Unmissable meeting point for celebrities and the fashion sphere, the Met Gala was back on Monday, May 6th. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one daring look after another paraded in front of photographers’ flashes. Let’s review the best outfits of the evening.
If the gala’s purpose is to raise funds for the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York, it also marks the beginning of the annual exhibition conceived by the Costume Institute. This year, the exhibition is titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” a direct allusion to how technology contributes to reviving garments too fragile or old to be worn. More than 250 of the oldest and most fragile clothing items and accessories have thus been brought together around the theme of nature and technology.
To facilitate the task for its guests, the editor-in-chief of Vogue and organizer of the event, Anna Wintour, specified the dress code with the theme “The Garden of Time.”
A reference to the short story of the same name by British writer J.G. Ballard, “The Garden of Time” was taken literally by celebrities. Advised by their stylists, the latter mostly sought out silhouettes inspired by flowers and plants. Between archive pieces and tailor-made outfits, nothing is too much to have a chance to shine at this special evening.
The event is also a very important showcase for fashion designers and their work. The Fashion Houses are thus keen to offer exceptional outfits to their ambassadors for the red carpet. Many faces from the show business were invited to this 2024 edition. Note that in addition to Anna Wintour, actress Zendaya, singer Jennifer Lopez, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, and singer Bad Bunny were appointed co-chairs of the evening alongside Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok, and Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe, both honorary co-chairs.
Zendaya, the queen of the ball
Adorned with a status of a red carpet icon, Zendaya once again made a sensation. The star of Challengers by Luca Guadagnino has been sporting edgy looks for several weeks for the film’s promotion. However, her stylist Law Roach seems not to be short of ideas to dress the actress. Zendaya appeared not in one, but in two different outfits to climb the steps of the Met.
The first one is a Maison Margiela Couture creation by John Galliano. Crafted in sage lamé and organza and entirely hand-painted, the dress is a sublime work of detail. An imposing ocean blue bow on the actress’s shoulder accentuates the asymmetry of the silhouette and adds a dramatic aspect. The romantic side of the outfit is reinforced by a hat adorned with a hand-painted veil. As for the makeup, it was done by the professional Pat McGrath. Behind the sublime porcelain complexion worn by the models of the last Margiela runway show, the makeup artist imagined for Zendaya a strong look with gothic inspirations.
For her second appearance, the actress opted for a Givenchy Couture piece from the spring-summer 1996 collection. With its impressive train, the dress was complemented by a bold headdress adorned with multicolored roses.
Lana Del Rey, nymph of the forests
The queen of sensual and haunting melodies traded her pin-up outfits for one evening to become a dreamy goddess. Accompanied by Sean McGirr, replacing Sarah Burton at the helm of Maison Alexander McQueen, the singer made a strong impression. To dress her friend, the Irish designer opted for a long corseted silk, double georgette, and tulle dress. And because the devil is in the details, hammered bronze hawthorn branches were embroidered on the powder pink silhouette.
Every queen needing her crown, the American appeared with a spectacular headdress. Made from real hawthorn branches topped with a tulle veil, the piece is a direct reference to the work of the late Alexander McQueen. During his fall-winter 2006-2007 show titled “Widows of Culloden,” the British designer had imagined an incredible long dress enhanced by a deer antler headdress and draped in lace.
Tyla’s sculptural gown
Some seem to have been more inspired by the notion of time and its passing. This is notably the case of singer Tyla who managed to captivate all eyes. The South African artist borrowed the iconographic codes of the hourglass to literally apply them to her body. Imagined by Olivier Rousteing and made within the workshops of Maison Balmain, this sensational bustier dress mimics the movement of sand on the skin.
The snug aspect of the piece highlights the curves of the young woman and gives her a sculpted silhouette. A beautiful effect achieved thanks to a plaster mold made on Tyla’s body. The dress was then adorned with a train in organza entirely covered with sand and microcrystal studs. The final touch: a glass and brass clutch resembling an hourglass.
However, as the dress remained uncomfortable, requiring security members to carry the singer from step to step, it underwent some modifications during the evening. Also present at the gala, designer Olivier Rousteing was seen removing the train from the dress with a pair of scissors. Some might see another metaphorical nod to time and the transformations it brings…
Elle Fanning, crystal flower
Maison Balmain showcased its talent by also dressing Elle Fanning. The 26-year-old actress appeared in a magnificent crystalline dress designed by Olivier Rousteing. Resembling an ice sculpture, this delicate piece revealed the actress’s shoulders through a V-neckline while the fluidity of its skirt slit hinted at her legs. Fixed on each shoulder of the bodice, two sculptural birds sparkled as the young woman climbed the steps.
The beauty look of L’Oréal Paris ambassador follows the continuity of her outfit and the idea of purity. Her entire makeup remained simple, her porcelain skin already giving her an unreal appearance. The same goes for her hair, which she decided to wear slightly wavy and tucked behind her ears. A choice that notably allows her to highlight the sublime diamond earrings from Cartier loaned by the French jeweler.
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