The Costume Institute Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Celebrities, designers, and fashion icons invited to the event are encouraged to show off their best looks. Every year, the Met Gala has a theme reflective of the Costume Institute’s exhibition at the time. This year’s theme, “China: Through the Looking Glass,” inspired fashion choices that either left onlookers gawking in admiration and cringing from disapproval.
The best-dressed list held few surprises as the fashion icons of modern culture remain consistent in their superior fashion sense. There were nothing but high expectations for the one and only Beyoncé, and the queen did not disappoint. Her sheer, custom-made Givenchy dress was an absolute show-stopper. Beyoncé floated across the red carpet bedazzled with enough glittering rhinestones to blind our gawking eyes. Even Jay-Z took a moment away from the spotlight as the cameras flaunted towards Beyonce.
Earlier in the night Dior princess and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence showed off her favorite designer’s custom piece of art. J-Law’s hair was sleekly pulled back into a high bun that added elegance and maturity to the look.
When Kendall Jenner entered the party, all eyes were on the 5’ 10” international supermodel, who has been busy making a name for herself in the fashion world. Jenner, now 19 years old, looked like a true adult in her jade green Calvin Klein gown. The stunning brunette wowed the crowd in her crystal-encrusted dress with lace-up side detail that showed that Ms. Jenner is all grown up. Her hair and makeup looks were minimal in order to draw attention to her breathtaking slinky dress.
Rhianna was the best dressed star at the Met Gala this year, sporting a dramatic, yellow Guo Pei gown with a train longer than the singer is tall. She looked truly stunning and displayed absolute glamour, which is what the Met Gala is all about.
Rhianna was also one of the only celebrities to actually wear a dress by a Chinese designer to the event.
Other attendees stopped the show, but only because of their lack of style. On the top of this list was Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kris Kardashian. Her Balmain dress appeared sloppy and swallowed her completely.
Her gold earring accents were a bit overdone and quite frankly, gaudy. The shoulder pads on the dress widened her. Additionally, the crazy, spikey hair was a bit of a buzz kill next to the effortless hairdos everyone else sported. All in all, Kris failed to impress at the Met Gala.
In spite of best efforts, Sarah Jessica Parker’s ensemble gives her the award for Worst Dressed, thanks to her overwhelmingly large headpiece designed by Philip Treacy. The dress, designed by SJP for herself, while not horrible, was no match for the flaming piece hanging over her head. She is encouraged to leave the headgear at home next year.
Also not impressing the crowd this year was Katy Perry, who wore a Jeremy Scott original. The graffiti print and silly purse seemed childish compared to the mature looks surrounding her, proving this year’s Gala to be one of Katy’s worse Fashion moments.
The Met Gala is an important time of year to show off creativity and favorite looks. While some people shone this Gala season, others made us shake our heads and turn away.
A note to anyone going to the Met Gala next year: remember to play with your look and have fun, but don’t overdo prints and accessories. Less is always more!