Met Gala 2022: In America: An Anthology of Fashion and Gilded Glamour
Once upon a time, the Met Gala was simply a fundraiser. It wasn't yet the spectacle it's become these days,
CELEB Magazine
Once upon a time, the Met Gala was simply a fundraiser. It wasn't yet the spectacle it's become these days, and stars didn't use it as an excuse to turn out their wildest and most expressive fashion.
However, a spectacle is indeed what it has now become. But it's a spectacle in the brilliant way that it distracts us all from our cares for a night as we ogle celebs – both those dressed to the nines and those who look like they wandered out of grandma's closet.
These days, the Met Gala is both a fundraiser and one of the biggest nights in fashion – and last night's event was no exception. Here's a look at some of our favorite (and least favorite) looks from the Met Gala 2022.
The Met Gala 2022
Women's Wear Daily writes, "The Met Gala was founded in 1948 by Lambert, a renowned fashion publicist, as a means to fundraise for the Costume Institute and mark the opening of its annual exhibit. Lambert is also known for being the founder of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which she established in 1962.
The Costume Institute, created by Irene Lewisohn and Aline Bernstein and initially called the Museum of Costume Art, merged with the Museum of Metropolitan Art in 1946.
The first Met Gala was a dinner held that December, with tickets going for $50 each. From its creation until 1971, the event was not held in the Met as it is today, but in venues such as Central Park, the Rainbow Room and the Waldorf Astoria."
Former editor-in-chief to Vogue, Diana Vreeland, joined the Costume Institute as a consultant, and began slowly changing the Met Gala to what we recognize it as today. First, Vreeland began incorporating A-list attendees. Then, the French-American designer moved the event to the Metropolitan Museum of Art permanently.
Under Vreeland's guidance, themes were introduced, and socialites and society's elite began attending.
Vogue's most well-known editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took over in 1995, and since then the tone of the event has changed from celebratory to extravagant. Wintour manages the guest list, picks themes, and drives the overall atmosphere that makes it fashion's most extraordinary night.
Now, each year the gala raises around $15M for the Costume Institute.
For 2022, the theme was announced to be In America: An Anthology of Fashion "Gilded Glamour" and focuses on elite fashion between 1870 to 1890. Each celebrity is encouraged to create their own interpretation of the theme in their fashion.
Fashion – Met Gala’s Best Dressed
Let's jump into it with our favorite looks of the night:
- Bella Hadid: It's not often someone makes both the best and worst dressed lists – but Hadid managed it. First, we have to spend some time admiring her black leather-and-lace ode to classic textures. The touch of pearls around the ankle was the perfect nod to the gilded era, but with a modern upgrade.
- Khloe Kardashian: Looked beautiful in a gold gown with some movement, a short blond bob, black satin gloves and a black drape.
- Lizzo: As always, looking an absolute queen in a floor-length black gown with a peekaboo mesh cut across the thighs. The outfit was capped with a boldly-patterned black-and-gold king's coat, and a gold wire-wrap necklace.
- Bad Bunny: We aren't exactly sure what the intention was for Bunny but we absolutely adored the trench-coat-skirt combo, the playful updo and the gold lorgnette.
- Cardi B: Couldn't seem to decide if she wanted to go with a draped chain look or some pendants, so her designer threw them all in there for this playful gold bodycon dress. Her gloves were even made from thoughtfully positioned gold chains.
- Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson: Davidson apparently only owns one suit so he re-wore the same g-man suit he rocked at the White House Correspondent's Dinner over the weekend. But Kim's dress was special – it's an original Marilyn Monroe. Not a replica, the dress the actual star wore – and Kim says she had to lose 16lbs to fit into the dress. While Davidson's fashion is a little questionable, no one can doubt that Kim looks iconic.
- Jared Leto: We weren't actually sure which list to put this outfit on, but he really tried so he's getting some points for effort. Leto turned out wearing what seems to be patterned drapes turned into a black-lapel suit. But you know what? It works for him. The outfit was capped with black leather gloves, dark sunglasses, a red bow tie, and a twin – because why not?
- Addison Rae: It must have taken a long time to gather all the dimes her designer needed to make this dress, but the overall effect was stunning. Rae's dress is a silver bodycon nod to the feminine form, and it looks breathtaking.
