This year, the second Monday of September just happened to be one of the most iconic nights of fashion in New York City. The Met Gala (and its fashion) is back!
After a long period of no in-person red carpets two seasons of postponed Galas, we were ready for the history-making fashion looks that this event inspires and brings to the world of style (and our TVs and social media feeds). Though the Met Gala is traditionally held on the first Monday in May, September in the city was looking good this year, especially with the event following the tail-end of NYFW.
The anticipation was worth the wait. Celebrities from around the globe and the top names in fashion walked the red carpet and the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an incredibly dynamic and elevated display of fashion to raise money for the Museum’s Costume Institute. As you probably know, these aren’t random looks! The theme for this year’s Met Gala was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. This will also serve as the theme of the Met’s Costume Institute exhibit this year which will open up on September 18th alongside the institute’s 75th Anniversary!
The Met called the exhibit an “exploration of fashion in the United States in the Anna Wintour Costume Center. It establishes a modern vocabulary of American fashion based on its expressive qualities.” “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” is the first (and smaller!) part of a two-part show and exhibit. The second part, In America: An Anthology of Fashion will serve as the theme for the return of the Met Gala to its usual schedule on the first Monday of May 2022. The second exhibit will open May 5, 2020, and both installations will be open until September 5, 2022.
Here is a look at some of our favorite Fashion Moments from the Met Gala 2021!
Carey Mulligan in Valentino
English actor and British Academy Film Award winner Carey Mulligan stepped out on the Met Gala Runway in a complete head-to-toe in Pink. (We’d even call it Showstopper pink. Someone give her a Crystal Award!) Carey stunned the paparazzi and everyone around her in this awe-inspiring Valentino look. The magnificent gown was a part of the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 21/22 Des Ateliers Collections. The look was completed with simple but stunning makeup by Charlotte Tilbury and a dramatic hot pink cape over the brilliant Cinderella ball gown. (No shoes were lost on the steps of the Met!)
And Carey wasn’t the only attendee bringing classic pink to the Met Gala. A few other fav standouts in various shades of our favorite hue this night were Lily Rose Depp in a two-piece vintage Chanel Set, Rachel Smith in Rodarte, and Kate Hudson in a feathery Michael Kors ensemble with sparkling Lorraine Schwartz jewels. We all know that pink is a timeless statement color, and this just proves it!
Nia Dennis in Stella McCartney
Nia Dennis embodied superwomen and girl power at the Met Gala. No heels for this look! At age 22, the amazing UCLA gymnast, known for her viral floor routine, turned one of the biggest fashion stages in the world (the steps of the Met) into an actual stage. Wearing a beautiful Stella McCartney rhinestone bodysuit, Nia did floor work to an instrumental version of Alicia Keys’ iconic song “New York” accompanied by the Brooklyn United Marching Band! Art, music, and fashion. Yes, yes, yes!
Lili Reinhart in Christian Siriano
Lili Reinhart gave us floral fairytale glam in her designer Christian Siriano dress. This gown was her Met Gala look and her “Birthday Dress”, as this year’s Met Gala happened to fall on Lili’s 25th birthday! The mini dress totally exemplified this year’s Met Gala theme, featuring flowers from all 50 states. It also featured an asymmetrical long train, bringing all the beauty and drama to the carpet this year.
Iman in Dolce Gabbana X Harris Reed
Iman lit up the red carpet. After cementing her style in the fashion industry with years of experience, Iman is a world-renowned pro when it comes to being in front of the camera. Bringing hope like a ray of light, she wore a handmade, ornate gold leaf gown by Dolce and Gabbana X Harris Reed and a spectacular headpiece made in collaboration with Vivienne Lake. Designer Harris Reed stated in an interview with Vogue that the spectacular look took 400 hours to complete! The silhouette of the dress paired with the intricate golden metallic crown was absolutely breathtaking. Iman is a true icon. (But you already knew that.)
Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta
Billie, our queen, stunned from every angle in her Old Hollywood-inspired Oscar De La Renta gown. This was her official debut at the Met Gala, and she made sure to wear a look that no one would forget. The soft peach-colored tulle gown featured a chic off-the-shoulder style and a classic flowing train that required four movers to assist her as she walked the carpet! As co-chair with Timothee Chalamet, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka, we knew Billie was going to bring a showstopping look to the carpet this year! Billie made fashion history as the youngest Met Gala co-chair ever, and her collaboration with Oscar de la Renta was part of a deal in which the brand will be moving forward with fur-free designs from now on.
From simple to statement, the Met Gala returned with looks that we’ll be talking about for months. What were your faves?
