Another Met Gala has come and gone. The 2022 Met Gala is the second exhibit within the theme In America: An Anthology of Fashion, an exploration of American fashion. The first exhibit, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion took place back in September of 2021. Usually, the Met Gala falls on the first Monday of May. However, due to the pandemic, the event had been rescheduled.
Now here we are at the first Met Gala back in May since 2019’s “Camp” theme. Last night’s dress code was “Gilded Glamour”, white tie. Gilded Glamour refers to the Gilded Age a period in history between 1870 and 1900 when the United States saw massive economic growth and rapid industrialization. According to Vogue, the event urged attendees “to embody the grandeur and dichotomy of Gilded Age New York.”
It was interesting to see how celebrities interpreted the theme. In true Met Gala form, some looks were a hit and some were a miss. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst looks at the 2022 Met Gala.
Best Dressed
Blake Lively
This year’s co-host Blake Lively looked like Lady Liberty herself. The actress looked absolutely stunning in this custom Atelier Versace gown. Lively’s gown started off very structured with a beautiful train to follow. She wowed everyone when she revealed the second iteration of the look – a patinaed turquoise gown which was an ode to the Statue of Liberty.
Normani
Following the theme of the Gilded Era, Normani gave us her own modern take on the theme in this edgy black crop top and skirt ensemble by Christian Siriano. From the ruffles to the hat, everything looked so chic but also the right amount of sexy. Normani said in her interview that “the dress was actually supposed to be red.” However, looking at how it all came together, the black just seems spot on whereas the red would’ve been more overwhelming.
Lizzo
Lizzo came with all the drama in this Thom Browne Gown. The corset and flute as an accessory was super fitting for the occasion, but the cape was what really pulled everything together. Lizzo said the designers really took their time to bring the cape together, and it was definitely worth it. Andre Leon Talley would’ve been proud!
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish looked absolutely stunning! The singer wore a pale green and cream Gucci corset gown and definitely left us happier than ever! With corseted gowns, it can be tricky on the necklace choice; Eilish went for a black choker. She truly understood the assignment!
Cardi B
Cardi B came to the Met looking like MONEY! The rapper graced the carpet in this beautiful Atelier Versace gown, of course with Donatella by her side. Although she took a very different approach to the theme than other guests, it still worked. The gown was covered in tulle and several gold chains with hints of the signature Versace Medusa Medallion. Cardi stated in the Vogue live stream, “Gilded is gold—it’s regal”.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion gleamed in this golden Moschino gown. The rapper took a literal approach to the “gilded glamour” theme in a beautiful golden gown decked out in gold leaf shoulder pads. The gown followed the theme to a ‘T’ while still staying true to Megan’s style with a high slit and mesh details.
Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan channeled Gilded Age glamour in a black Louis Vuitton beaded gown. The gown featured a sculptural bustle skirt draped with silver beads. Chan showed that even in a black gown you can still serve gilded glamour.
Anitta
Anitta looked regal as ever in a satin purple off-the-shoulder Moschino gown. The gown was draped in pearls with a peplum waist. Anitta proved that peplum can be pulled off and look classy without being too cheugy.
Kiki Layne
Kiki Layne looked pretty in pink in a custom Prabal Gurung gown. The bubblegum pink gown was covered in a floral pink bodice and white opera gloves with matching flowers on the cuff. The actress looked glamourous with matching pink eyeshadow and her natural afro out.
Laura Harrier
Laura Harrier came to the Met looking like regal royalty in a custom black and silver H&M ballgown. Harrier collaborated with her stylist Danielle Nachmani and designer Victor Glemaud to design the beautiful gown. The hand-stitched black and silver gown was paired with a petticoat straight from the Gilded Age.
Worst Dressed
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell looked absolutely beautiful but probably could’ve saved this look for another occasion. If anything we would’ve loved to see her in vintage Vivienne Westwood that she wore in the past. She definitely could’ve played around a lot more with this look based on the theme but she opted for a simpler piece.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys’ Ralph Lauren gown was definitely one of a kind and every bit an ode to New York. However, it doesn’t scream Gilded Glamour. Truthfully, this look could’ve worked for last year’s theme! Instead, it might have been nice to see her in Dior. We’ve seen her go over the top before with accessories and it would’ve been nice to see her go in that direction for the event.
Nicki Minaj
ARE YOU A NICKI STAN? Yes, we are but this wasn’t our favorite Nicki Met Moment. The Burberry gown was beautiful and a lot of ways very spot-on in terms of the theme. On the other, hand the accessories threw everything off and didn’t fit her properly. The oversize belt and cap tiara definitely were not needed and took away from the elegance of the gown. Nothing really seemed cohesive. It would’ve been really cool to see Nicki tap into her Barbie Tingz music video energy.
La La Anthony
La La wore Laquan Smith last night to the gala. Even though this wine color looked great against her skin, something about the accents in the gown just seemed off, like it was different styles of gowns combined into one. It might have been nice to see her in Chanel A/W 2020-2021 Haute Couture.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson was pretty in pink in this Carolina Herrera gown, but this was not it for last night’s theme. The tulle was a bit much and served as a sort of fluff for the gown instead of adding to the look. A nice alternative might have been Christian Dior at Couture Fall 2007.
Hoyeon Jung
Squid Game star, Hoyeon Jung made her Met Gala debut in a Louis Vuitton mini. The model-turned-actress looked like a baddie in a cut-out mini dress and knee-high boots; however, this was not the night for that look. Hoyeon had previously channeled “Gilded Glamour” when she wore a metallic beaded gown from Louis Vuitton’s spring 2022 ready-to-wear collection at the 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards. It would have been to see Hoyeon channel that same energy again at this year’s Met Gala.
Venus Williams
Venus Williams kept it classy in a 3-piece black Chloé suit. The tennis star leaned more into a black-tie dress code, choosing to opt-out of the “Gilded Glamour” gowns many women wore. It would have been nice to see Williams lean more into the “Gilded Glamour” theme with a gown from 1992 F/W Givenchy.
Anna Wintour
Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour played it safe on the red carpet in a Chanel gown with Manolo Blahnik heels. Wintour’s 2022 Met Gala look is very reminiscent and similar to her 2019 “Camp” Met Gala look. In both Met Gala looks, Wintour is dressed in a beaded Chanel gown paired with a feathered cape. It would have been nice to see Anna go outside her usual ensemble for this year’s Met Gala.
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk looked like a bad a** in head-to-toe Burberry. While the model looked great, Shayk left many people confused as to how her outfit followed the “Gilded Glamour” theme. It would have been nice to see Shayk pull something from the Burberry A/W22 collection which featured many ballgowns.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne took a quite literal approach to the theme “Gilded Glamour” The model/actress left little to the imagination when she stripped off her Christian Dior suit to unveil her bare chest covered in gold body paint. It would have been nice to see Delevingne channel a vintage look like the famous Dior “bar suit” from Spring/Summer 1947.
Both Met Gala exhibits In America: A Lexicon and An Anthology will remain on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan through September 5th, 2022.
Who do you think was the best and worst dressed at the 2022 Met Gala?
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