Our showbiz version of the World Cup has arrived – we are, of course, talking about the Met Gala.
The annual Vogue extravaganza is pretty much a fashion playground, with tradition flying out of the window as some of the biggest stars don their most elaborate finery to celebrate the museum’s Costume Institute.
For 2024, the title of the new exhibition is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, referencing how the exhibition finds unique ways to showcase clothing that has been declared too fragile to ever be worn again.
In a nod to the Met Museum’s latest exhibit, the dress code for the night was The Garden of Time, showcasing the beauty of nature and garments.
While the Met Gala was attended by Hollywood’s finest, including Zendaya, Lana Del Rey, Jennifer Lopez and Ed Sheeran, it was a non-celebrity who stole the show according to fans on social media.
Enter Norwegian billionaire Gustav Magnar Witzøe, 31, who owes his riches to salmon fish farming company SalMar Asa.
Gustav looked regal in a nude, diamond-studded bodysuit complete with a huge peach-pink cape and floral headdress.
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As @Izze1122 said on X: ‘Idk who this man is, all I know is he is now the standard for all men, if you’re not dressed like this don’t even approach me #MetGala.’
Agreeing, @AceisRad added: ‘His bejeweled abs are killing me though.’
@iamurvillain also said: ‘I need more men to dress like this please and thank you.’
Pamela Anderson was among the celebrities who opted for an ethereal look in keeping with the theme, wearing a nude Grecian-style dress and diamonds.
However, fans will notice she has paired her look with natural make-up after previously deciding to go bare-faced.
The Baywatch star explained she ditched the mascara and lipstick after the death of her make-up Alexis Vogel.
‘And since then, I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup,’ she previously told Elle Magazine.
Elsewhere at the Met Gala, social media users sat back and happily critiqued this year’s looks, all eyes were on those making rare appearances and taking risks – including Kim Kardashian.
The Kardashians star shocked everyone when arrived in a stunning artisanal Maison Margiela corset and cardigan by John Galliano.
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It wasn’t her clothing that had people talking, though, but more so how ‘snatched’ her figure was, to the point where her waist was barely visible.
Taking to X, user stephthesaint wrote: ‘omg kim where’s ur waist??’
‘Kim said waist where????’, wrote thehoodhewchie.
Others branded her waist ‘crazy’ and joked that she ‘left her waist at home’.
User giasm_ wrote: ‘one thing kim K gon do is cinch her waist okayy’.
The couture corset that’s got everyone talking was ‘rewoven from antique silver brocade’, according to a press release, while her skirt is ‘tooled silver metal evoking lace, flowers, leaves and sprigs interlinked with silver chain and floral motifs cut from mirror fragments, as well as crystal pendants, pearls and set like a piece from high-jewellery.’
Of course, Kim was far from the only A-lister at the starry bash, which also included Camila Cabello – with this year’s most unusual accessory.
The singer took a frozen ice block containing a single rose as her handbag on the night and explained she was ‘trying things’ when asked about the unusual choice.
Speaking further about her outfit she told Extra TV: ‘ I feel like it is impermanence and things decaying over time and the beauty in that, so there are sort of rips toward the ends of my dress.’
Ariana Grande was another celebrity who turned heads the Met Gala, who came back for only her second appearance at the glitzy event.
The Eternal Sunshine hitmaker has only been to the event once before, in 2018, so it’s safe to say the internet went into meltdown when her appearance was confirmed.
Looking every inch the celestial dream, Ari channelled her Wicked character Glinda in an ethereal Michael Anthony look.
The most prominent feature of her look was a pair of 3D wings, which were handmade.
Speaking to Vogue, the designer said: ‘Ari trusted me with the process of designing ethereal petal wings that we placed on the temples.’
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From there, the focus was ‘a timeless glam that incorporated the mother-of-pearl effect of her stunning outfit.’
She attended with Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the upcoming Wicked movie adaptation, with the musical theatre icon baring her abs in a unique tux ensemble embellished with pink flowers.
Speaking of baring skin…
Pop star Rita Ora turned heads in, well, her lack of clothing, actually, as she had a lot of skin on show.
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Rocking up pretty much naked, the Hot Right Now hitmaker truly out Rita’d herself.
Posing alongside her husband, Takia Waititi, her look consisted of nude shapewear with a beaded piece draped over the top.
