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Themed around Camp: Notes on Fashion, the Met Gala 2019 was sure to be the most theatrical event in fashion this year. Here are the very best looks…
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One of the looks which was surprisingly subtle in the drama it offered was Kim Kardashian’s ‘wet’ look dress. ‘Wet’ looks are rarely noteworthy in the plethora of forms that they have taken on the red (or in this instance pink) carpet but, Kardashian’s look was simply poetic. Her sculpted dress that dripped in water-droplet crystals was truly breathtaking. It had been designed by Thierry Mugler himself, having not designed for the house in 20 years. He was inspired, however, by the vision of Kim as a Californian girl getting out of the water. His vision really was realised last night.
The Kardashian/Jenner team were out in force last night, with Kendall Jenner impressing with an equally theatrical look to her sister. Jenner wore a vibrant orange Versace gown with a particularly extravagant feather embellishment. This was paired with a stunning Tiffany & Co. gold with imperial topaz and diamonds necklace and earrings set that glowed in the reflection of the bright orange. Jenner truly embodied the theme of the exhibition, which was based on “irony, humour, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality and exaggeration”.
Always one for a look that instantly screams Gucci, Jared Leto was dressed head-to-toe (quite literally) by the fashion house for last night’s event. Leto wore a balloon-sleeved silk red gown with diamonds draped across the shoulders and down the bodice of the dress. Alone this was seemingly one of Leto’s more muted Met Gala looks but not once his severed head accessory is discussed. He carried this exact replica of his own likeness like a clutch, which harked back to the Gucci Fall-Winter 2018 show in Milan. With this particular look, Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and Leto once again proved what a pairing they are when it comes to the exaggerated platform of the Met Gala.
If a 10 person entourage is required to aid your movement, it is fair to surmise that it is a dress that embodies the theatricality, exaggeration and perhaps parody of the Met Gala 2019. In a red dress that celebrated femininity and her definition of camp, Cardi B was escorted up the steps by a team who held her extra large quilted and feathered train. It was the Rihanna 2015 canary-yellow Guo Pei gown for this year’s festivities. They both will be remembered as some of the most extreme Met Gala looks ever to tackle the steps.
As with his Oscars attire, Billy Porter always manages to dress aptly for an occasion whilst challenging the norm. For the Met Gala 2019, he wanted to embody camp as he views it – as high fashion, art and craft. This meant that he opted for a suitably dramatic “Sun God” ensemble, by The Blonds, which featured a catsuit with 10-foot wings. To match such a bejewelled showstopper, he also wore a 24-karat gold headpiece and custom gold-leaf Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. With this, he embraced a theme of Ancient Egypt which stemmed from Diana Ross’ Ancient Egypt-inspired look in 1975’s Mahogany. It was stunning, as was his entrance raised on the shoulders of six golden men. This was drama personified.
No one, though, was bolder than Janelle Monáe. In custom Christian Siriano, Monáe’s dress played with proportion and technology. An innately fun ensemble, from the balanced headwear to the blinking eye, it is hard not to see why Monáe claimed that:
“I am camp. It’s embedded in my DNA.”
The dress bought together two of Monáe’s passions: science fiction and Picasso. The technological aspect of the piece was a nod to the fantasy of science fiction, whilst the twisted art a homage to Picasso’s style. Monáe particularly wanted to pay tribute to his African Period in the early 20th Century in which he created his renowned fragmented portraits. It was high art.
Somewhat overlooked in the spectacle of it all, Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter were still impeccably theatrical. Cumberbatch, in particular, donned a classic head-to-toe white suit which included a matching fedora. Looking as though he may have been in acting in Brideshead Revisited, he finished the look with an emerald green brooch, embroidered smoking slippers and a tasseled walking stick. Hunter meanwhile wore a billowing Roksanda dress in a soft lilac. The pair are the perfect example of couples dressing, dressing that is that complements rather than matches.
Never one to disappoint at the Met Gala, Gigi Hadid was this year a vision in sequins. Designer Michael Kors and she discussed that this outfit must be one which simply could not be worn anywhere else and with this, its impact is understandable. Hadid sported a sequined catsuit, with matching boots, cap and feathered cape coat. She even matched the ensemble with dramatic white eyelashes. Of the look Kors explained that:
“She’s the greatest kind of camp, gay dinner party ever. It’s Liberace. It’s Cher. It’s Elton John. It’s a little Great Gatsby – a little Daisy Buchanan. They all walked into a bar.”
Together then Hadid’s look was true to the theme and just glorious.
Dresses with lighting incorporated are not new to the Met Gala, as Claire Danes comes to mind, but Zendaya had a truly iconic Cinderella moment this year. With her stylist Law Roach acting as her fairy godmother, Zendaya stood at the foot of the pink carpeted steps as her dress lit around her. With a flick of his wand, and a few wisps of smoke, light trickled up the Tommy Hilfiger ball gown to create a magical show. In fact, she managed to create a mesmerizing moment in an entire evening of pageantry.
The most theatrical look of the night however must certainly be awarded to Lady Gaga – or more specially her four looks. Brandon Maxwell created four increasingly minimal outfits for her which Gaga sported as only she could. Each new reveal seemingly was accompanied with a new persona. In essence, Gaga put on a show. Starting with a bright fuchsia voluminous robe with a matching bow headpiece, Gaga was also surrounded by a team of suited men carrying umbrellas. From pink to black to pink and black again, this was a spectacle. It was the moment of the night and quite simply the definition of camp.
Be bold too with our bright color pop accessories…