- Megan Thee Stallion: Looked absolutely radiant in her betrained golden gown. With a slit nearly up to her hip and a mesh panel across the torso, it might be more sexy than chic if it weren't for the playful but impactful gold wing pauldrons. All together, the look was jaw-dropping and Megan looked fierce.
- Michelle Yeoh: The action star looked gorgeous in a shoulderless green mermaid gown. Flowing from her upper back was a grand cape of the same material and while it looked heavy, she pulled it off.
- Joe Jonas: Do you expect anything but the best from the Jonas brothers? Joe looked classic in a white tux interpretation of the theme with an admittedly odd lace cape flowing from the back of the jacket. Sophie Turner posed next to him looking confident in a head-to-toe black down with silver details down the front, cradling her baby bump.
- J Balvin: Balvin opted for a classic penguin tux and bright green hair – he looked elegant and confident.
- Shawn Mendes: He might be more suited for a cigar lounge than a red carpet, but Mendes' single button suit, turtleneck, and classic sideswept 'do give him a classic and debonair vibe.
- Ciara: Although it's arguable whether or not her dress fit the theme, Ciara turned heads as she strolled the red carpet in a geometric black-and-silver bodycon dress with a cold shoulder and generous slit on one leg.
The Worst Looks of the Night
Of course, everyone loves a well-dressed celebrity, but they don't generally watch the red carpet for the best looks. Everyone's here for the "What were they thinking?!" moments, and here are our favorites (or least favorites, as the case may be):
- Gwen Stefani: While the silhouette is legit in her cold shoulder princess two-piece ballgown, the color is enough to make eyeballs bleed. Whoever told her that "gilded glamour" meant "neon puke" really did Stefani a disservice, because she looks otherwise beautiful and confident. The giant flowers really add to the overall confusion of the piece.
- Katy Perry: It's shocking to have Perry on this list, as she's generally a fashion icon. But last night's outfit was a bizarre blend of kahki shorts and randomly draped mesh.
- Bella Hadid: We told you she'd be back again, and this weird North Point puffer jacket look just isn't working for us.
- Sarah Jessica Parker: She could almost be forgiven for wearing plaid to the red carpet – almost – if it weren't for her hat. SJP is known for crazy hats, but this one was too disjointed and out of place to be awarded any style points. But on the bright side, if she waits a few days it'll be Derby weekend and the hat can be resurrected from whatever fashion hell it spawned in.
- Sebastian Stan: Sebastian, what are you doing? If you're going to rock a Pepto Bismal-pink suit, at least make sure it fits.
- Tessa Mae Thompson: This was actually a tough pick because the baby pink dress itself looks beautiful – with a corseted-style torso and lightly draped gauze. But the fluffy train feels aggressive and vaguely threatening – we wouldn't look it in the eyes if we were following her down the carpet.
- Cara Delivigne: Cara can make anything look beautiful – except apparently whatever she wore on the red carpet last night. Gold pasties with some random gold chains over scarlet silk trousers – it was definitely a statement. What the statement said? Who knows – but it said it loudly.
- Chloe Bailey: It's hard to describe this shoulderless gown. Is it the color of mushed peas, or baby puke? Why does she have pillows stuffed under the hips of the dress? Is it supposed to make her chest look lopsided? It's a shame because Bailey's understated makeup look was absolutely on point and she's breathtaking herself – but the dress was confusing and unsettling.
- Emily Ratajkowski: We actually love the gold-and-gem-chain top, but the skirt was a bit of a miss. It looks like Ratajkowski was late to the red carpet so she dashed into grandma's closet for a last-minute item, and when she came out all of her silk scarves were static-clinged to the skirt. Might as well roll with it, right?
- Kylie Jenner: This was the perfect dress – if you're a swan getting married in a baseball cap. It was disjointed and out of place, but at least Kylie looked beautiful.
- Dakota Johnson: The 50 Shades actress always looks elegant, but she probably would have gotten more style points if she had remembered to take off her velvet bathrobe before joining the red carpet lineup.
- Dove Cameron: If you're looking to poke everyone behind you in the eye while you stroll the red carpet, Cameron's dress fits the bill.
When looking at fashion, there's on universal truth: everyone experiences their connection to fashion differently. So while some of these may have been huge misses for us, that doesn't mean they weren't worn with love and pride.
That's a wrap for the Met Gala 2022. For the full fashion run-down, click here.