And with that the 2024 Met Gala comes to a close. We do hope you’ve enjoyed joining us.
The main takeaway for us? Perhaps celebrities and their stylists needed a clearer theme. On Monday morning in an interview with Today, Anna Wintour seemed to pre-empt this was how it was going to play out when she apologised for any “confusion” over the theme. “This exhibition broke my cardinal rule,” she said. “When we came up with the title ‘Sleeping Beauties,’ it’s wonderful and poetic and romantic, but actually, it could be many, many things….“So, I fear that we’ve unleashed a lot of confusion out there, and for which I deeply apologise.”
In the end, it was hard to decipher what exactly the majority of the looks were trying to express. Lana Del Rey in Alexander McQueen, Barry Keoghan in Burberry and Zendaya’s second John Galliano look for Givenchy were the exception. Balenciaga’s reinterpretation of archival gowns as seen on Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts were also clever.
There were plenty of dramatic red carpet gowns but, compared to previous years, they felt like they could have used a little more drama. Unlike, say, the Oscars, the Met is when you can really push the red carpet boundaries. Think of Jared Leto as Choupette the cat in 2023. Zendaya’s light up Cinderella moment in 2019. And Rihanna’s omelette dress in 2017. Cardi B blocking the steps in a dress with the wingspan of a jumbo jet is fun but it’s not Lady Gaga doing four costume changes ascending those steps is it.
The sign of a memorable Met Gala is the memes and tonight, sadly, the internet was lacking them.
Let’s see if the after-party looks bring some more pep. For now, it’s good night from us.
Camilla Cabello’s clutch is in fact a giant cube of ice containing a singular rose. It’s slowly melting with the idea that by the time the night is over she’ll be left just holding the stem. But should it come with a frost bite warning?
Sydney Sweeney has entered the dark side. The actor has switched up her long blonde hair for a blunt brunette bob and bangs. She arrived with a black lace embellished veil covering her face but has ditched it for the awaiting crowds of photographers.
It wouldn’t be the Met Gala without a celebrity pregnancy announcement. Congratulations to the model/actor Adwoa Aboah who decided to hard launch her bump in a navel revealing look from H&M.
Fresh from the Miami GP Sprint, Lewis Hamilton has made a fashion pitstop. His look is from Burberry and according to the brand the embroidery detailing on the coat is inspired by John Ystumllyn, one of Britain’s first Black gardeners. It is said to “reflects the language of flowers in Black history” featuring periwinkles for endurance, yucca for eternity and protecting restless spirits, daffodils – known as “pass-along” flowers for their hardiness and cedar branches for everlasting life.
Number of people arrested at pro-Palestinian protest near Met Gala
Fran Lawther
The Met Gala is not happening in a political vacuum – and this year’s event comes as New York campuses, and others across the US, are roiled by protests against the war in Gaza.
As stars filed down the red carpet on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Monday night, scores of demonstrators gathered near the event.
NYPD had erected metal barriers to keep protesters away from the annual fashion event. Police also reportedly made a number of arrests.
It was unclear how many people were arrested but pictures from the scene showed some protesters pinned to the ground and others being walked away from the protest.
One man was seen being pinned to a wall near the museum, which is hosting the gala.
Erykah Badu’s look is fresh off the spring/summer’ 24 Comme des Garçons runway. Clashing florals, tulle and ruffles, there’s a lot going on and we’re very much here for it.
Entertainment Tonight captured the moment Cardi B emerged onto the carpet. We’re still waiting on an official wingspan of the dress but it’s unlikely to be topped tonight.
OK why do one killer look when you can do two killer looks. Zendaya has just done an outfit change – judging by the size of the dress, we’re guessing this didn’t happen in the loo. Her stylist Law Roach has dug into the fashion archive’s for her second look of the night sourcing a 1996 Givenchy by John Galliano gown. Can we take a moment for that incredible headpiece from Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen 2007 too. Local flower markets take note, from now on when we say bouquet this is what we want.
To compare the Everything Everywhere All at Once actor’s look to a marathon runner draped in foil would be to do her, and it, a disservice. This strapless Balenciaga look is the perfect sartorial temperature.
It’s Big Swan Energy on tonight’s carpet. Anyone who is watching Feud: Capote vs The Swans will be thrilled to see Naomi Watts who plays Babe Paley in the cult series give a nod to Truman Capote’s 1966 Black & White Ball. Watts is wearing a look from Balenciaga based on a 1950’s dress from the house.
Of course Chloë Sevigny, the most fashion of them all, wore a look by a designer whose name is a byword for ‘I know the most recent Vogue like the back of my hand,’ the Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu. Deconstructud, embellished, corseted, with bows and with beads; it’s a lot, in a good way.
OK Barry Keoghan read the brief and possibly the book and nailed it. His look is from Burberry – remember Keoghan was named as a brand ambassador earlier this year so no big surprise there – and it gives a nod to Count Axel. Note the top hat, the pussybow detailing and pocket watch. It’s bonkers in the best way possible.
Gone is the flute, with which she serenaded the crowd at a Met Gala past, playing Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. But regardless there is plenty that will occupy the crowd with this sculptural look, which is apparently the work of Paris-based label Weinsanto.
It turns out Jeff Bezos did bag a ticket to tonight’s gala. The billionaire was waiting for his fiancee Lauren Sánchez at the top of the steps. It’s the second time Bezos has attended the event. He made his debut in 2012 when Amazon sponsored it.
Cardi B has basically shut down the Met carpet. The American rapper has over 10 assistants currently helping her fan out her gigantic gown and its width means that no one else can get by. All that’s left to do now is climb the many Met steps. *Grits teeth
The quiet elegance of this custom Oscar de la Renta frock will perhaps be overshadowed by talk of Pamela Anderson’s makeup. While for several high-profile appearances recently she went makeup free, there was clearly no dogma to her choices. As she told Glamour magazine recently: “Makeup is expression. Words are the worst form of communication. It takes body language, how you hold yourself, your clothes and makeup – it’s a way to communicate. I’m definitely not opposed to makeup, but I really don’t know what I’m going to wear next.” She also referenced working on a film recently where she was so covered in glitter that she “ate glitter for breakfast. So I haven’t forgotten about makeup.”