It’s often referred to as ‘the biggest night in fashion’ for a reason.
While the Met Gala is just one of many annual events cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic over the past year, it certainly stood out as one of the most missed. With that in mind, millions were disappointed when it was announced at the beginning of the year that the Met Gala would be cancelled for a second time.
Luckily, the tide now seems to be turning, allowing Met Gala organisers to announce that this much-anticipated yearly event will return in September, for the first of two themed events celebrating the pioneers and staples of American fashion!
In preparation for the return of fashion’s most prestigious red carpet, DDW highlights a few of our favourite Met Gala looks of all time!
Cardi B
Cardi B’s inaugural Met Gala outing came with the 2018 ball, where she was beautifully dressed in a pearl-embellished Moschino gown to fit with the event’s Heavenly Bodies theme. It was by no means a subtle look, featuring a plunging neckline and thigh-high split, but it somehow appears casual when compared with her follow-up for the 2019 event.
Tasked with fitting into the theme of Camp, Cardi B opted for this showstopping oxblood padded gown by Thom Browne, which took a team of 35 people over 2,000 cumulative hours to complete. The dress was far less revealing than her previous look, with Cardi covered from head-to-toe in silk, tulle and 30,000 coque feathers.
Zendaya
While Zendaya consistently ranks high when it comes to the best-dressed at the Met Gala each and every year, there’s certainly one gown within her Met Gala wardrobe that stands above the rest.
It was during 2018’s event that Zendaya channelled her inner warrior in an incredible Joan Of Arc-inspired dress by Versace. Emulating the look of traditional medieval armor, the dress featured chainmail and metal shoulder-guards, though these more hardened elements of the gown were softened by sequins throughout and a sheer figure-hugging dress worn underneath.
Rihanna
Having been celebrated for no shortage of memorable fashion moments over the years (Who could forget her sheer mesh gown, decorated with over 230,000 Swarovski crystals?), there’s always plenty of anticipation surrounding Rihanna’s Met Gala looks.
One of her very best is the extravagant Comme Des Garcons flower-bomb gown, which she paired with thigh-high lace-up red sandals, for the 2017 event celebrating the Comme Des Garcons brand. Bold, bright and delightfully complex, this was yet another look from Miss Fenty that got everybody talking.
Beyonce
If there’s one woman who never fails to ensure that all eyes are fixed very firmly on her, it’s Beyonce – and her 2015 Met Gala gown was a masterclass in achieving this.
Long-sleeved, high-necked and floor-length, it may not sound like the evening’s obvious showstopper on paper. However, the Givenchy gown was entirely sheer, with only colourful stones in place to leave anything to the imagination – it’s not a look that everyone could take on, but it worked a dream for Queen B.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardshian’s 2019 Met Gala ‘caught in the rain’ look was nothing short of immaculate. While the foundation of her sheer custom-made Thierry Muegler dress – neutral in colour and fairly simple in design – seemed somewhat simple, it was beauartifully designed and embellished to capture the moment of being quite literally dripping wet.
The dress was layered over a corset that further enhanced Kim’s famously-hourglass figure by creating the illusion that her waist was even tinier – a corset that took a team of several people to help her get into.
Any guesses on this year’s best-dressed list? In any case, we imagine that the women above will most definitely make an appearance.