KENDALL JENNER leads stars in showstopping gowns at the glamorous Met Gala
A- LIST STARS SPARKLE FOR THE RETURN OF FASHION’S BIGGEST NIGHT OUT
After going virtual last year during the height of the pandemic, New York’s Met Gala was back in all its glory to stake its claim as “the Oscars of Fashion”. Catwalk queens, pop princesses, film stars and even tennis players past and present upped their game for the glittering extravaganza – properly the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit – last week. Appropriately enough, the world’s highest- paid model for 2021, Kendall Jenner, led the way, striking a pose in an illusion tulle Givenchy gown, embroidered with crystals.
Meanwhile, fellow runway goddess Iman left no one in any doubt that she still has the Midas touch 45 years after her Vogue debut.
The 66-year-old model and philanthropist glowed in a shimmering chandelier gown, featuring a tiered gilded feathered overskirt and dramatic headpiece that took British- American designer Harris Reed, who
created the outfit in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, more than 400 hours to make.
“And just like that it’s #MetGala time again,” Iman wrote on Instagram, alongside a series of photographs of some of her previous looks from the ball.
Embracing the night’s theme o f American Independence, a prelude to the Met’s new In America:
A Lexicon of Fashion twopart exhibition, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez rocked a cowboy hat along with her chocolate-brown beaded Ralph Lauren dress, featuring a holsterstyle belt.
And showing her newly rekindled romance with
Ben Affleck is going great guns, she later shared a Covidfriendly kiss with the Oscarwinning star inside the museum, with both sporting requisite face masks.
STAR-SPANGLED ARRIVALS
Relishing the chance to show off their sartorial flair following last year’s cancellation and then the delay to this year’s gala, with the normal May date pushed back to September, the stylish guests could not wait to serve up a visual feast.
“We really want people to have fun and enjoy dressing up again,” said Vogue editor in chief Dame Anna Wintour, a Met Costume Institute trustee and the gala’s chair.
“We want to see a lot of independence and individuality,” she added. “And a different kind of spirit – something that breaks the rules a bit.”
With Covid- 19 still a concern, there was a new set
‘ We really want people to have fun and enjoy dressing up again’ Dame Anna Wintour
‘We want to see a lot of independence and individuality’ Dame Anna
of rules for the fashionistas to follow, including providing proof of vaccination, as required by the city of New York for entry to indoor entertainment venues, and wearing face masks inside when they were not eating or drinking.
This also meant a more pared-back red carpet – actually cream – than in previous years, but being smaller certainly did not make the arrivals any less impressive.
Adding to the model style, Irina Shayk went for sheer glamour in a Moschino nude strapless corset with strategically placed hand-beaded floral embellishments, while Joan Smalls and Lily Aldridge opted for white Ralph Lauren.
White was also the colour of choice for Gigi Hadid, who sported a Prada column dress, black leather gloves and a new fieryred high ponytail.
The 26- year- old Californian, whose daughter Khai, her child with singer boyfriend Zayn Malik, turns one this week, was delighted to catch up with Kendall, with the two briefly touching hands in passing as they posed for the cameras.
A TRUE LIBERTY BELLE
British actress Emily Blunt paid tribute to two US icons, channelling the spirit of the Statue of Liberty in a crystal-embossed Miu Miu gown paired with an ornate headpiece – inspired by silver-screen star Hedy Lamarr, known as “the most beautiful woman in film”.
Emily led the UK arrivals with fellow actress Sienna Miller, who left her boho-chic behind for glamorous Gucci lace worn with an oversized blush feathered coat.
Also honouring an acting legend, US singer Billie Eilish made a showstopping entrance in a sophisticated blush tulle gown by Oscar de la Renta, inspired by the dress Marilyn Monroe wore to the 1951 Oscars.
The look was a departure for the Happier Than Ever star, who acted as co-chair for the fundraiser along with Dame Anna, tennis player Naomi Osaka, actor Timothée Chalamet and poet Amanda Gorman.
More known for her grunge
aesthetic, Billie’s look “felt like a risk for her – it felt like something that made her nervous in a good way”, Oscar de la Renta creative director Fernando Garcia said. “At the end of the day, she’s a girl and she wants to look pretty.”
IN THE PINK
In contrast with Billie’s soft blush, bright pink was a popular choice for the gala, with actress Kristen Stewart going for ruffles from Chanel and model Lily-Rose Depp in a sequin bustier top and skirt from the label, while Carey Mulligan dazzled in bubblegum-hued Valentino.
Tennis star Serena Williams aced it as she arrived with her Reddit founder husband Alexis Ohanian, with the Wimbledon favourite rocking a lace Gucci bodysuit with a cream, pink and black feather dégradé cape.
Her sister Venus also courted a winning look in red
Prabal Gurung and told fans there could be another member of the clan at the event soon – her niece Olympia, Serena and Alexis’s four-year-old daughter.
“She wears dresses all day, every day, and insists on heels, so she’ll be here next year,” she said. “Next year, she’ll probably be chair.”
Joining Venus as ladies in red, model Karlie Kloss bloomed in a Carolina Herrera dress featuring ruffles shaped to look like rose petals, and Megan Fox was red hot in Dundas.
However, her sexy crimson a r t decoinspired gown, with daring laced- up cuto u t s , had a ver y surprising inspiration.
“I wanted a dress that I had seen in
Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” said the
New Girl actress,
‘ I wanted a dress I’d seen
in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
I’m very into gothic things and vampires’ Megan Fox
adding: “I’m very into gothic things and vampires and such.”
Making her Met Gala debut, catwalk star Kaia Gerber gave a nod to the event’s past with her strapless black Oscar de la Renta ballgown, a homage to the Halston dress Bianca Jagger wore to the event in 1981.
Also enjoying a first at the event, model Hailey Bieber’s chic Saint Laurent gown, with a crystal-trimmed sweetheart neckline, was in perfect harmony with her pop
‘ What’s more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!’ Kim Kardashian