The Met Gala’s Tops & Fashion Flops
By Natalie McCarty
Every year, my dear friend and old college roommate, Leen-Noemi Alexandre, and I eagerly plunge into a whirlwind of Met Gala outfit critiques. What fuels our excitement? It’s the commitment to the theme and the quest for fresh, innovative styles.
Sure, there are countless other nights and endless red carpets where cute, pretty outfits reign supreme. But the Met Gala? That’s the stage for something truly iconic and unforgettable.
On this singular night, a celebrity has the chance to etch themselves into fashion history. Moreover, it’s an opportunity for designers everywhere to step outside the typical runway and craft a custom piece that will one day be preserved in a gallery.
Honestly, I’ll go as far as unfollowing a celebrity over a lackluster Met Gala ensemble. There’s just something about the occasion that ignites a primal urge in me to be as opinionated as possible.
So, on Monday night (the first one in May), Leen and I were glued to our screens, exchanging texts and forwarding each other every celebrity’s outfit, scouring Twitter links and Instagram highlights. While I wish I could just upload all of the screenshots from our conversation last night, I’ve instead compiled a list of our favorites, near misses, and total flops.
This season’s Met Gala exhibit theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” aimed to celebrate delicate fashion pieces, including rare archival items, that can no longer be worn. Utilizing AI technology, the exhibit showcased what these garments might look like if they could be worn today. Organized around three themes: Land, Sea, and Sky.
This theme influenced the dress code for the night, dubbed “The Garden of Time.” Anna Wintour herself issued an apology for any confusion caused by the “Sleeping Beauty” theme, which may have led to the proliferation of floral motifs on the red carpet.
Despite being one of the more lackluster carpets, with fewer iconic Met Gala stars in attendance, there were still some truly remarkable looks on display.
At the top of my list, of course, is Zendaya, one of the co-chairs for the evening. Breaking headlines and capturing media attention everywhere, she pulled off two truly perfect looks last night. Each was imaginative, iconic, and perfect in its own right. Zendaya’s ability to look impeccable in any piece of clothing, any form of makeup, and any hairstyle further proves her place as Gen Z’s “IT girl”.
Starting with look one, she embodied a full fairy-tale villain in an incredible Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano creation, based on a 1999 Dior dress. The one-shouldered gown featured a long trumpet skirt covered in royal-blue and emerald-green diagonal stripes, with fruit-like embellishments adorning one side of the waist. She elevated the look with a net mesh and tulle-feathered fascinator. The little hummingbird that adorned her collarbone was the cherry on top for me. Hummingbirds hold personal significance for me, and besides, I practically consider Zendaya a friend — I met her as a child. All jokes aside, the little hummingbird detail sold me right away.
As if one incredible look wasn’t enough, Zendaya reappeared at the bottom of the steps, closing out the carpet, this time wearing a magnificent black gown — a 1996 piece from John Galliano’s Givenchy era. It included a corseted lace-up bodice with long, puffy off-the-shoulder sleeves and a structured peplum hemline fitted with pockets. The gown was complemented by a ginormous skirt that nearly engulfed the length of the Met’s staircase. To top it off, she wore a bouquet-themed fascinator wrapped in black tulle, designed by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen back in 2006. Nailing every aspect of the theme, these two looks are bound to be remembered forever.
Securing the second spot on my list is another woman styled by the incredible Law Roach (known for his work with Zendaya), Mona Patel. Making her Met Gala debut and leaving everyone asking, “Who is this mystery woman?” Mona donned a stunning, one-of-a-kind dress that stole the spotlight.
The biggest eye-catcher? The 3D kinetic butterflies that adorned her arms like opera gloves, gracefully opening and closing throughout the night, thanks to a motor ingeniously incorporated into her gown. This captivating accent was a collaborative realization between Patel and her friend, kinetic motion artist Casey Curran. Curran had been tirelessly working on this piece for months, completing it just the day before its red carpet debut on Patel’s arms.
“I wanted my debut look to be something that celebrates my heritage and also combines my love for couture, and when I heard of the theme, Iris Van Herpen seemed like the obvious choice,” Patel revealed to Vogue India ahead of the Met Gala in March. She absolutely nailed both the land and sky aspects of the theme.
Taking the spotlight at spot number three is Tyla. Initially, when Leen and I first saw the pictures, we weren’t completely sold on her look. However, it quickly grew on me, especially past the hourglass bag (symbolizing the sands of time). Tyla made what might be one of the best Met Gala debuts of all time on Monday, stunning in a custom Balmain creation crafted from sand and micro-crystals. The dress was meticulously fitted to the millimeter based on a cast of her body. Completing her ensemble were jewelry pieces by Alexis Bittar and John Hardy, along with an hourglass-shaped purse by Balmain, emphasizing her look’s tie-in to the night’s “Garden of Time” dress code. She even had bits of sand adorning her arms, which is honestly a genius little detail.
Tyla’s sand dress was so delicate that she had to be carried up the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s steps to prevent her gown’s organza-and-sand train from crumbling due to movement. Its inventive, fresh, and one of a kind. So precious in fact that the dress did not even survive the night–in fact fitting the theme more than anyone.
Now, I absolutely adore Mindy Kaling, possibly more than anyone else. I genuinely believe The Mindy Project is one of the best shows of all time, and I’ve continuously been compared to both her character in that series and on The Office. She’s my girl.
