The 14 Celebrities Who Looked Stunning at the 2021 Met Gala
The Met Gala has returned after a year off, and it’s feeling patriotic. The evening’s theme is inspired by the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. It’s a celebration of the home of the free and the sartorially brave—this is no time to play it safe. Here are fourteen red carpet guests that nailed it, from a saintly supermodel to a tomboy pop artist embracing her princess side to Grimes’ futuristic “Dune” references.
Iman
Wearing: Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reed
Why we love it: If you’ve ever felt like there are angels among us, Iman was here to prove you right tonight in a glowing look by Italian powerhouses Dolce & Gabbana and British-American designer Harris Reed. It consisted of a custom brocade jumpsuit worn under a feathered overskirt and matching headpiece.
Zoe Kravitz
Wearing: Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello
Why we love it: The actress stuns in a silver, see through slip gown dress with halter neck. Paired with a high bun and drop diamond earrings, Kravitz is a metallic vision.
Billie Eilish
Wearing: Oscar de la Renta
Why we love it: The evening’s co-host and bona fide American dream girl has recently ditched her oversized t-shirts in favor of something more closely resembling Old Hollywood siren. She owned her new aesthetic in a frothy peach creation by ODLR tonight, complete with a full skirt, train, and a shoulder wrap that would have made Marilyn proud. She paired the stunning gown with Cartier jewels and Jimmy Choo platform shoes.
Yara Shahidi
Wearing: Christian Dior
Why we love it: Shahidi was inspired by the legendary Josephine Baker, a star and activist of her time—much like the young Grownish actress is today. The beaded, strapless gown is finished with a flowing headpiece, a thin belt, embroidered elbow-length gloves, and a diamond choker by Cartier.
Rihanna
Wearing: Balenciaga
Why we love it: Rihanna waited until the red carpet was seemingly over before making her grand entrance—the final of the evening. The Bajan beauty makes all-black a true statement with a custom Balenciaga overcoat look by Demna Gvasalia. She wore the bold collared wrap with a coordinating hat and Thelma West jewels.
Normani
Wearing: Valentino
Why we love it: The singer took her couture moment and ran with it in a stunning yellow gown by Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli. The bold citron full sleeve, full-skirted, cinch waist dress done up in silk taffeta is paired with a statement gem necklace and a sleek, slicked-back bun. It’s a star turn, executed beautifully.
Kaia Gerber
Wearing: Oscar de la Renta
Why we love it: The supermodel didn’t walk in any NYFW shows, instead saving a true entrance for the Met Gala red carpet, where she made a strapless black gown feel like a revelation. She revealed to co-host Kiki Palmer on the red carpet that her dress was a reference to a gown that Bianca Jagger wore to the storied event in 1981, designed by Dior (though Halston served as her date the the event). We can’t think of a better icon to mirror.
Barbie Ferreira
Wearing: Jonathan Simkhai
Why we love it: The Euphoria actress is utterly otherworldly in a modern interpretation of a flapper gown by Jonathan Simkhai. The 1920s inspired creation is fashioned from thousands of embroidered Swarovski crystals and pearls and took over 100 hours to craft. It features additional pearl draping at the neck and over her shoulders. Three words: worth the effort.
Emma Chamberlain
Wearing: Louis Vuitton
Why we love it: Another theme of the evening, outside of In America: A Lexicon of Fashion seems to be a celebration of Gen Z and their beloved Tik Tok and YouTube. No one better embodies the current social media superstar ethos than Chamberlain, looking every bit a star in an embroidered silk organza gown with a mini train, paired with custom leather sandals.
Timothée Chalamet
Wearing: Haider Ackermann
Why we love it: It feels apropos after the last year and a half that someone would bring comfort to the red carpet—and that someone is Timothée Chalamet. In a satin tuxedo with a cropped jacket and loose trousers reminiscent of our universally beloved sweatpants, paired with Converse All Stars, the A-list actor serves all the cool, none of the fuss.
Grimes
Wearing: Iris van Herpen
Why we love it: The musician is known to take risks, and her look tonight was a departure from the many retro moments of the evening. The futuristic ensemble is actually quite literary, inspired by the book “Dune” by Frank Herbert—which was later adapted into a film by David Lynch in 1984 (which got a remake debuting later this year starring the evening’s co-host Timothee Chalemet). Got all that? She’s wearing a mask from the original movie, assumedly reading the book on the red carpet, and donning Iris van Herpen’s black and white semi-sheer “Bene Gesserit” gown, a custom creation.
Kendall Jenner
Wearing: Givenchy
Why we love it: Jenner was one of the last arrivals of the evening, making an entrance in a Givenchy Haute Couture custom-made look by Matthew M. Williams. Her sheer dress is created from illusion tulle, embroidered with crystals, crystal flowers, and crystal fringe, paired with matching embroidered gloves, a silk tulle bustier and beige leather sandals. It’s the return of the naked dress, and it’s working.
Gigi Hadid
Wearing: Prada
Why we love it: Hadid got the glamour memo on lock in a look that’s giving part Rita Hayworth, part Jessica Rabbit. Blame it on her new red locks. A strapless, fitted silk white column gown with an asymmetrical bodice layered over a black bodice, all finished with black leather gloves is elegant in its simplicity. Hadid’s high pony, barrette, and diamond necklace finish the look.
Lily-Rose Depp
Wearing: Chanel
Why we love it: A two-piece on the red carpet is always fun. The French actress and A-list progeny is pretty in pink Chanel. Her sequin bustier top and tulle and silk organza skirt embroidered with pink and black flowers with sequins and glass beads is from the Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture collection.
