Wow.
Hello everyone.
If you have any access to the internet, you know some event occurred last night where celebrities donned expensive outfits and walked up 150 + steps of stairs.
For those who are more involved in the fashion world, you know this event was the 2022 Met Gala, part II.
This event is hosted by Vogue Magazine and the Anna Wintour Costume Institute in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The gala is nothing short of spectacular even if not everyone gets the memo on how to dress.
Each year there is a theme and this year the event was broken up into two parts as the event was hosted twice to make up for the gala not happening in 2020. The theme was America: An Anthology in Fashion.
Celebrities, socialites, politicians, and now influencers mingle a the Met on the first Monday of May for dinner, drinks, dancing, and of course the creation of tomorrow's headlines.
And this year, they did not disappoint.
From confusion about who was actually Jared Leto, Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe’s dress, Gigi Hadid practically re-wearing Cardi B’s look, Nicki Minaj had some wardrobe malfunctions, Kylie wearing a baseball cap, veil, and wedding dress ensemble, and last but not least a red carpet marriage proposal - I will be breaking down some moments and thoughts from last nights proceedings.
Thoughts
To begin, I must explain my thought process regarding how I analyze outfits from the Met Gala. I am by no means a professional stylist, nor have any real experience with designers on this level, so I cannot speak to the processes at hand. What I can say is that as someone who studied Art History in school, work(ed) in and is pursuing a career in or around fashion, and has worked in events and PR - I look at this event truly from multiple perspectives.
Let me break them down below.
I. The Theme - The theme is there for a reason, chosen by both Anna Wintour and curators at the Met. The theme introduces the exhibit that the Gala is technically the opening event for. I take the themes seriously, and yes they are up to interpretation, but also there are things that are so out of bounds that it is hard to find the connecting point. This also brings up the point that the theme needs to be communicated well to those invited. If not, you kind of end up with what happened last night, and definitely what happened in September - a modge podge collage of outfits on the carpet.
II. The Designer - Every designer has their own style. Some Met Gala themes have been centered around designers (Alexander McQueen - Savage Beauty,) and hence the attendees will be channeling or wearing most of those looks. This leaves less room for the designers who are coming or dressing other attendees, but when I am looking at what they have designed for the person they are dressing, I still want to see their touch on the piece.
III. The Piece - Ahhhhh ok. So, a dress, outfits, pantsuit - whatever look you are wearing on the red carpet needs to be doing the most. Pushing the limits. I can appreciate a stunning dress even if it’s off-theme, but if a dress that is technically on theme or has a designer’s interpretation clearly displayed, but the craftsmanship is not up to par, I immediately think of it in a different light.
IV. The Person - My last evaluatory mark is who is wearing the piece. You really can tell when a designer and a person they are working with are not in sync. Most of the time designers pick the people they want to dress for events like this, but especially this. Sometimes, not to speak out of turn, the designers don’t realize the person isn’t the social fit that they thought they were. IE the translation of the outfit and their partnership to the public doesn’t bode well.
I, again, am no professional and I simply will not bash someone’s outfit, but I will pose questions or thoughts or opinions on why it may be missed the mark, or completely landed.
Lost in Translation
A reoccurring issue in September was that it seemed that no one knew what the theme was, or really what they were doing at the Met Gala. I felt like everyone got a memo 3 days before, and then were wracking their brains to incorporate the theme into the already-completed pieces.
The theme for May was much more clearly relayed and left less room for interpretation that would fall off the mark, but we still had several people whose outfits fell flat.
The below attendees, in my opinion, stood out as completely not understanding what the theme was. I felt like they missed the mark, and I was disappointed by the potential that went to waste.
Even Kim Kardashian wearing the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress was off the mark. The Gilded Age was not during JFK’s presidency…
Winnie Harlow, Dakota Johnson, Megan Thee Stallion, Cara Delavigne, SZA, Anderson Paak, Kim Kardashian, Tommy Dorfman, Kendall Jenner, (Every man that walked the red carpet besides Jared Leto…), Dove Cameron, Ansel Elgort, Bella Hadid, Kacey Musgraves, Kylie Jenner
Just There
These individuals seemed to just quite literally be there. The outfits were beautiful but made no sense. They could’ve been worn on a regular red carpet and sparkles, but should not have been worn to the Met Gala.
Alexa Chung, Carey Mulligan, Lin Manuel Miranda, Daisy Edgar Jones, Kate Moss, Austin Butler
Outfit Repeaters
Gigi, my dear, I expected more. You can bring it, I know you can, but I am not sure the look was it. Reminiscent of Cardi B’s look from several years prior, I am not sure what part was connected to the Gilded Age, but it definitely was connected to being a copy.
Hailey as well looked stunning. Breathtaking even. But she has worn a basic white dress to every red carpet event this year and it’s getting a bit boring.
Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber
On-Theme
Literally no comment. They all look amazing.
Jasmine Tookes, Emma Chamberlain, Lizzo, Evan Mock, Gemma Chan, Adwoa Aboah
The Winners
These individuals crushed it with their understanding, interpretation, and execution of the theme. Blake Lively’s dress patinad right before our eyes. Emma embraced the corset and tiara look for that time, and Jodie Turner-Smith sparkled in gorgeous beading and pleats.
Blake Lively, Jodie Turner-Smith, Billie Eilish, Gemma Chan, Emma Chamberlain,
Rachel’s Personal Favorites List
Last but not least, my personal favorites list.
Kris Jenner, Tessa Thompson, Nicola Coughlan, Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Hill, Sydney Sweeney, Michelle Yeoh, Precious Lee, Lucy Boynton, Gabrielle Union, Maude Apatow
Overall Thoughts
So, having walked through the outfits, I think the lasting thoughts of last night lean more into where the Met Gala is headed.
It seems overall that each year the guest list becomes more and more confusing, the outfits less interesting, and the overall aura of the event is less spectacular.
Now, we also come to the reality that celebrity-dom is changing. You can become famous more easily than any other time in history with so many platforms allowing you to have prominence. As Gen Z becomes older and enters the “real world” they begin to dictate more trends and who holds their attention.
I think the past several years the guest list of the Met Gala has been slightly off. They will have a win with Timothee Chalamet, Lizzo, Harry Styles, or Emma Chamberlain, but the majority of the guest list seems a bit out of nowhere.
Or, in a means to grasp a wider audience’s attention they invite Paul Mescal and Phoebe Bridgers, or Alexa Chung for the 10th time - but all very last minute.
Celebrities are also pulling some middle school-level disinterest. Trying to act cool by not embracing the theme, or even doing a Google search just to understand it is getting old. The event is for the Costume Institute - embrace that. Wear something that is more costume than a look.
Why not? It’s fun, it’s also couture, and it’s so much more exciting than wearing something safe.
I will conclude by saying that I love the Met Gala, and will always remain an unhinged woman on the first Monday of May, but I believe some changes are needed and will most likely come to keep the event at its grandiose level of frivolity.
Honorable Mention Moments
Besides the hits and misses of the red carpet, there were some great moments as well. Emma Chamberlains interview with Jack Harlow, Ms. Minaj almost flashing us on the red carpet, an NYC commissioner’s marriage proposal, and Lizzo playing the flute up the stairs. I must also shout out Tom Ford’s majestic voice, listening to him being interviewed was nothing short of awe-inducing.
Thank you so much for reading this far, and I hope you enjoyed this special edition of the newsletter.