It’s the first Monday of May again—the day the MET Gala takes place annually. And as usual, we will be playing fashion police for the world’s biggest stars.
What is the Met Gala Theme?
The theme for this year’s exhibition is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.
“The forthcoming show has not to do with the Brothers Grimm or Disney,” Vogue magazine says.
“But rather the celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile that it can’t ever be worn again — and are thus sleeping beauties in the scrupulous archives of the Costume Institute.”
What is the Met Gala Dress Code?
The official dress code for the Met Gala is The Garden of Time. Vogue says the dress code was inspired by a short story by J G Ballard — which was called The Garden of Time.
The theme is for the exhibition, the dress code is for the event. However, celebrities showed up in a blend of both—some looking ridiculously fabulous, some, ridiculously boring and others just looking ridiculous.
Favourite Looks (In No Particular Order)
Zendaya
One thing about Zendaya? She will always understand the assignment. A fashion queen through and through. Both looks and her makeup were stunning! Zendaya is 10000% who she thinks she is.
Tyla
Tyla makes her Met Gala debut wearing a custom Balmain crystal-embellished gown made out of sand. The creative vision behind the look and the execution of it is unmatched. We love to love whatever this pretty girl from Jo’burg does, and while the sand dress is a beautiful silhouette for Tyla’s hourglass shape, I’m not fully feeling it. It’s giving paper mache.
We are rating her 7.5/10 for creativity, staying on theme (after all, gardens literally grow out of sand(soil)), and the other details of her overall look—the shimmery sand on her shoulders, the gorgeous water raindrop nails, the understated elegance the gold jewellery lends to the look, and the hourglass bag twinning with her body.
Elle Fanning
The original sleeping beauty of our lifetime came wrapped in water with a mission to drown us in awe. *Chefs Kiss*. The water birds sculpted on the dress? This 9/10 look is one for the history books.
Ayo Edebiri
This is the Nigerian-American actress’ first MET, and while she stayed true to the theme with a floral gown, there’s not much to be wowed about. She kept it pretty but played it safe. 6/10 Ayo.
Anok Yai
She devoured in this bejewelled jumpsuit. Personally, I think people need to pay to look at her. I’m not sure how the outfit fits the theme, but with that face card? She can do whatever she wants. Solid 8/10.
Teyana Taylor
The rose of Harlem has dazzled us in this red dress. Everything, and I mean everything from top to bottom comes together to create perfection. The blondness of her up-do? Perfect. The red against her melanin? Glittery! The roses with the dripping red jewel detail? Stunning. That’s Mother I fear. 10/10.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner in Givenchy by Alexander McQueen is an 8/10 (I feel like she could have taken more risks with makeup). The look is very maleficent coded— like she just stepped out of a dark fairytale as the prettiest villain.
Mona Patel
Unreal. A breathtaking sight to behold. Exquisite. All that is missing is a crown. Dare I say the best dressed of the night?
Janelle Monae
Janelle in custom Vera Wang is sickening. What. A. Woman. 8/10.
Nicki Minaj
The queen of rap arrived looking like she belonged on the wall of the most exquisite and whimsical museum. She chewed, ate and devoured the theme, leaving not a single crumb in sight. 9/10 for Harajuku Barbie.
Lana Del Ray
*Looks at dress from top, going to bottom*: A serve! Trees all over the world will be green with envy.
*Gets to bottom*: Why can’t we have anything good?
7/10. We all know why she can’t possibly be rated any higher.
Keke Palmer
One of Hollywood’s most stunning mummy (pun intended) arose from her tomb to serve. 8/10 Keke!
Least Favourite looks (In No Particular Order)
Doja Cat
You know those times when your friends are ready, waiting and rushing you to get dressed so y’all can go out, but you’re still in the shower making them run really late. Then they make snide comments and you haughtily respond with something along the lines of “abi I should kuku tie my towel and go?” Doja Cat has shown us, latecomers, that it is indeed possible to tie your towel and go. Because what really is this nonsense? We are so tired of seeing her with outrageous looks that end up being so underwhelming and very annoying, especially when we know she has the potential to be a fashion icon.
We are rating her a 1, only because in this house, women never get zero. But for real, this is her last chance.
Special mention: Doja’s second ‘wet t-shirt’ look for the night, is reminiscent of statues that are found in gardens, and while I feel execution can be way better, I fuck with it. Let’s bump her score to a 4/10.
J Lo
Jennifer Lopez wears a sheer Schiaparelli dress for this year’s MET. The dress itself is gorgeous, but it’s so boring—I feel like I’ve seen this same look on different celebrities countless times, plus it doesn’t fit the theme at all. I mean, this picture could have been from the 2018 MET and that is not good enough because she’s a co-chair for this year’s show. The washed-out makeup makes her look exhausted, and the chunky jewellery on her neck isn’t doing justice to the overall look AT ALL.
5/10 to Jenny from the Block.
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly rocks the MET Gala red carpet in a stunning Maison Margiela Couture gown which features a corset, steel-like bodice. I love the blonde hair, but I can’t stand that it’s dishevelled—like she just woke up from sleep—, which is forgivable since it’s literally on theme. I need a favour though, that bolero cardigan she’s wearing on top, who can quickly fly to New York to yank it off her shoulder and throw it in the deepest parts of hell?
5 /10 to the Skims Mogul.
Taraji P Henson
From the neck up, is gorgeous. Down below is a mess and it’s the mesh that’s the main culprit.
Nah, she has way too much money for the mesh to be looking like that. It ruined what would have otherwise been a decent outfit. I don’t want to ever see such an ss3 prom night dress on the red carpet again.
4.8/10.
Rita Ora
I saw this, frowned my face and asked in bewilderment, “What is all this?”
Rita, speaking to Vogue answered, “We really wanted to take fashion — for me with the theme — into sort of a timeless beauty so all of these beads age back into the first and second century B.C. Some are older than I think anyone on this planet. The team searched really far to find such individual beads.”
This look has left me speechless. I don’t have much to say, except: 3/10 for her team’s anthropological efforts.
Cardi B
Hmmmmm. I’m trying to decide if this is Cardi’s first non-serve, even though she’s quite on theme with this billowy black dress as a black rose.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm. One thing about Cardi is that she will bring a huge train to the MET carpet.
I’ve decided.
Wearing something oversized doesn’t automatically make it stylish. The emerald jewellery, nails and makeup eat though.
4.5/10.
Kylie Jenner
The dress is gorgeous, and she is too, but there’s nothing MET gala-worthy here. She might as well have been going for someone’s wedding reception. The theme is “Garden of Time”, Kylie, not “Waste Our Time”. 4/10.
Dua Lipa
Can you tell she was being radically optimistic with this outfit? I love some risk-taking at the MET Gala red carpet and that’s exactly what she does with this look. Is it a serve though? Maybe the women in the sexy witches association will say so. 5/10 for this queen’s effort.
Serena Williams
I think it’s high time we declare an international emergency to get rid of Serena’s stylist. 3/10.
