The first Monday in May is always on the calendar as a style celebration. One of the most remarkable nights in fashion, the first Monday is a day when designers, celebs, and fashion lovers make history and raise money for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Musem of Art.
Since 1995, the Met Gala has been run by Vogue‘s Anna Wintour. A major part of the Gala, Anna Wintour and this year’s co-chairs for the event, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ryan Reynolds, and Blake Lively brought “gilded glamour” to those massive steps.
On Monday, stars walked the red carpet up 60 steps into the Met stopping to chat with hosts, media, and each other and posing along the way. Once inside, the Met Gala is a private event and an exclusive first look at the Costume Insitute’s latest exhibit which is hopefully well represented by the new looks making their way down the carpet.
This year, the Met Gala’s dress code was a white tie, “gilded glamour” to go along with the sequel exhibit to last year’s In America: A Lexicon of Fashion (dress code “American Independence”), In America: An Anthology of Fashion. The theme nodded to the Victorian aesthetics and bold fashion choices of the Gilded Age which falls in the time period An Anthology of Fashion focuses on, those aren’t the only styles that appeared between the 19th to the mid-late 20th century. It’s a theme that is so very grand, dressy, and glamorous.
Seeing what superstar designers and their celebrity models came up with to celebrate and honor this year’s theme was incredible. Andrew Bolton, the head curator of the Costume Institue said of the theme and exhibit, “The stories really reflect the evolution of American style, but they also explore the work of individual tailors, dress-makers, and designers.”
But what does “Gilded Glamour” actually look like? Here are a few of my favorite looks from Monday that really had a moment on the carpet.
Blake Lively
This Upper East Side queen wasn’t just co-chair for the event, she was also a walk. She arrived with her husband Ryan Reynolds (“mom and dad” as Teen Vogue lovingly named them on Instagram) in a Versace gown. Blake’s metamorphosis gown transformed from shining copper to a delicate aqua blue meant to resemble the patina that copper and bronze accumulate over time. The dress was inspired by New York City architecture, specifically the Statue of Liberty which Blake nodded to with a tiara. The royalty look was completed by opera gloves. Fashion at its finest.
Shawn Mendes
Ok, friends! A rockstar has arrived on the red carpet! Shawn Mendes went for a dramatic take on “Gilded Glamour” with a bold color block suit jacket peacoat in navy, red, and deep green hues with gold lining and buttons. This prince charming look (Hello, Prince Eric?) was designed by Tommy Hilfiger. Full of smiles, Shawn was a dapper vision and looked ready to dance the night away.
Ashley Park
It wouldn’t be the Met Gala without at least one hot pink dream look. Ashley Park is an instant fashionista inspiration. The Emily in Paris star showed up at her first Met Gala in a Prabal Gurung dress. A hot-pink corseted look with a feathered skirt, off-the-shoulder bow sleevesm, and a bustled train, Ashley’s look was a perfectly modernized Victorian look. She sparkled from the inside out, elegantly wearing layered silver diamond necklaces and drop earrings. Ashley called her look “an ode to Audrey” in an interview with PEOPLE. It wasn’t all black and pink, though. She strutted up the steps in lime green stilettos!
Olivia Rodrigo
A lavender Versace fairytale, pop superstar and Grammy Award-winner Olivia Rodrigo glistened in a floor-length Versace dress inspired by the silent film era and Gilded Age movie star glamor. The SOUR singer (and Showstopper Magazine Spring 2022 cover star) couldn’t leave her signature butterflies behind, though. Purple butterflies sat in her loose, wavy curls to complement her mesh lilac gloves and purple rhinestone shoes. Olivia served ethereal glam sparkled from head to toe for her second walk down the Met Gala red carpet.
Alicia Keys
Hello, New York! This look has us in an “Empire State of Mind.” Alicia Keys lit up the red carpet in an unforgettable Ralph Lauren look made to shine. Literally dripping in diamonds, Alicia was trailing a cape with the New York City skyline spread out behind her. Ralph Lauren did a fantastic job creating this unique piece of art and capturing the epitome of NYC sparkle. Alicia was also stunning in silver jewelry, a fierce winged liner look, and a slicked-back braided ponytail with glimmering disks and jeweled baby hairs. A fashion masterpiece!
We’re still directing the hits (and misses) of the night which had over two hours of fashion and interviews on the red carpet alone. What was your favorite Met Gala look?