‘Some of these beads date back to 1 or 2 BC and are older than anyone on this planet,’ she said on the carpet, joking that she’d need to be carried up the steps due to their weight.
In contrast, her other half was fully covered up in brown leather.
Meanwhile, as Rita celebrated her 10th Met, another icon made her return.
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Yep, the sirens were sounding as soon as movie star queen Zendaya rocked up in Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano.
Serving peaco*ck realness, the Challengers actress was styled by her long-time friend and collaborator, Law Roach.
This year marks her first time back at the Met in seven years.
A press release on Zendaya’s outfit read: ‘For her appearance, John Galliano specially created a haute couture look for co-chair Zendaya composed of a sage lamé and organza bias-cut dress worn over a duch*ess satin corset.
‘The dress features bands of hand-painted metallic crin, a drape and bows layered from aluminium material and iridescent organza, and a corsage hand-embroidered with natural motifs hand-painted in electric blue and emerald, green.
‘Zendaya’s hand-painted plume-like veil and hat wrapped in stockings was created by Stephen Jones for Maison Margiela. And her custom-made Tabi pumps by Christian Louboutin for Maison Margiela.’
Earliest arrivals this year included the likes of co-chair Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, as well as Emma Chamberlain, Bad Bunny, Gwendoline Christie, and the woman herself, Dame Anna Wintour.
Alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna, actor Chris, musician Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya co-chair this year’s Gala.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew and Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson are serving as honorary co-chairs.
This year was JLo’s 14th Met Gala, with the On The Floor vocalist opting for a sheer and sparkling gown with a plunging neckline and a pronounced architectural bodice, from Schiaparelli Haute Couture.
She said: ‘800 hours of work, a true couture creation, it has four butterfly wings…perfect for the sleeping beauty (theme), a butterfly sleeps, wakes up.’
Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny was wearing a navy barathea jacket with a bouquet made up of the Flor de Maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower, a rose and a flax plant which Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on in the original fairy tale.
The rapper and singer – real name Benito Ocasio – also wore a reverse stitched hat and sunglasses as part of the custom Maison Margiela fit.
Meanwhile, Furiosa star Chris was the first co-chair to arrive, wearing a cream three-piece Tom Ford ensemble, while Elsa was also dressed in the designer.
Dame Anna, who has been running the Met Gala since 1995, was wearing a custom Loewe look with a black cape adorned with tulips, inspired by a cloak designed by Charles Frederick Worth in the 1800s, according to Vogue magazine.
Model Ashley Graham, co-host of Vogue’s live coverage, was among the first arrivals wearing a black corseted gown featuring floral embroidery and a sparkling sheer train from designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
British actress Gwendoline Christie, who starred in Game Of Thrones – and is also co-host – was wearing a theatrical deep red custom Maison Margiela dress with a sheer black cape in keeping with the night’s trend.
Fellow British actress Lily James, who played Cinderella in the 2015 film, appeared in an Erdem light pink gown featuring a long train and trouser hooks to easily pull off the train.
The dress was embroidered with black flowers, said to represent fans throwing flowers onto a theatre stage.
Hollywood star Steven Yeun, who won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role in the Netflix series Beef, appeared on the Met steps wearing a custom Thom Browne tuxedo covered in roses and ravens, alongside an umbrella with a gold raven handle.
Matt Damon appeared in a Dior tuxedo alongside his wife Luciana Barroso, while pregnant Glee star Lea Michele opted for an aqua silk gown from Rodarte with a tulle cape.
Dune actress Rebecca Ferguson arrived in a custom Thom Browne ensemble, which she dismantled on the carpet to reveal a long-sleeved fitted black dress with gloves.
The Met Gala guest list is kept a secret but over the years, viral looks have been delivered by stars including Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Billie Eilish, and Rihanna.
Last year, the theme was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, in tribute to the designer who died in 2019.
As for the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition, the display of around 200 fragile and rare pieces will run from May 10 until September 2.
Speaking ahead of the big night, Dame Anna told Today that ‘the idea of Sleeping Beauties is taking these masterpieces from different periods.’
‘And because so many of them are very fragile, and have to be laid flat, they can’t even be displayed on a mannequin or in any other way,’ she said.
‘They are laid flat, behind a glass wall, and around them are the inspirations that are muses, as (curator Andrew Bolton) calls them.’
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