Mortal goddesses and angels drop into New York to grace the Met Gala

Katy Perry came as an archangel, Rihanna dressed like the pope, and Kim Kardashian was a golden goddess on Monday, at the Met Gala in New York. It was a night of high fashion inspired by religion, as bejewelled crosses, veils and halo-inspired headdresses ruled the red carpet. From saints to sinners, guests took to heart this year’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute ball. The Met Gala is known as the Oscars of the East Coast for its celebrity guest list and stunning outfits, and this year did not disappoint. Although some commentators had feared the Catholic theme might yield the most controversial gala ever, most of the actors, models and music stars stayed on the right side of propriety in colours of red, white, gold and black. Rihanna, one of the co-hosts, sported a head-turning, jewel-encrusted mitre with matching mini-dress and a priestly-style cape designed by Maison Margiela. Katy Perry (pictured) wowed in feathered 6-foothigh white wings teamed with a Versace gold mini-dress and thigh-high gold boots. The invitation-only Met Gala is a fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and also marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition. The 2018 exhibit shows how Catholicism has influenced fashion and designers through the decades and features more than 50 vestments and other religious items direct from the Vatican.