From the *little bit* gilded to the *little bit* glamorous, we rank the most-discussed looks from this year’s Met Gala
At this year’s Met Gala, Kim Kardashian was styled in a nude-illusion gown last worn by Marilyn Monroe six decades ago. Worth 4.8 million dollars, the piece served as a potent analogy for Gilded Glamour, with the billionaire mogul wielding her own status to make the seemingly impossible-to-source possible. But, by leaning into the parallels that contemporary culture has often drawn between the two bombshells and their lionised physiques, Kim only underscored their differences.
The image of Marilyn Monroe endures for reasons beyond her hourglass shape and hypersexualised celebrity – she codified the archetype of a tragic superstar, her “dumb blonde” exterior a thin veil for a tormentuous inner world. To assume her legacy as a ploy for the red carpet felt like a flattening. As the glossies have reported, Kim lost 16 pounds so that she could fit into the dress while leaving it unaltered, only to snatch the silhouette and dial-up the diamonds in an accompanying photoshoot on Instagram, anyway. It was a brilliant idea, but it was always going to be goulish in its resurrection.
However, this is about as deep as we’re going to get on any of the looks from the 2022 edition of the Met Gala, with the vast majority of celebrities looking very nice but… forgettable? Some highlights came by way of Rosalía in Givenchy, Emma Chamberlain in Louis Vuitton, Precious Lee in Altuzarra, and Gigi Hadid in Versace, and lest we invoke the spirit of Joan Rivers, it stands to be reminded that it’s always the effort that counts. Click through the gallery below to see the major looks from this year’s Met Gala.
KRAVIS
Okay, so Trav’s debonair tux has a whiff of the Gilded Age about it, but Kourt’s kind of letting the side down with her business up top, party(?) down below number. Sensing something of a trend when it comes to cropped shirts on the red carpet though – seems like where Zendaya goes, plenty are going to follow.
EMMA CORRIN
The King of Dudes! A definitely on-theme moment from Emma Corrin, who channelled Gilded Age socialite Evander Berry Wall in Miu Miu.
KODI SMIT-MCPHEE
Sorry, but kind of j’adore this? A contemporary take on a theme few else got c/o Matthieu Blazy, with Gilded Age jewels dug out of Cartier’s archives. A further shout out goes to Kodi for getting Anna Wintour to sign off jeans at the Met Gala (even if they are actually Bottega leather ones) – inspired.
BELLA HADID
Burberry seemingly dressed half of the attendees to this year’s Met Gala – among them Naomi, Kate, Nicki, and Lila Moss – but scored big with Bella Hadid, who appeared on the museum steps in a custom corset, chiffon shawl, and lace gloves. Like a gothic bride-to-be, it was redolent of her 2018 Gareth Pugh x Chrome Hearts look and felt at least a little on theme... I think.
OFF-WHITE
Did Kylie get the memo re; the Gilded Age? No! Was this Off-White couture look and accompanying Insta caption a sweet tribute to Virgil Abloh? Yes. And so, she gets a pass.
EMMA CHAMBERLAIN
Despite all the avant-basic two-pieces, Emma Chamberlain is fast becoming a fashion girl. And last night, she welcomed guests at the top of the Met Gala’s staircase looking like a doe-eyed Tim Burton protagonist, wearing archival Louis Vuitton pilfered from Nicolas Ghesquiere’s AW18 collection.
GIGI HADID
Perhaps one of the stand-out looks from the night, Gigi Hadid wore a gigantic, corseted puffer made by Versace. Vaguely historical in its silhouette – which makes the model the most on-theme of the evening – it was reminiscent of Cardi B’s enormous Thom Browne number from the 2019 Met Gala. Feel like pure shit, just want her back etc.
KIM KARDASHIAN
For the love of god, not another naked dress. Brought out of Ripley’s Believe It or Not archives (fucking lol), Kimmy K looked lacklustre in Marilyn Monroe’s iconic gold “Happy Birthday Mr. President” gown. About half a century too late when it came to the theme of the night, no big deal!
CARDI B
Speaking of Cardi B, the rapper rarely disappoints, and this year was no exception, as she stood beside Donatella, sculpted in a hulking gold Versace gown made from a million Medusa medallions. Over the weekend, Tom Ford expressed his disappointment with the Met Gala turning into a “costume party” but perhaps this is exactly what we need more of.
CHLOE BAILEY
Did Chloe Bailey read our news article from March, suggesting celebrities might don a piece from Area’s couture collection? Specifically a globular, pannier-hipped gown? Would certainly seem that way!
ROSALÍA
With Matthew Williams reportedly working on his first Givenchy Haute Couture collection, is Rosalía’s jewel-encrusted mermaid gown a sign of what’s to come? If so, get the man a contract with World of Wonder.
NORMANI
Looking like an XXX-iteration of Nanny McPhee, Normani said she wanted to “break the rules” this year, procuring a low-rise skirt and puffy bra top designed by Christian Siriano. Despite the slanted little hat doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Gilded Age theme, that choice of crop top would’ve no doubt got Normani arrested for public indecency in the late 19th century.
KENDALL JENNER
This is the best Kendall Jenner has ever looked at the Met Gala and, naturally, it comes by way of Miuccia. Another bleached brow moment, that enormous, ruffled skirt feels like a vampy take on all the bustles that were popularised during the Gilded Age, but that see-through vest? Less so.
PALOMA ELSESSER
A close contender for the crown, Paloma Elsesser made a case for 19th century underwear last night – all floor skimming skirts and corsets courtesy of Coach. Though it was reminiscent of Sophia Loren in The Millionairess film, the look was actually inspired by Courtney Love’s vintage slip dresses.
KAIA GERBER
In a sea of nepo-babies, Kaia Gerber delivered one of the best – and perhaps most understated – looks of the evening. Looking like a haunted, pre-Raphaelite portrait come to life, the model wore a custom-made, slashed silk tulle gown by Alexander McQueen.
BLAKE LIVELY
For someone with a deep penchant for neon suits with matching ties circa her day-to-day life, Blake Lively sure can turn it out on the red carpet. This time, the Gossip Girl OG channelled Lady Liberty (slash Elsa from Frozen) herself. Only one question remains: is the dress green or bronze?