The Met Gala is an annual, invite-only fundraising gala for the Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City; however, the gala is not known for its fundraising. Rather, the Met Gala is notorious for its dazzling fashion, often showcasing stylistic risks taken by celebrities to stand out. These fashion statements can range from iconic to devastating, and this year was no different. The theme of this year’s Met Gala was “Costume Art”, and the guests delivered. Therefore, let’s take a look at which ones stood out.
Emma Chamberlain
Chamberlain wore Mugler this year with a beautiful, multicolored ruffle dress. The dress was inspired by previous Mugler dresses, and—while thoughtful—missed an opportunity to take inspiration from a non-fashion art installation, which could have been a creative venture. Otherwise, the dress was mesmerizing, and the hand-painted ruffles gave the illusion of a beautiful pool of paint.
Lisa (BLACKPINK)
Lisa’s dress was one of my personal favorites from the Met Gala. The artistic addition of two 3D-molded arms perfectly encapsulates this year’s theme, elevating the look from an outfit to an artistic statement. The arms themselves could easily have made the look seem cheap or mannequin-esque; however, their fluid, natural movement created an elegant surrealist ensemble. Lisa could’ve easily stopped here, given the elegance the dress had already received, yet that was only the beginning. Resting upon the arms lay a beautifully embellished veil that perfectly brought the look together, pulling attention back to the equally embellished dress.
Nicole Kidman
Kidman’s look at this year’s Met Gala also stood out, but not for the reason most celebrities aspire for. With this year’s theme centered on art, most viewers expected thought-out and layered looks, which cannot be said for Kidman’s ensemble. The dress managed to be both oversimplified and tacky. Donning a head-to- toe sparkly maroon flared body-con dress, Kidman looked out of place on the red carpet. What really made her stand out from the crowd was the eye-catching bush of fiery red feathers that consumed her waist and wrist with a vengeful hunger. Especially in addition to her high-collared dress, it seemed that her dress was about to swallow her whole.
SZA
SZA brought exactly the presence all Met Gala viewers were looking for this year. Not only did she meet the theme, but she exceeded all expectations. SZA was dressed in a floor-length, vibrant yellow dress that was adorned with white gemstones and beautifully embellished flowers, particularly in her bodice. As stunning as her dress was, the highlight of her look was far more intricate. Her intricate headdress was dripping with flowers and seashells, pulling together the entire outfit while still being the crowning piece. It’s merely impossible to look at SZA on the carpet without feeling as though you’re watching an art piece come to life.
This year’s Met Gala presented a variety of looks, ranging from alarmingly red bushes of feathers to angelically embellished pieces of art. The best part of this variety, especially pertaining to this year’s dress code, comes from the root of art. There is no specific rubric that defines “good” art. Therefore, including a variety of perspectives regarding art allows a diverse reflection of personal thought and human autonomy that spills onto the Met carpet.
