It’s fashion’s biggest night, as Hollywood’s most sartorially savvy stars descend on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for this year’s Met Gala.
The theme of this year’s annual fundraiser, “The Garden of Time,” is inspired by a short story of the same name, written by J.G. Ballard in 1962. Fashion’s elite applauded the theme, saying it’s wide open to interpretation and onlookers were treated to plenty of florals, pastel and vintage pieces.
The Met Gala, held annually on the first Monday in May, is a soirée to raise money for the Costume Institute, the museum’s collection of fashion objects. Each year a different theme honours a designer, style or look.
This year’s museum exhibit, which the stars will tour Monday evening, is called Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. But we’re not talking fairy tales or Disney princesses.
It includes 250 items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, including some garments very rarely seen in public and so fragile they need to be under glass. Curators wanted to engage all the senses, including that of smell. They even worked with a “smell artist” — and there’s a garment that actually grows. Part of the idea is to pay tribute to the natural world.
Aside from the red carpet, which attracts attention worldwide, it’s an event shrouded in secrecy. Once invitees head inside, there are strict rules around cellphones and social media, which adds to the allure; the public gets minimal glimpses of what really transpires among the A-listers who attend.
Anna Wintour, a Met trustee for whom part of the institute has been renamed, organizes the whole shebang. And this year she’s invited a notable list of co-chairs, including Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth.
The real fun of the Met Gala, at least for non-attendees, is judging the fashion of all of Hollywood’s biggest celebs. So, let’s do just that. Keep scrolling for a roundup of some of the most fun, elegant and outrageous looks of the night.
Jennifer Lopez
Zendaya
Luciana Damon and Matt Damon
Emma Chamberlain
Anna Wintour
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Ayo Edebiri
Dan Levy
Bad Bunny
Mindy Kaling
Greta Gerwig
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
Taylor Russell
Uma Thurman
Jack Harlow
Olivier Rousteing
La La Anthony
Emily Ratajkowski
Gustav Magnar
Colman Domingo
Lana Del Rey
Gayle King
Amy Fine Collins
Cole Escola
Lea Michele
Alex Sharp
Jamie Singer Soros and Robert Soros
Alton Mason
Sarah Jessica Parker
Rita Ora
Georgina Chapman
Riley Keough
Kylie Minogue
Grace Murdoch and Wendi Murdoch
Dove Cameron
Gwendoline Christie
Aurora James
Jessica Biel
Wisdom Kaye
Eva Chen
Teyana Taylor
Hamish Bowles
Charli XCX
Allison Williams
Eiza González Rivera
Rachel Zegler
Jessica Serfaty
Lily James and Erdem Moralıoğlu
Elizabeth Cordry
Demi Moore
Harris Reed
Lily Gladstone
Brie Larson
Amanda Seyfried
Penélope Cruz
Lil Nas X
Kerry Washington
Nicole Kidman
Naomi Watts
Serena Williams
Queen Latifah
Lena Waithe
Karol G
Keke Palmer
Elle Fanning
Kendall Jenner
Dua Lipa
Laufey
Kylie Jenner
Cynthia Erivo
Naomi Campbell
Elizabeth Debicki
Phoebe Dynevor
Ariana Grande
Sarah Paulson
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Hannah Bagshawe
Jill Kargman
Ben Simmons
Maleah Joi Moon
Alexandra Daddario
Sam Smith
Kris Jenner
Josh O’Connor
Alison Oliver
Jeff Goldblum
Vera Wang and Janelle Monáe
Zendaya
Camila Cabello
Quannah Chasinghorse
Cardi B
Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne
Shakira
Erykah Badu
Talia Ryder
Odell Beckham Jr.
Pamela Anderson
Meg Ryan
Venus Williams
Amelia Gray Hamlin
Kim Kardashian
Cara Delevingne
Rebecca Hall
Sabrina Harrison
Madelyn Cline
Adrienne Adams
Ambika Mod
Harrison Ghee
Jamie Dornan
Samantha Berry
Donald Glover
Tyla
Willy Chavarria and Marc Metrick
Jordan Roth
Emma Mackey, Zoe Saldana, Chemena Kamali, Sienna Miller and Greta Gerwig
Tory Burch
Barry Keoghan
Michelle Williams
FKA Twigs
Hanani Taylor
Kelsea Ballerini
Doja Cat
Willow Smith
Camila Morrone
Jennie Kim
Demi Lovato
Nicki Minaj
Jaden Smith
Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton
Michelle Yeoh
Jeremy Pope
Amanda Gorman
Lizzo
Anok Yai
Chloë Sevigny
Karlie Kloss
Kaia Gerber
Irina Shayk
Stefon Diggs
Gabrielle Union
Sydney Sweeney
— with files from The Associated Press