The 2022 Met Gala took place on May 2, 2022. The event was hosted by the amazing Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Regina King. The theme of the night was “Gilded Glamour,” although many people that arrived did not follow this theme. 

If you are not familiar with The Met Gala, it is a fundraising event for the Costume Institute and an opening celebration event for its annual fashion exhibit. It is also considered to be one of the biggest fundraiser benefits in New York City, drawing in millions of dollars every year. The ball also doubles as an event for celebrities to attend in very elaborate outfits to, or not to, match the theme. 

Following the topic of the theme, many people did not dress according to it. The theme was “Gilded Glamour,” which is fashion that includes jewel-toned gowns crafted out of a variety of fabrics, including silk, velvet and satin. The word “Gilded” means to show how wealth and glamour was used to conceal the social unrest and turmoil of the era. With that being said, I was expecting a lot more than what was served at the ball. Many people that attended took a more modern take on the theme. For example, Gigi Hadid wore a red Versace catsuit with a big, matching puffer “jacket” that was supposed to embody the silhouette of the extravagant dresses that were worn during the gilded age. As well as Dove Cameron, who wore an Iris van Herpan gown that was supposed to symbolize the “bones,” or architecture, of the dresses worn by women in that time frame. However, there were also a few people who avoided the theme in its entirety.

Kim Kardashian, for instance, showed up to the ball in the exact sheer, beaded Jean Louis gown that Marilyn Monroe famously wore on May 19, 1962, when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden. To be honest, I really liked this look, but it just did not fit the theme all that well.

Now, to get into my, and I’m sure everyone else’s, favorite look of the night: Blake Lively’s Versace gown. Her gown was not only absolutely stunning, but it also had the silhouette often worn during the Gilded Age. Also, Lively’s gown paid tribute to New York City architecture, specifically the Empire State Building. She also stated that the draping on the side is a “tip of the hat” to the Statue of Liberty and the back of the dress showcases the constellation ceiling of Grand Central Station.

To conclude, the 2022 Met Gala was especially unique this year because of the lack of theme-following. All in all, I definitely was excited to see what everyone attending would come up with for the “Gilded Glamour” theme. Although the thought of putting a modern day twist on Gilded Age fashion is fun in theory, I was expecting more old-timey fashion statements, which is why I was let down the most.