Rating: 6.5/10
For fashion fans all over the world, the Met Gala is often considered one of the biggest nights of the year. Monday marked the 70th annual star-studded charity event. The highlighted theme from the museum’s featured exhibit — “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” — provided an exploration of the art of Black dandyism and men’s fashion.
This year’s theme was deemed to be outside of the box compared to the Met’s past expeditions, as it featured a topic that was non-Western. All eyes were on our favorite A-list celebrities to see if they would rise to the occasion and stick to a theme with important historical context and meaning. While some did, others did not.
Some of the best looks from the night were ones that played into the theme of the exhibition: “Tailored for You.” Onlookers were under the impression that men would finally have the opportunity to explore a more ambitious side to fashion outside of the safe option — a black tuxedo. However, it’s safe to say that the male attendees did not venture far from the box (if they even left it at all).
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The best looks from the male crowd that fit well with the theme came from A$AP Rocky and Usher. While A$AP and Usher embraced the traditional silhouette of a black suit, their looks consisted of details and elements that spoke to the theme perfectly. Both looks incorporated canes, bedazzled umbrellas, fob chains, bejeweled brooches and other accessories that worked in their favor to elevate a subtle look.
Celebrity stylist Law Roach was also seen sporting a fabulous custom black crushed velvet Burberry suit. His approach to incorporating different textures and flared silhouettes made his ensemble stand out among his peers. His use of authentic vintage accessories sourced from eBay added a unique component to his look and embraced the vintage aspect of the theme.
Regardless of gender identity, guests were still expected to embrace the idea of wearing a classic, fitted piece. Certain female celebrities leaned into this and hit the theme right on the nose. Icons like Rihanna, Teyana Taylor and Emma Chamberlain went with classic pinstripes and played with a classic suit silhouette, making the looks more feminine.
Accessories were also a big component in upgrading outfits. Taylor’s durag, hidden beneath a velvet top hat, beautifully paid homage to Black culture while Rihanna’s polka-dotted floppy tie was a clear tribute to the dandy era.
Other female celebrities who shone on the red carpet leaned into modern representations of dandyism. Lauryn Hill stood out in a butter yellow baggy pantsuit and gave a feminine twist to the masculine theme while Zendaya opted for a fitted, monochromatic zoot suit, and, don’t worry, she did not forget her big hat.
The Met is no stranger to playing host to avant-garde representations of its themes. The abstract is always embraced as long as it’s on theme.
Janelle Monáe gave a beautiful representation of “time-traveling” dandyism through an abstract lens with a deconstructed suit and monocle. Joey King surprisingly suited up for the event and delivered a colorful getup that was androgynous and perfectly on theme. This look certainly earned her redemption in the public eye from her past red carpet failures.
Other honorable mentions from the night include looks from Dapper Dan, who paid tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, FKA Twigs in an embossed flapper-inspired gown, Zoe Saldaña in a floor-length suit dress and Colman Domingo’s shapeshifting outfit, which started as a floor-length royal blue cape and transformed into a patterned black and white suit.
Unfortunately, while so many celebrities respectfully executed the theme, there are a few outliers that have caused a stir for either being off theme or inappropriate.
Making this list is your favorite artist’s favorite artist, Chappell Roan, who showed up in an embellished, pink, disco-inspired suit that perfectly captures her vibe. However, it did not capture the vibe of the event, nor did it speak to the theme. She certainly stood out among her peers, but for the wrong reasons.
Controversially, Sabrina Carpenter has made best dressed lists but has also fallen victim to criticism regarding her outfit. Her maroon pinstripe bodysuit would have been perfect had there been some type of bottom to complete the look. After wearing bodysuits nearly every day for the past year, one would assume she would want to take a break and embrace the theme a bit more.
BLACKPINK member Lisa also fell victim to scrutiny over her seemingly inappropriate outfit that was rumored to have civil rights figure, Rosa Parks, embroidered on her crotch. While it has been debunked that the woman pictured is not Parks, the public is still wondering why there are faces embroidered on Lisa’s panties.
The looks mentioned don’t even begin to scrape the surface of all the art that was shown at this year’s Met. While there were some shortcomings, the apparel that really stood out were the ones that paid homage to a theme that is deeply personal to generations of Black Americans.
The Met is always a controversial event due to its elitist nature, however, this year was an opportunity to break down that barrier through its theme. Designers who were devoted to this concept started strong and ended strong, while designers who didn’t choose to highlight the theme ended up on worst dressed lists.
This year was an opportunity to honor a culture that has so much influence on American fashion. To the designers and artists who took this theme seriously, we give you your flowers, but to the designers who did not see it important to participate in the theme, it is a reflection of the values that these brands hold important.
