What even is the assignment?: Hits, misses and memorable looks from the 2021 Met Gala
Written by Jordan Murray
Fashion’s biggest night of the year returned on Sept. 13.
The 2021 Met Gala, hosted by Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet, Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman, paid homage to the American identity with the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”
While this star-studded event might not have been strong this year with many celebrities lacking dedication to the theme, it was consistent with other years in its ability to turn out some unforgettable fashion feats.
Here are the hits, misses and most memorable looks from this year’s Met Gala:
Hits
1. Timothée Chalamet
Host Timothée Chalamet stepped onto the red carpet in a look that resembled designers like Rick Owens and Haider Ackerman.
Chalamet wore a short white suit jacket with a black collar and some low-waisted white sweatpants that were bunched above his white high-top converse. He took pieces classified as streetwear and made them high fashion in the best way possible.
2. Anok Yai
Top model Anok Yai looked incredible in a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta gown. The dress was a black sheer material embellished with silver celestial crystal appliques. She also wore black sheer gloves and a black feather boa. Yai embodied the Hollywood glamour that was prominent during the 1930s to 1950s.
3. Zoey Deutch
Zoey Deutch dazzled the red carpet in a lavender sheer crystal dress by Versace that had a slit going up the leg. The dress was styled with a pair of lavender platform heels. The crystal look oozed opulence and was reminiscent of a purple gown worn by iconic American singer Cher in 1972.
4. Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi’s Josephine Baker-inspired Met Gala look truly paid homage to the black singer and activist. The beautiful beaded gown was designed by Christian Dior. The dress’s tan cape and gloves added to the 1920s glamour that encapsulates the Baker’s style.
5. Billie Eilish
Host Billie Eilish wowed us yet again in a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta gown. The peach-colored dress’s organza skirt cascaded down the steps beautifully, and the 15-foot train was to die for.
The off-the-shoulder tulle sleeves and short blonde bob hairstyle solidified Eilish’s Hollywood star energy. Iconic American actresses Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly were part of the inspiration for this look.
Misses
Evan Mock
“Gossip Girl” reboot actor Evan Mock might be the adorable Akeno Menzies on-screen, but the cute and cuddly character we see on TV was not the person we saw on the Met Gala. Mock wore a black blazer with safety pin detailing, tailored black shorts, mismatched black socks and black lace-up loafers in his Thom Browne look.
While I love the blazers, shorts and loafer combo, the leather mask with a silver-studded mohawk takes away from the great outfit. Once Mock removed the leather mask to reveal his signature pink hair, the look was much more elevated. The only confusion was where this outfit fit into the American theme.
2. Kim Petras
German singer Kim Petras wore a Collina Strada look on the carpet and it was quite intricate and interesting, to say the least. The bust of the dress had a 3D horse on the front, and the bottom of the dress was a large inflated skirt with a slit down the middle.
The look was accented with a long, ginger ponytail that mimicked a horse’s tale.
If you are a part of the horse girl community, this look is definitely up your alley.
3. Ciara
Ciara’s reference to her husband, NFL player Russell Wilson’s, career was a sweet and kind gesture. The dress itself was almost too literal with his jersey number in grey sequins on the bust. The look was created by Peter Dundas.
The side cut-outs, hair and bedazzled football clutch were beautiful, but the jersey number could have been more subtle and suitable if it were added onto the bottom of her sleeve or on the train of the dress.
4. Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello’s hair and makeup were absolutely beautiful for the runway, but the sequined Michael Kors seemed like it was designed for Halloween as opposed to fashion’s biggest night of the year. The color was absolutely gorgeous on Cabello, but the dress definitely would have been better suited for a costume party. The look didn’t seem to connect much to the theme.
5. Serena Williams
Serena Williams wore a Gucci ensemble to this year’s Met Gala. The look featured a lace silver bodysuit with an ombre pink and black feather cape. There doesn’t seem to be any reference toward the American theme, and this look would have been a much better match to the Camp theme of the 2019 Met Gala.
Memorable looks
1. Kim Kardashian
Undoubtedly, the most memorable look of the evening was Kim Kardashian’s.
Kardashian’s Balenciaga’s look was a skintight black bodysuit, mini dress, face-covering and split train that left only her long brown ponytail to the eye.
This completely covered look was a huge contrast to her previous Met Gala looks and potentially speaks to the conversations constantly surrounding Kardashian. One TikTok user shared her opinions about the look stating that it was speaking toward the influence that Kardashian’s body shape has had on American fashion. Simply by looking at her silhouette without seeing her face, most people immediately knew that it was Kim. She was most definitely making a statement, but what it truly was is left to the viewer to decide.
2. Lil Nas X
Similar to Lady Gaga’s 2019 Met Gala look, Lil Nas X had multiple looks that he unveiled as he made his way up the red carpet. All three of his looks were by Versace.
The first look was a large gold and white cloak that was a nod to royalty. The second was golden armor. The third look was a tight black and gold bodysuit.
In an interview with Emma Chamberlain, Lil Nas X explained that the three looks represent him coming out of his shell. It told an amazing story, but this was yet another look that didn’t seem to connect much to the gala’s theme.
3. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a white Brother Vellies gown with white buttons and a tulle mermaid-style bottom on the Met Gala red carpet.
Ocasio-Cortez also took this opportunity to make a political statement with her dress reading “TAX THE RICH” in red letters on the back.
The dress received some criticism by members of right-wing politics who thought it was hypocritical of Ocasio-Cortez for making this statement while attending an event where the tickets cost $35,000.
The Met Gala is an opportunity for public figures to use fashion as their vehicle for communicating political beliefs, and Ocasio-Cortez did exactly that.
4. Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean’s Prada x Homer look that included him carrying a robot baby will most definitely be a look that lives down in Met Gala history.
Ocean wore black pants, a black jacket with the Prada logo and a baseball cap. His dyed bright green hair matched his green robot baby that wore a blue, green and orange onesie. How this connects to the American theme is unknown, but Ocean definitely made a statement.
5. Iman
Supermodel Iman came to the Met Gala dressed in Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reed. The look featured a large gold and feathered headdress, a gold jumpsuit and a caged gold and feathered skirt. Iman truly looked like a goddess, and the look was inspired by ballroom culture as well as Iman’s status as an icon in the fashion and modeling world.
