New York (AP) 鈥� Whether dressed in a jewel-encrusted skeletal form, sculpted breast plates or anatomy-evoking trompe l鈥檕eil, Met Gala guests physically evoked the theme 鈥渇ashion is art鈥� Monday evening as they masterfully pulled from a kaleidoscope of references to embody living works of art.
鈥淓veryone who attended the Met Gala this year really leaned into fashion is art, using your body as a canvas, and that really came across in some of the best-dressed looks of the night,鈥� said Kevin Huynh, fashion director of InStyle.
Fashionable A-listers gave into the theme and had fun with it. First-time Met Gala attendees included actors Chase Infiniti and Hudson Williams, as well as Olympian Alysa Liu, all of whom commanded the carpet in dramatic ensembles. Infiniti, for example, donned an enchanting Thom Browne sequined gown using trompe l鈥檕eil to depict the female form.
Meanwhile, Met Gala mega stars and repeat attendees rose to the occasion: Vogue red-carpet correspondent Emma Chamberlain playfully dressed in a dramatic long-sleeved gown that appeared dipped in a rainbow of color from indigo to the brightest yellow-gold. And after 10 years of skipping the Gala, Beyonc茅 arrived to reclaim her throne, wearing a glittering crown and radiant Olivier Rousteing silver gown designed in the shape of a skeleton.
Artistic masters or novices
Maybe it was the theme or something in the air, but Met Gala guests ran with the dress code, embracing color, sculpture and a plethora of artistic references from Gustav Klimt and John Singer Sargent to the Winged Goddess of Samothrace.
Madonna even delivered performance art on the carpet, arriving with seven women carrying her cape, which was attached to her pirate-ship headpiece in reference to a painting by Leonora Carrington.
鈥淭he Met Gala has finally settled the question of 鈥業s fashion art?鈥欌�� said Nancy Hall-Duncan, an art historian and author of 鈥淎rt X Fashion: Fashion Inspired by Art. 鈥淚t is, according to the Met Gala, Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton.鈥�
For Lynette Nylander, executive digital director of Harper鈥檚 Bazaar, there were wins from Infiniti to Cardi B, though some guests steered more toward costume than couture. Heidi Klum, for example, arrived in full costume as a statue.
鈥淚t was the kind of loudest Met Gala that we鈥檝e seen in a while, probably since the 鈥楥amp鈥� theme,鈥� Nylander said. 鈥淚t felt very ostentatious.”
Pops of color in a sea of black
Despite all the artistic opportunities to draw from, some celebrities chose sophisticated all-black looks instead of color. Zo毛 Kravitz and Connor Storrie both wore black custom Yves Saint Laurent.
Yet the examples in solid black only amplified the more colorful ensembles, like Chamberlain’s hand-painted Mugler dress with cascading fringe sleeves and a spiral deep rainbow train.
鈥淚t looked like an artist鈥檚 palette and it鈥檚 just stunning, colorful and interesting,鈥� Hall-Duncan said. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 addressing a specific painting. It鈥檚 addressing the whole concept of color in artistic work.鈥�
Trompe l鈥檕eil
Artistic illusions of the body stood out throughout the night, with celebrities playing with the dress code and the 鈥淐ostume Art鈥� exhibit inside the Metropolitan Museum, which examines the dressed body and thematic body types.
Naomi Osaka wowed in a white Robert Wun overcoat featuring tiny slits that allowed a glimpse of her sparkling red dress underneath. In a dazzling red carpet moment, Osaka removed the overcoat to reveal a two-toned red gown with the human anatomy beaded into the dress. Nylander said designer Wun was one of several independent designers who dominated the carpet, dressing stars including the tennis pro and singer Lisa.
Actor Jeremy Pope was on theme for the menswear look of the night. Pope sported a Vivienne Westwood corseted jacket filled in with pearls in the shape of a chest.
And fashion darling Colman Domingo is never one to disappoint with his menswear attire.
鈥淗e was wearing a Valentino look that was color blocked in these beautiful tulle squares that were really reminiscent of Pablo Picasso鈥檚 harlequin paintings,鈥� Huynh said. “I thought that was such a clever way to tap into the artistic side of things, whereas Hudson Williams, hot off all the 鈥楬eated Rivalry鈥� madness, wore a matador-inspired look that really harkened back to Crist贸bal Balenciaga’s Spanish roots.鈥�
Athleticism on display
Several Olympians hit gold twice for taking risks with their looks. Bubbles filled the carpet as Olympian free style skier Eileen Gu walked up the steps in her mini Iris van Herpen dress covered with bubbles. Lindsey Vonn made a surprise appearance following multiple surgeries after a fracture took her out of the Winter Olympics.
Other athletes on the carpet included NFL players Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson.
NFL Fashion Editor Kyle Smith, who dressed Burrow in a custom navy Bode look, said the Met Gala allows athletes to shine off the field.
鈥淚t鈥檚 this opportunity to express yourself and when you put on your uniform and your helmet, you鈥檙e part of a team and you鈥檙e working toward this really big shared goal,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut when you鈥檙e dressing for the tunnel or any red carpet event, it鈥檚 an opportunity to express themselves and show their identity.鈥�
Fashion as protest?
The night’s fashion put a spotlight on some underlying politics: Billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren S谩nchez Bezos sponsored the gala and exhibit and served as honorary chairs, prompting some protests and a few absences.
Their involvement added another layer of interest in some of the fashion choices of the night. Actor Sarah Paulson arrived in a Mati猫res F茅cales gray tulle gown from their collection titled 鈥淭he One Percent,” which she accessorized with a $1 bill mask covering her eyes.
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