsider giving me finals during Met Gala season. For those of you who stuck around, thank you so much, and I hope you enjoyed seeing what I had to say about fashion’s biggest night. More posts are coming soon!
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