The annual Met Gala took place Monday night in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The attendees ranged from influencers to A-list celebrities wearing a range of designer ensembles to encapsulate this year’s exhibition’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” According to the Met, the theme explores concepts of rebirth and renewal, with nature serving as a metaphor for the ever-changing world of fashion.
This year’s Met Gala featured approximately 250 rare items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, according to Vogue. The dress code for the event was “The Garden of Time,” with an aimed tribute to the natural world.
‘Tis the season to pretend my major is in fashion and not communication! Here are my top 10 looks of this year’s Met Gala.
1. Alia Bhatt
The British actress wore a custom Sabyasachi mint-green and floral Indian saree with a 23-foot train to capture “The Garden of Time” dress code. Bhatt took to Instagram to share that the dress was handcrafted in India by 163 artisans and took about 1965 hours to create.
2. Tyla
The “Water” singer chose to focus on the time aspect of “The Garden of Time” theme for her Met Gala debut. With a nod to the sands of time, Balmain and its creative director, Olivier Rousteing, created a dress made out of three colors of sand mixed with micro crystal studs.
3. Mona Patel
Patel, an Indian fashion entrepreneur, made her Met Gala debut in a head-turning Iris Van Herpen creation. The gown featured a long train, Indian embroidery and butterflies that moved in slow motion on Patel’s arms as she walked. The Dutch fashion label is renowned for combining technology with couture craftsmanship.
4. Ariana Grande
Grande made her Met Gala comeback after 6 years in an ethereal bustier dress by Loewe featuring a mother-of-pearl bodice and chiffon skirt. The singer noted the meaningfulness of the Pearl being her birthstone, and the opalescent shades of green and pink in the gown as a nod to “Wicked,” where she will star as Glinda in the film this November. Grande also performed at the Gala alongside her “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo.
5. Bad Bunny
The singer and a co-chair of the 2024 Met Gala wore a custom Maison Margiela Artisanal Collection by John Galliano. He arrived on the carpet holding a flower bouquet made from the same navy barathea wool as his jacket. Inside the bouquet are flora de maga (the national flower of Puerto Rico), roses (symbols of purity and beauty), and flax (the plant that Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on in the fairytale). Both the exhibition’s theme and dress code are represented in the ensemble.
6. Elle Fanning
The actress looked elegant in a transparent dress by Balmain with sculptural birds attached to each shoulder, giving an icy appearance. The bodice of the dress was made from a mold of Fanning’s body and dipped in resin to resemble glass. The look pays homage to Sleeping Beauty herself, who Fanning coincidentally played in the 2014 film “Maleficent.”
7. Dan Levy
In another Loewe ensemble, the Schitt’s Creek creator and star wore a stunning simple, yet still on-theme suit with a fading floral pattern featuring embroidered “caviar” beading. Levy wore a much more dramatic look at the 2021 Met Gala, also by Loewe.
8. Rachel Zegler
The upcoming Snow White actress looked gorgeous in Dior glam and an icy blue custom Michael Kors gown, drawing inspiration from a 1957 photo of Marilyn Monroe. The flowing blue sash made for a water-like effect.
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9. Jonathan Bailey
The “Bridgerton” actor looked dashing in a white double-breasted jacket with black trousers by Loewe. To stick with “The Garden of Time Theme,” a metal hand-painted peony with a “sugar crystal” texture replaced a bow tie. Bailey unbuttoned his jacket on the carpet to reveal a secret matching flower on his trouser pocket, an idea of his own.
10. Zendaya
Last, but certainly not least, what fashion ranking would be complete without Zendaya? The actress, and a co-chair of this year’s Gala, turned heads in a custom siren gown by Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano. She walked the carpet again in a second extravagant look, accompanied by her long-time stylist, Law Roach.
Until next year to be an unofficial, unqualified judge of the grandest evening in fashion!
