The Met Gala, also known as the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Since its inception in 1948, the Met Gala has grown to become one of the most prestigious and anticipated fashion events of the year, where celebrities, designers, and artists converge to showcase extravagant, innovative, and sometimes controversial outfits. Over the years, the Met Gala has seen countless memorable looks, but some have transcended the event to become truly iconic. This essay delves into the most iconic Met Gala looks, exploring their designers, inspirations, unique details, the themes of their respective years, red carpet reactions, and their lasting impact on fashion.
Iconic Looks in History
- Cher’s Bob Mackie Nude Dress (1974)
- Rihanna’s Guo Pei Yellow Dress (2015)
- Blake Lively’s Versace Dress (2018)
- Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell Reveal (2019)
- Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella Dress (2019)
Designers and Inspiration
The designers behind these iconic looks drew inspiration from various sources, often reflecting their own unique aesthetics while interpreting the Met Gala’s themes.
Bob Mackie and Cher (1974)
Bob Mackie, known for his extravagant, theatrical designs, created the “naked” dress for Cher, inspired by the idea of pushing boundaries and celebrating the human form. Mackie has always been fascinated by the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood, and this dress was a perfect embodiment of that era’s boldness.
Guo Pei and Rihanna (2015)
Chinese designer Guo Pei, relatively unknown in the Western fashion world at the time, designed the opulent yellow gown worn by Rihanna. Pei drew inspiration from Chinese imperial heritage, creating a dress that was both a nod to her culture and a statement of global fashion. The gown took over two years to make and weighed an astounding 55 pounds.
Versace and Blake Lively (2018)
Blake Lively’s 2018 Met Gala gown was designed by Donatella Versace, who drew inspiration from the theme “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” The dress combined religious iconography with Versace’s signature boldness, resulting in a gown that featured intricate beadwork, a dramatic train, and a celestial aura.
Brandon Maxwell and Lady Gaga (2019)
For the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme, Brandon Maxwell designed a multi-layered outfit for Lady Gaga, inspired by the concept of exaggeration and theatricality central to the theme. The look consisted of four distinct layers, each revealing a different aspect of Gaga’s larger-than-life persona.
Tommy Hilfiger and Zendaya (2019)
Zendaya’s Cinderella-inspired gown by Tommy Hilfiger for the same theme was a blend of childhood fantasy and high fashion. The dress was equipped with LED lights that illuminated the gown, creating a magical transformation on the red carpet.
Details of the Looks
What makes these looks special is not just the designers’ vision but the meticulous details that went into their creation.
Cher’s Bob Mackie Nude Dress (1974)
Cher’s dress was made of sheer fabric adorned with strategically placed rhinestones and feathers, giving the illusion of nudity while maintaining an aura of elegance and sophistication. The combination of minimal coverage with maximum impact made it a revolutionary moment in fashion.
Rihanna’s Guo Pei Yellow Dress (2015)
Rihanna’s dress featured a massive fur-trimmed cape with intricate embroidery, creating a stunning silhouette. The vibrant yellow color was a bold choice that stood out amidst the sea of more subdued tones typically seen on the red carpet. The craftsmanship and sheer scale of the gown were unparalleled.
Blake Lively’s Versace Dress (2018)
The Versace dress worn by Blake Lively was a deep red velvet creation with gold beadwork, crystals, and intricate embroidery. The dress featured a dramatic, flowing train and a fitted bodice, exuding both regality and sensuality. The attention to detail, from the beading to the color choices, showcased Versace’s dedication to craftsmanship.
Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell Reveal (2019)
Lady Gaga’s outfit consisted of a series of reveals, starting with a voluminous pink coat that opened to reveal a black gown, which then transformed into a hot pink dress, and finally a sparkling bra and panties set. Each layer was accessorized with different props, including a giant bow, a phone, and sunglasses, emphasizing the camp theme through exaggerated fashion and performance art.
Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella Dress (2019)
Zendaya’s Cinderella dress was made from light blue tulle and featured a fitted bodice and a voluminous skirt. The highlight was the LED lights embedded within the dress, which lit up as she made her entrance, mimicking the transformation scene from Disney’s Cinderella. The inclusion of her stylist, Law Roach, as the fairy godmother added a theatrical touch to the presentation.
The Theme of the Year
The Met Gala themes play a crucial role in shaping the fashion choices of the attendees, often pushing designers and celebrities to think outside the box.
Cher’s Bob Mackie Nude Dress (1974)
The theme for 1974 was “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design,” celebrating the glitz and glamour of the golden age of Hollywood. Cher’s daring choice perfectly encapsulated the boldness and allure of classic Hollywood.
