As we see the headlines roll in of celebrities standing on the lavish red carpet of the Met Gala many people believe the purpose of this event is to simply to provide publicity for celebrities in extravagant pieces of clothing. However the Met Gala occurs the first Monday of every May to fund the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume industry. The Met Gala was created in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert, an esteemed fashion publicist hosting a gala in hopes of fundraising for the costume institute and celebrating the annual exhibit. In the present day, Anna Windsor, editor of Vogue is responsible for the organization of the Gala. A designer usually purchases a table and fills seats up with celebrities they would like to dress. Although it is not mandatory, the Met Gala is themed each year and this year it was Gilded Glamor, a period of prosperity in American history taking place approximately around 1870-1900. Women's fashions trends included floor length gowns made from materials such as silk, velvet, satin, covered with intricate details such as bows, buttons, lace, and frills. These are the top seven most on theme looks of this year that celebrate the true essence of the Met Gala. 5. LIZZO Lizzo’s Met Gala look turned the heads of many as she entered in a two piece black gown with a long trailing gold embroidered coat by Thom Browne. Her accessories included a stacked gold choker alongside the true showstopper, a $50,000 green gold flute designed by John Lunn. With this prestigious flute, Lizzo played Claude Debussy’s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faun a tune that could be heard by all of the attendees on the carpet. When being interviewed about her look Lizzo said “It took 22 thousand hours to make this coat,” adding “I'm just so happy to be in it, I feel like a piece of art.” (https://people.com). Thom Browne confirmed this statement, he also added that 13 different materials were used to create her gown and the floral stitching on her coat was done solely by hand. Altogether, Lizzo’s Met Gala look contributed very well to the theme and incorporated a sense of authenticness unique to herself that is refreshing to see at an event such as the Met Gala. 4. NICOLA COUGLAN Nicola Couglan attended her first Met Gala this year and already knows how to interpret a theme to perfection. Nicola’s look was created by British designer Richard Quinn; It consisted of a black and pink feathered gown with puffed sleeves, long black gloves, and an attached black cape. The look is embellished with Jimmy Choo heels and Swarovski jewelry. Some people have interpreted the feathers on Nicola’s gown to represent a feather quill used in the Gilded Glamor age.When asked about Nicola’s look Quinn said “We wanted to embody the theme through shape and textile without being too literal” (www.vogue.co.uk). Nicola Couglan also stars in hit television show “Bridgerton” set in the Regency era so attire of the Gilded Glamour age is not too unfamiliar to her. Overall, Nicola’s Met look integrated the theme of the Met Gala beautifully and also maintained a sense of modernity with the incorporation of her accessories. 3. EVAN MOCKInstead of opting to wear a simplistic black and white suit Evan Mock delivered with a tulip collared white button up and a light yellow satin suit. His pants are low rise wide-legged and corset details on his coat. His look was created by a Gen Z brand called Head of State. Evan’s attire was complemented with historic Cartier jewellry; this included a Retro Platinum Brooch, Retro de Cartier earrings, Maillon Panthère Ring, and Love Rings. Evan is credited with breaking the boundaries of gendered fashion with his ensemble. When being interviewed about the process of creating Evan’s look Taofeek Abijako, the designer explained how the period of Gilded Glamor age did not have any reference of fashion for people of color so this look is “... the reimagination of what this time would look like for a kid of color who often prefers street-skating over custom jewels. From there, the incorporation of his youthful and genderless aura became the main muse for his look”(http://officemagazine.net). In all, Evan’s Met Gala look was absolutely stunning and was able to capture the styles of the Gilded Glamor age elegantly and personally. 2. BILLIE EILISHBillie Elish attended the Met Gala in a completely upcycled custom Gucci dress. Billie wore a pale green and ivory corset with a satin ivory skirt attached. The look was completed with a purple flower pinned on the corset, fingerless green laced sleeves, beige vegan platform shoes, and a black choker. Her look was highly praised as not only did it meet the theme it also was authentic to Billie. When asked about her gown Billie said “I just wanted to be as eco-friendly as possible” (vogue.com, 2022). While her dress is stunning on the outside it also contains mechanics of gowns of that time such as a bustle, which is a device used to push out the back of the waist. Billie’s gown is not only able to give us a glimpse of her personal style, but is also able to emulate the richness of New York during the Gilded Glamor time period. 1. BLAKE LIVELYComing in first, Blake Lively’s attire was elegant, classy, and nailed all aspects of Gilded Glamor. Blake’s custom made Versace gown was a tribute to the statue of liberty, the gown unfolded from a bronze gown to a green gown representing the impact of oxidation. When the gown transitions into green the train of the dress has the celestial map also seen on the ceiling of Grand Central Station stitched onto it. Blake wore a crown to tie together her ensemble. When asked about the crown Blake said, "She has seven spikes representing the seven seas and the seven continents, which represents inclusivity, welcomeness, and freedom," (www.insider.com, 2022). Embedded within the crown contained 25 stones to symbolize the 25 windows on the statue. While the concept of the Statue of Liberty is already executed perfectly it does not end there. Blake’s nails, shoes, and clutch all paid tribute to different important locations in New York such as Central Park and The Chrysler Building. Overall, the theme of Gilded Glamor was interpreted thoughtfully into the gown and accessories of Blake Lively capturing the true essence of the Met Gala. In short, Blake Lively, Billie Ellish, Evan Mock, and Nicola Couglan were four people that were most successful in celebrating the true essence of the Met Gala in their striking apparel. Their choices of clothing were able to showcase the styles and trends of Gilded Glamor with feathers, satin, corsets, and lace.
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