This year’s iconic Met ball was themed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” and the official dress code was “The Garden of Time.” Many celebrities missed the mark this year, and most did not show up at all. However, there were a few celebs that understood the assignment and killed it with their ensembles at the Met Gala 2024. Here are some of my favorites.
Returning to the Met Gala after five years of absence, this time as a host and co-chair, Zendaya stepped out in custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano. This look was a reference to a haute couture look he created at Christian Dior in 1999. This is perfectly on theme because of the “reawakening” of old fashion pieces that have been reimagined and brought to light once again. Zendaya’s version is a deep blue-green color to reference the garden aspect of the theme, featuring metallic birds, berries and vines, topped with a towering feather headpiece.
Zendaya didn’t only serve one look, but two amazing looks at this year’s gala. She made her second appearance in a black taffeta spring/summer 1996 Givenchy by Galliano gown. This is a rare move for many celebrities, but Zendaya executed the costume change flawlessly. Zendaya even had the iconic Margiela makeup to match, with thin brows, dramatic eyes and doll skin reminiscent of that of the models from the fashion house’s viral couture show in January. Generally, I think Zendaya was without a doubt one of the best dressed at the Met.
Next is Tyla, making her very first appearance at the Met Gala this year. The young artist transformed into a sand sculpture on this year’s carpet and left fans in awe. The Balmain team fashioned Tyla a dress made of sand, a nod to the sands of time, which in my opinion was a great take on this year’s theme. Another contribution to the night’s theme was the Balmain hourglass clutch Tyla carried throughout the night. Though it’s her first Met, Tyla has already proved herself as a fashion force.
Another one of my favorite fashion moments of the night was Swarovski’s take on the theme with these four iconic outfits. To this year’s dress code “The Garden of Time”, the Swarovski team crafted, for the first time at the Met, five amazing ensembles. Four of them represent the four elements, featuring Karlie Kloss as a crystal flower in an embroidered pink gown. The dress was encrusted with 180,000 crystal jewels from Swarovski’s Florere and Millenia families. After the 1,600 hours it took to make this dress, Kloss looked stunning as always. Next, Anok Yai embodies the element of water. Her catsuit was embellished with 98,000 sparkling blue crystals. Anok’s look was completed with a necklace from Swarovski’s Galaxy Collection, crafted with 1,050, laboratory grown, diamonds. Yai’s look was definitely one of my overall favorites from the night. Following her was Imaan Hammam shining as the sun, in a golden two-piece look. Her crystal cape consisted of 3,456 golden crystals, paired with a satin column skirt embellished with 100,000 golden crystals. Hammam looked amazing as the sun in this iconic number. Lastly, Giovanna Engelbert took to the carpet as nature. She came out in an intricately beaded, emerald green silk satin gown that was absolutely breathtaking. The look was completed with matching green crystallized gloves and breathtaking Swarovski jewelry. Summing up, the Swarovski crystal team did absolutely amazing with these looks and executed the theme perfectly at their first Met Gala.
The last look I want to mention is Elle Fanning in Balmain. With Fanning being the real life Aurora, we were all expecting something special for her, as she pretty much owns tonight’s theme. She delivered in this stunning sheer Balmain gown. This gown is perfectly on theme, as Fanning embodies one of the glass flowers mentioned in the J.G. Ballard 1962 short story “The Garden of Time.” To expertly complement her dress, Fanning’s glowing face and body makeup, along with her sleek hair style, finish off her amazing look.
In my opinion, these were a handful of some of the best executed outfits of the evening. Other celebs like Gigi Hadid, Cardi B, Bad Bunny, Kendall Jenner, Ashley Graham, Nicole Kidman, Emma Chamberlain, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Taylor Russell, Sydney Sweeney, Kim Kardashian, Barry Keoghan, Laufey, Eiza González, and Jeff Goldblum, and more, also executed the theme appropriately and i enjoyed their outfits from this years carpet. The Met Gala delivers boundary-pushing fashion every year, modeled by celebrities, cultural icons, rock stars, as well as activists, and I am more than excited to see what next year brings to the stairs of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
