Met Gala Looks: Iconic or Drab?
October 6, 2021
Last month, one of the most iconic events of all time took place: The Met Gala. As per every year, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour organized this prestigious event at the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art right in the heart of New York City. Although the gala is traditionally held on the first Monday of May, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered Vogue’s plans, as they were postponed.
The Met Gala is essentially the fashion industry’s Oscars for designers, models, directors, actors, and other reputable people to make appearances. Check out this article for more information on the history of the met gala:
The theme this year was American Independence. However, numerous guests had very unique interpretations in regards to the theme.
Kim Kardashian
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Kim Kardashian sported a black Balenciaga couture gown to the event. Her outfit definitely turned heads, considering its vast uniqueness from everything she, or anyone else for that matter, had worn prior. The skin tight all black gown was not foreign to Kardashian’s typical wear. However, the dark, opaque covering over her face had varied reactions. Was she attempting to gain some sort of anonymity? Nevertheless, it was still Kim Kardashian, who is known for relishing the spotlight. Some believe that Kardashian’s eccentric outfit was correlated to her ex-husband, Kanye West. He had recently released DONDA, a new album that took the world by storm. During a listening party, Kanye built a replica of his childhood home and also displayed aspects that represented his mother in the set design. Surprisingly, he burned the replica down and wore all black. To learn more about DONDA, take a look at this article for more information:
Fans speculate that Kardashian’s outfit may have something to do with Wests’ new album, for they were both donned in all black clothing. While this may be true, the look was still extremely peculiar and didn’t fit the theme as well as it could have. If the look signified the dark, bloody upbringing of America, then she would have done a decent job. However, she simply insinuated that she wanted to make a statement. Even if people couldn’t see her face, they still knew it was her. Admittedly, it was a power move, but just not one that obeyed the theme of the event.
Billie Eilish
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Billie Eilish wore a stunning Oscar de la Renta nude tulle gown. This outfit was clearly out of the singer’s standard zone, as she tends to usually wear larger, baggier clothing, but she executed the look perfectly. She aimed to reflect an American style icon of most: Marilyn Monroe. In her endeavor to do so, she took copious amounts of inspiration from the Barbie dolls she used to play with. This influence was greatly seen in her dress. The elegant blush dress complemented her skin tone and blonde hair beautifully. Moreover, the tulle was an uncommon material at the gala this past year. Nonetheless, it was Eilish’s hair that truly embodied Marilyn Monroe. The almost shoulder length, blonde hair epitomized Monroe’s signature look. Overall, Eilish did a phenomenal job by leaving her classic jacket and pants style to observe this year’s theme.
Lil Nas X
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For his first time attending the met gala, Lil Nas X pulled off a major three outfit look. Donatella Versace custom-designed his costume for the night. Starting off with the first look, he immediately commanded people’s attention with a lengthy cape adorned with very intricate beading and design. Lil Nas appeared as a king, possibly symbolizing English King George III during the American Revolution. After removing his cloak, he displayed a shiny, gold suit of armor for his second outfit. Lil Nas explained in an interview with Buzzfeed how the cape signified his journey into the industry. He felt like royalty at first, but then transitioned into putting a shield around his true self. The gold suit was very sleek and vivid, making him an immediate page-turner. Finally, he removed the armored suit to exhibit an ornate gold and black bodysuit. This resembled his journey towards being confident enough to express who he really is as a person. Lil Nas X should definitely feel very accomplished for his three-piece costume ensemble. The looks not only related back to the event’s them, but they also demonstrated his trek towards self-confidence.
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
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Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez was one of the biggest head turners at the gala. She was clad in a Brother Vellies ivory gown with a massively written message on the back of her dress in bold, red letters: “Tax the Rich.” She also carried a small, red handbag with the same message, further emphasizing her thoughts. The red handbag and the matching red heels perfectly complemented the red lettering in her gown. Meanwhile, her simple, sleek bun didn’t take attention away from her outfit. In regards to the event’s theme, her outfit appears to correlate to the famous ideas of the American Revolution involving taxation. Clearly, Ocasio-Cortez attempted to make a political statement as she was surrounded by countless celebrities and wealthy people. However, many people were quick to immediately condemn her actions. Numerous people found it hypocritical that she was urging lawmakers to tax the rich more while she spent the night socializing with the elite of society. On the other hand, others celebrated her actions as they loved the powerful point Ocasio-Cortez sought to communicate. One of these even being the influential Anna Winter, who arranged for the representative to sit at her table. Even so, Ocasio-Cortez’s daring look appeared to be out of true genuinity for her ideas. She was invited to the gala and chose to make a political statement instead of simply just wearing a traditional outfit to the event.
Even though countless celebrities and renowned guests made appearances at the Met Gala, several essential outfit turners were missing from this year’s event. Some of these household names included Blake Lively, Ariana Grande, Kylie Jenner, and Zendaya. While they were deeply missed, it was still extremely thrilling to see so many fascinating looks. Nevertheless, people are counting down the days until 2022’s Met Gala for another exciting year in the fashion industry.