That being said, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, I was a little surprised she made it into my top five of the night. But wow, did she deserve it.
The star commanded attention in a voluminous, nude-colored strapless gown by Gaurav Gupta, calling it “The Melting Flower of Time.” The look featured sculptural pieces that arced over her head and cascaded down her back in a striking pattern of loops and swirls. The gown also boasted a train so enormous that Kaling needed multiple handlers to assist her as she made her way down the red carpet.
Despite its colossal size, the look managed to exude an ethereal aura with its floaty, sheer layers and curved draping details on the sweetheart-neckline bodice. The gown’s fabric even had subtle silver accents here and there for a touch of sparkle. Mindy absolutely nailed the sky — maybe even land and sea with the movement — portion of the theme.
Rounding out my top five from the night is the incomparable Demi Moore. This marked her first attendance at the event in five years, and she made quite the entrance in an elegant structural gown by Harris Reed (who’s look himself was just as incredible).
Moore’s black column gown featured a pink-and-white floral design, accented by a spiked, heart-shaped structural element. She accessorized with stunning diamond jewelry by Cartier. Her sleek hair and soft makeup, courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury, allowed her dramatic ensemble to take center stage.
“It all started with this incredible Cartier necklace that Demi is wearing,” the designer revealed in an interview with People Magazine. “It inspired me with its floral feeling. The entire piece is made from vintage archival wallpaper that we repurposed — 11,000 hours of silk embroidery crafted into the idea of her blooming on the carpet. I wanted to be the vines to her thorns.”
As for some honorable mentions, Alia Bhatt looked absolutely perfect among the garden, embodying the essence of the theme. Bad Bunny’s outfit was inspired by the story behind the theme, adding depth and meaning to his look. Barry Keoghan delivered the Victorian outfit we all wanted, capturing the essence of the era with impeccable style. And Omar Apollo showed us that men’s suits don’t have to be boring; his ensemble was a refreshing take on traditional formalwear. But now, I present to you my five runner-ups.
Lana Del Rey’s striking look referenced an archival Alexander McQueen design from the house’s fall 2006 collection. McGirr wanted to celebrate the savoir faire of the atelier in a new, contemporary way. It resulted in a corseted dress in silk, double georgette, and tulle — all hand-embroidered with hammered bronze-bullion hawthorn branches, inspired by the patina and form of sculptures made by the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. For a dramatic finish, McGirr created a special headpiece for Del Rey, using natural hawthorn branches and draping them with a veil of sheer tulle. She also wore a bronze metal Drop bag embellished with a clock detail, perfectly nailing the theme.
Emma Chamberlain took a dark twist on the fantasy, enchanted-like theme of the Met Gala. The Gaultier team pulled various references, most notably the mocha-colored lace corset Suzanne von Aichinger wore in the spring 2003 couture show, called Morphing. It served as a starting point for a dress that wafts around the body, offering an elevation of the “she’s come undone” vibe that Chamberlain dubs her “swampy mode.” It’s a look giving off intriguingly rotting vibes.
Colman Domingo’s outfit paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and André Leon Talley. Designed by Willy Chavarría, his suit kept on theme, carrying a bouquet of lilies. Domingo’s ensemble was not only stylish but also carried a meaningful message, adding depth to his Met Gala appearance.
Dua Lipa’s fashion-forward look was one of the highlights of the night for me. Teaming up with Marc Jacobs, she delivered an extremely sexy statement in a cream corset bodysuit decorated with lace overlay. Lipa accessorized with strings of beads and threw a feathered shawl over her shoulder, showcasing her bold and confident style. Definitely bringing a new perspective to the word “delicate” or “delicates” so to speak.
Lastly, Elle Fanning’s gown by Balmain was undeniably gorgeous, although it didn’t quite make it into my top five due to its familiarity. The sculptural off-the-shoulder wrap dress had flowers coming off the neckline, giving her a radiant and ethereal appearance. Fanning paired it with simple silver sandals and cascading diamond earrings by Cartier, completing her elegant ensemble with rosy makeup and wavy blonde hair tucked behind her ears.
Diving into the worst dressed category, I have to be blunt.
Doja Cat’s Met Gala attire was simply unacceptable. Walking the red carpet in a hair gel-covered white t-shirt and attending the afterparty nearly naked is just poor form.
Jessica Serfaty also missed the mark with her custom Dolce & Gabbana cape, which will likely go down in history as one of the worst red carpet looks. To make matters worse, she unzipped halfway to expose her bra, coming off as tasteless.
Jordan Roth’s Valentino ensemble was simply heinous, to put it lightly. It was an embarrassing choice for such a prestigious event.
Rita Ora’s Tom Ford custom piece was unfortunately reminiscent of an old 70s beaded curtain, a style that didn’t translate well to the Met Gala’s theme.
Lastly, Lily James, who usually stuns, unfortunately fell short in an Erdem dress that resembled unfortunate sperm graphics rather than roses, a detail that didn’t sit well with the internet.
Despite these disappointments, the Met Gala still brought us some beautiful looks this year. And yes, I’ll definitely be reminiscing about that Zendaya moment for weeks to come. Oh, and if anyone knows where to find Lana Del Rey’s hoof shoes, please let me know!