Rihanna’s Guo Pei Yellow Dress (2015)
The 2015 theme was “China: Through the Looking Glass,” which aimed to explore the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion. Rihanna’s gown was a standout, both for its cultural homage and its dramatic presentation.
Blake Lively’s Versace Dress (2018)
The 2018 theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” inspired outfits that merged religious iconography with high fashion. Blake Lively’s gown was a divine interpretation of the theme, balancing sacred and sensual elements.
Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell Reveal (2019)
The 2019 theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” was based on Susan Sontag’s essay and emphasized exaggeration, theatricality, and irony in fashion. Lady Gaga’s outfit was a quintessential example of camp, blending multiple layers of performance and sartorial excess.
Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella Dress (2019)
Also under the 2019 “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme, Zendaya’s dress embodied the fantastical and playful aspects of camp, transforming a childhood fairytale into a modern, high-fashion spectacle.
Red Carpet Reaction
The reception of these iconic looks on the red carpet was a mix of awe, admiration, and sometimes controversy, with fashion critics and the public weighing in on their impact.
Cher’s Bob Mackie Nude Dress (1974)
Cher’s dress was both celebrated and criticized for its boldness. While some saw it as a groundbreaking fashion statement, others deemed it too risqué. However, it undeniably set a new standard for red carpet fashion, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable and expected.
Rihanna’s Guo Pei Yellow Dress (2015)
Rihanna’s entrance in the Guo Pei gown was met with gasps and applause. Fashion critics praised her for taking a risk and spotlighting an Asian designer, while the public was captivated by the grandeur and drama of the look. The dress quickly became a viral sensation, spawning countless memes and solidifying its place in Met Gala history.
Blake Lively’s Versace Dress (2018)
Blake Lively’s Versace gown received widespread acclaim from fashion critics for its intricate design and thematic relevance. The public admired her regal appearance and the meticulous craftsmanship of the dress, with many considering it one of the best looks of the evening.
Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell Reveal (2019)
Lady Gaga’s multi-layered performance on the red carpet was a showstopper, with critics and fans alike praising her for embracing the camp theme with such enthusiasm. Each reveal was met with cheers and astonishment, making it one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella Dress (2019)
Zendaya’s light-up Cinderella dress was a hit on the red carpet, enchanting critics and the public with its magical transformation. The look was celebrated for its creativity, technical execution, and the joy it brought to the event.
Fashion Impact
The long-term impact of these iconic looks on the fashion industry is profound, influencing subsequent red carpet styling trends and inspiring designers and celebrities alike.
Cher’s Bob Mackie Nude Dress (1974)
Cher’s daring look paved the way for the “naked dress” trend that continues to be popular today. It challenged traditional notions of modesty and opened up new possibilities for red carpet fashion, encouraging more celebrities to take risks with their outfits.
Rihanna’s Guo Pei Yellow Dress (2015)
Rihanna’s choice to wear a lesser-known designer from China brought attention to the global fashion industry, encouraging inclusivity and diversity. It also demonstrated the power of fashion to make cultural statements and bridge East and West, influencing future Met Gala themes and fashion shows.
Blake Lively’s Versace Dress (2018)
Blake Lively’s gown set a new standard for thematic dressing at the Met Gala, inspiring future attendees to engage deeply with the themes and deliver looks that are both visually stunning and intellectually engaging. It reinforced the importance of storytelling through fashion.
Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell Reveal (2019)
Lady Gaga’s performance art-inspired outfit highlighted the potential of fashion to be more than just clothing but an experience. It influenced the trend of incorporating theatrical elements into red carpet appearances, encouraging celebrities to view their entrances as performances.
Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella Dress (2019)
Zendaya’s light-up dress pushed the boundaries of fashion technology, inspiring designers to explore innovative materials and techniques. It demonstrated how technology could be seamlessly integrated into fashion to create magical, memorable moments.
Conclusion
The Met Gala remains a pivotal event in the fashion calendar, continually pushing the boundaries of creativity and self-expression. The iconic looks discussed in this essay—Cher’s Bob Mackie nude dress, Rihanna’s Guo Pei yellow gown, Blake Lively’s Versace masterpiece, Lady Gaga’s Brandon Maxwell reveal, and Zendaya’s Tommy Hilfiger Cinderella dress—each represent significant moments in fashion history. These looks are not only memorable for their aesthetic appeal but also for the way they engaged with the themes of their respective years, the reactions they provoked, and the lasting impact they had on the fashion industry. As the Met Gala continues to evolve, these iconic outfits will undoubtedly inspire future generations of designers and celebrities, ensuring that the event remains a celebration of the limitless possibilities of fashion.