Fashion’s biggest night is officially back. After being cancelled in 2020 and postponed earlier this year, The Met Gala made its grand return last night in New York City. After over a year, anticipation for the event was high, from leaked fake seating charts to high profile chairs. Even the attendance list itself had people talking, from the absence of event favorites Zendaya and SZA, to the vaccination requirement causing some (cough cough, Nicki) to stay home.
The Gala’s theme this year, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, is a tribute to the history of American fashion. The stars ran with this, serving diverse inspirations and plenty of drama. Here are the biggest winners and losers from last night.
The Met Gala Ten
1. Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X couldn’t be hotter right now. After wearing a stunning, Rick-James-meets-Prince suit to Sunday’s VMA’s, where he won three awards including Video of the Year, it was hard to imagine how he’d top his showmanship for Monday. But Lil Nas had the last laugh when he made not one, not two, but THREE outfit changes on the carpet. Wearing all Versace, Lil Nas first hit the carpet in a golden brocade cloak, which he unshouldered to reveal gold-plated armor. Beneath THAT was a skin-tight bedazzled gold jumpsuit, made for a stage. Although the connection to the theme of American fashion wasn’t so clear, with this much drama and detail, it’s hard to care.
2. A$AP Rocky & Rihanna
Two of the most anticipated guests of the night, A$AP Rocky & Rihanna arrived fashionably late. The couple seemed happy and in love on the carpet, looking even cozier together than their his-and-hers duvet jackets. Rihanna is known Met Gala royalty, specifically after a legendary 2016 entrance that still gets people talking. This year, the looks lacked some inspiration. When Rocky dropped his coat, which Twitter fans joked looked like a comforter he ripped off his bed, he revealed no more than a basic black suit. The two looked beautiful (after all, they are) but left much to be desired in the fit department.
3. Frank Ocean
The award for weirdest look of the night has to go to Frank Ocean, who entered with a realistically moving, alien-green robot baby on his hip. Ocean, who recently debuted his own luxury brand Homer, topped off his look with an iced-out diamond chain from the label and a baseball cap reading “Dreamcore.” Whatever his thought process may have been, matching your robotic doll’s slime-green skin tone to your buzz cut is the definition of effort.
4. Kim Kardashian
Kim, known for her famous face and physique, took a different approach for this years Met Gala: complete coverage. Kanye’s recent penchant for wearing full-face masks clearly inspired Kim’s look, and Twitter couldn’t stop speculating whether or not her similarly-masked date was Ye himself. In fact, it was Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia, who undeniably resembled Kanye. Fanfare aside, with no clear ties to the theme, Kim needed to take a cue from Lil Nas X and go for some more theater, and maybe something less…..legging-like. At least the mystery was there.
5. Lil Uzi Vert
Of course, the dark prince himself! Uzi’s gothic look by Thom Browne was a perfect combination between pushing boundaries and embodying his own style. With an insane black leather purse matching the legendary Erykah Badu’s (who had a blast comparing outfits with him throughout the night), Uzi was playing dress-up in the best way.
6. Kid Cudi
Though Cudder’s dramatic eye-makeup and floor length skirt stood out, after the downright insanity that was Frank Ocean’s entrance this look couldn’t help but feel derivative; the larger-than-life chain, the green buzzcut. However, the Louis Vuitton look, complete with a blue teddy sweatshirt that read “Amen Breakers,” felt thrown together and confusing. Weirdness belongs at the Met Gala, and Frank’s animatronic offspring was the definition of weird, and just more memorable than Cudi’s attempt.
7. Megan Thee Stallion
THEE hot girl is always a show-stopping stunner, but can someone get her a new stylist? Her pink Coach ensemble, though perfectly tailored, felt like a rich suburban teenagers prom dress. Meg’s commanding presence deserved better than this, and after the kind of bad-ass dominatrix looks she’s been pulling out at recent performances, she deserved a look that matches her star power. Especially at her first Met Gala!
8. Jack Harlow
Even around the industry’s hottest couples, it’s hard to top the holy matrimony of Jack Harlow and a velvet suit. He wears it out. Tommy Hilfiger is the perfect brand to match the theme, and the toned down red-and-blue stripes were the most elegant take on the American flag all night.
9. Lil Baby
The jewels are giving, and Baby knows how to wear a turtleneck. Indeed, the tailoring is everything here. But one has to ask: why does he always look like he’s in trouble with the principal?
10. Saweetie
Saweetie’s draped look by Christian Cowan makes her moniker “the icy girl” an understatement. The bedazzled gown molded to her body perfectly, and ended in a glorious train, which was inspired by the Black American Heritage and Filipino flags; a perfect ode to the theme and her own personal history. Chatting with Keke Palmer, she got emotional while sharing the inspiration for her first ever Met Gala appearance. “That’s what makes me an American girl,” she said, glowing. No notes.
Written by Hattie Lindert | Twitter
All images via Getty Images