The Met Gala - also formally known as the Costume Institute Gala or the Met Ball - is one of the most prestigious fashion events in the calendar year. This glamorous annual event helps to raise funds for the The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art's Costume Institute. Usually hosted on the first Monday in May every year, the event in New York sees famous icons, celebrities and stars walk the stairs draped, dressed as according to the theme; but this year will be a little different.
Pending guidelines, the Met Gala is scheduled to occur on Monday 13th September 2021, with the Costume Institute hosting a two-part exhibition over 2021 and 2022: "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" and "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" respectively. Whilst we shall have to wait a few months more for more iconic looks in Met Gala history, we at A Hand Tailored Suit thought we would reflect on some of the most memorable ladies' looks from recent years.
Nicole Kidman
Theme: "Goddess: The Classical Mode" (2003)
Actress Nicole Kidman really did look like a goddess in a one-shoulder Gucci by Tom Ford floor-length gown. The diagonal line of the top of the dress drops below the arm and round to the back for a flattering silhouette in what is a straight line dress fitted on the bodice. The dress was completely embellished in gems that really shone in the spotlights at the ceremony with a sheer sleeve that gathered on the cuff. It was a very classical look in the history of Met Gala looks for sure.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Theme: "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" (2014)
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker was a hit on the 2014 Met Gala red carpet as she looked the epitome of elegant couture in a black and white duchess satin gown by Oscar de la Renta. The velvet bodice with a plunge neckline and spaghetti straps has a low scoop back, fastened with white buttons on the back. The bodice flares out into black duchess satin at the top of the skirt, giving extra shape to the fullness of the skirt which on the back, has a separate check panel coming out from the centre back with the designer's name embroidered in red and the signature font. It was indeed a signature red carpet look in recent Met Gala history.
Rihanna
Theme: "China: Through The Looking Glass" (2015)
A gown designed with a train which trails behind its wearer is always a dramatic finish, but Rihanna's at the 2015 Met Gala delivered so much more. Wearing Chinese designer Guo Pei, the singer wearing a cape gown accessorised it with a matching headband that encapsulated some of the embroidery on the gown itself. The yellow look was outlined in fur as the gold embroidery which was all completed by hand, highlighted the intricacy and work that went into the couture gown. It was said that the gown lined with a gorgeous red was very heavy to walk in which is no surprise as it weighed 55 pounds; but for the impact it had on the carpet and the relation to the theme, it was truly worth it.
Willow Smith
Theme: "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology (2016)
Singer Willow Smith looked fashionably chic as she sported an oversized coat with high-waisted trousers from Chanel. The coat was designed with a satin-finished collar, small notch lapels, a satin finish on the cropped sleeves and with shoulder epaulettes to match. The trousers were also cropped with a turned-up hem as the jacket's print was designed with a speckled pattern in white to really define itself against the black cloth. With 3 pearlescent buttons as the coat's fastening, the attire was a shine on the red carpet and involving lovely elements of tailoring which Willow Smith looked as said before - very chic.
Priyanka Chopra
Theme: "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" (2017)
Actress Priyanka Chopra took styling a trench coat to a completely different level at the 2017 Met Gala, wearing a Ralph Lauren trench coat gown with a dramatic long train. As the train made the dramatic statement as she walked up the stairs, so too did her high black heels and large popped collar. Popping a collar on a trench coat always delivers a cool statement and definitely delivers here as the lapel is styled for an off-shoulder look. Whilst the features of the belt, epaulettes, pockets and black buttons typically seen on a camel trench coat are transformed into a high-fashion gown, it definitely made its way into one of the most memorable looks from the Met Gala.
Cara Delevingne
Theme: "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" (2017)
Model Cara Delevingne had another memorable Met Gala look from the 2017 event as she rocked up in a Chanel two-piece suit which had a certain futuristic element to it.. The heavily embroidered attire was designed with a sleek silhouette which suited her very well and made stronger through the brood shoulders of the jacket itself. The body of the jacket being lining up with the bottom of the sleeves allows the illusion of pattern-matching to be created through the heavy embroidery and starry design the suit conveys. With a plunging neckline finished with the statement silver belt across the waist, it was a suit that really did catch the eyes of others during this year.
Blake Lively
Theme: "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" (2018)
The theme for the 2018 Met Gala displayed true creativity in the outfits that were worn, and what actress Blake Lively wore was really a piece of romantic creativity. The red and gold floor-length gown as made by Versace was simply heavenly, consisting of a fitted bodice with a square neckline and fitted skirt with a long, dramatic train following behind. Accessorised with a gold headpiece, the gown was finished with a huge amount of gold embroidery and embellished jewels that transformed the gown into a work of art. The back of the bodice scooped low into a centre point as the straps and very top of the gown was edged with red, blue and orange jewels. Sheer panels featured on the skirt as it was draped into layers of deep red trailing behind Blake Lively as she walked - just heavenly.
Zendaya
Theme: "Camp: Notes on Fashion" (2019)
Ending on the latest Met Gala to date and one of the outfits that really delivered a show - actress Zendaya's living Cinderella moment on the red carpet. The gown was designed by Tommy Hilfiger as the ice blue colour, ballgown skirt and puffy shoulders was very much like the original Cinderella gown: but what really made it modern and a show was the memorable moment on the red carpet. The tulle gown lit up from bottom to top as her stylist Law Roach (dressed as the fairy godmother) waved the wand - the gown's skirt increased in shape and became an illuminating piece. The fitted bodice too lit up and how breathtaking this iconic moment became - as a finishing touch, her heel was left behind on the red carpet, just like the fairytale itself. Check out the video of this stunning moment:
What was your favourite look here, and what has been your favourite Met Gala look of all time? If you've felt inspired by what you have seen, get in touch with our talented tailoring team today for your statement bespoke suit!
If you liked this post, check out Met Gala's Most Memorable Fashion Moments: The Gentlemen.
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