Met Monday has finally arrived, kick-starting viewers’ dissection of celebrities’ looks. Each year, viewers feel disappointed in the lack of following the Met Gala theme, noticing the lack of creativity among the many dresses and suits. That is why consecutive co-chair Ana Wintour, selected this year’s theme: Costume Art, making it fairly simple for guests. Joining her are co chairs Nicloe Kidman, Venus Williams, and Beyoncé, who has not attended the Met Gala since 2016.
The dress code for this event was to treat the human body as a work of art. The most notable trends were obscure vision, multiple hands, breast plates and headpieces. There were multiple stars that had their own interpretation of the theme, but there were some who went above and beyond this year.
Starting out with Emma Chamberlain, who has spent six consecutive years as a correspondent for Vogue: She wore a custom Mugler dress, drawing inspiration from Chamberlain’s father, who is an oil painter. By treating the dress as a canvas and paying attention to every brush stroke, the designer emphasizes that fashion is art and challenges the norm of minimalist fashion through creativity.
Madonna also rose to the occasion, wearing a satin and silk dress designed by Saint Laurent. It referenced Lenora Carrigton’s “The Temptation of St. Anthony,” pairing the dress with a boat head piece and accompanying that with sirens to depict the painting accurately. To accentuate the look, Madonna contacted Merria Dearman to replicate a wig she desperately wanted.
“It was surreal, textural, and emotionally driven rather than literal,” Dearman shares, explaining the artistic direction regarding Madonna’s hair and how it complemented her look as a whole. She wanted to keep it raw and simplistic, which in turn captures more of the painting’s essence.
Another lovely gown that is being talked about is Sabrina Carpenter’s, which was a Golden Age inspired Dior dress made by designer Jonathan Anderson. They drew inspiration from the film “Sabrina,” starring Audrey Hepburn, which is a direct homage to Carpenter’s name. This dress ties back to her music and overall brand evoking an old Hollywood aesthetic.
While the Met Gala is not always where men’s fashion shines, Dwayne Johnson’s suit took the cake this year. He worked with Thom Brown to create a work of art that not only followed the theme, but showcases his culture as well.
“Polynesian culture, we rock lavalavas, we rock skirts,” states Dwayne Johnson.
He also challenged societal ideologies by pairing the tailcoat with a traditional skirt, believing that culture can be represented in western fashion. His suit jacket had hand pleated silk arranged in a pattern representing the spinal cord.
As a whole, these four stars executed not only the theme but also the prestige of the Met Gala. Their looks resonated with people since they delivered not only thematically but artistically as well.