Met Gala 2021
The Met Gala is known as one of the biggest fashion events in the world. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. It marks the opening of the museum’s exhibit. Each year, the event has a theme that coordinates with the exhibition and dictates the dress code for the evening. This gala is attended mainly by a curated list of invited A-list celebrities and guests who wait for the hottest ticket in town. Anna Wintour, Editor In Chief of Vogue Magazine has been the chairperson of the event since 1995. The Met Gala normally takes place annually on the first Monday in May. However, it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and was rescheduled this year for September 13th, 2021. It took place at the end of New York Fashion Week as the concluding event.
A Celebration of American Fashion
For the Met Gala 2021, this year’s event theme was “In America, A Lexicon Of Fashion”. A change in the norm had multiple chair people heading things up with Singer, Billie Elish, Poet, Amanda Gorman, Actor, Timothee Chalamet, and Tennis player, Naomi Osaka in charge alongside honorary co-chairs, Anna Wintour, Fashion Designer Tom Ford, and Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram and this year’s sponsor of the event. Justin Bieber was the headlining performer.
Fashion’s biggest night brought out the stars and statement-making looks as always on the red carpet. The thematic costumes ranged from interpretations of American classic design and fashion, political and activism statements, and the overall outrageous.
There were hundreds in attendance but some of the most attention-getting looks came from legendary supermodel Iman, wearing a stunning Dolce & Gabbana in collaboration with Harris Reed. The look, made by the designer overseas then shipped to the US for the event, was created to mimic sun rays. The outfit was made up of metallic gold flare leg pants and a bustier. A separate collapsible tiered hoop skirt was constructed and adorned with feathers painted with gold leaf. An epic matching headpiece of layered feathers to symbolize the beams of light glistened as much as she did!
New York Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) took the opportunity to use her platform and wore a white gown with red words that read “Tax the Rich” by Brother Vellies and Aurora James.
Ciara’s look pays homage to the all-American sport, football. Wearing a jersey-themed gown in neon green to represent when her husband, Russell Wilson, NFL Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, sport their color us jerseys. She also donned his number 3 and completed the ensemble with the most coveted accessory, rocking his Superbowl championship ring and carrying a football crystal clutch evening bag. The dress was designed by Peter Dundas and inspired by Geoffrey Beene’s version from the 1960s.
Everyone was talking about Rhianna’s voluminous black gown by Balenciaga couture as she made her entrance stepping onto the red carpet. Kendall Jenner’s classic Hollywood gown was dripping with ice in a stunning jewel-encrusted creation by design house Givenchy. Inspiration for this look was taken from Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. Pro tennis great Serena Williams was also on hand in a silver star print Gucci bodysuit and accompanying dramatic pink ombre feathered cape. She was also wearing jewelry from her own line.
There were dozens of other outfits taking the gala by storm worn by women and men including, Kim Petras, Dan Levy, Lil Nas X with three gold-gilded costume changes in Versace, CL, Hailee Steinfeld, Tessa Thompson, Sawettie, and more. Check out some more of our featured looks.
Best Costume Picks
Hair/ Makeup Looks
Just as much a part of the style that goes with the dress is the hair and makeup to complete the effect and that was on point as well. Rhianna’s dark, sultry makeup look was a perfect complement to her sartorial choice for the evening. Gigi Hadid opted for a muted makeup palette that was channeling classic American elegance befitting her Prada-produced piece. Anoki Yai had a perfect balance between her Oscar de la Renta gown and glistening makeup. While it didn’t overshadow or distract from the stunning celestial silhouette she was wearing, you can’t miss the natural beauty that comes through highlighting her look. Masks were not missing this year as some celebs decided to work them creatively into their wardrobes. Grimes used one as part of her sci-fi warrior creation, complete with body jewelry and a futuristic hairdo. These looks did not disappoint.
