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MET Gala 2021 presents: the dazzling and the bland

MPHO RANTAO

AFTER a year break due to the covid-19 pandemic, the MET Gala, society’s most anticipated social fashion event of the year, returned to New York’s Metropolitan Museum with one of their most ambiguous themes yet – ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion Part 1’. 

The 2021 edition of the gala evening was met with a mixture of haute dressed-to-the-nines; social-cultural movement themes; old Hollywood glamour. There were reimaginings of iconic American imagery, old Hollywood glamour and reimaginings of iconic American imagery like the Wild West. 

There were also risque barely-there looks; underwhelming and absent faces with whom fans on social media already knew would bring the house down on the MET white carpet. Here are some of the looks that dazzled and looks that were dull. 

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Beginning with the queen herself, Anna Wintour was one of the first to arrive wearing a floral long-sleeved dress by Oscar De La Renta, starting the arrival of various floral-themed looks by the likes of model Irina Shayk and actress Lili Reinhart.

Irina Shayk, Anna Wintour and Lili Reinhart. Picture: Twitter/METGala2021

Black-ish and Grown-ish actress Yara Shahidi and award-winning pop singer Billie Eilish set the standards high as they arrived channelling old Hollywood glamour queens. 

Shahidi was one of the few who channeled iconic, black actress and dancer Josephine Baker wearing Dior Haute Couture, while MET Gala co-chair Billie Eilish arrived in a stunning nude ball gown by Oscar De La Renta with blonde hair a là Marilyn Monroe. 

Other notable names following in the lane of old Hollywood glamour included reality star and model Kendall Jenner, one of the few Kardashian-Jenner clan members to show face at the MET Gala, stunning everyone in Givenchy in her reimagination of Audrey Hepburn’s glamorous My Fair Lady look from the 1964 film.

Actress Emily Blunt paid homage to the Statue of Liberty wearing a white and silver Miu Miu grecian-inspired gown, while Euphoria star and plus size model Barbie Ferreira made jaws drop in her pearl-encrusted gown by Jonothan Simkhai, paying true homage to Hollywood burlesque glamour with curls and dramatic eye makeup.

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Emily Blunt; Kendall Jenner and Barbie Ferreira. Picture: Twitter

Lupita Nyong’o turned heads in her themed attire wearing a denim Versace dress with beaded detailing and denim panels inspired by Britney Spears’ denim dress, with her afro-textured style inspired by Brooklyn-born conceptual artist Lorna Simpson

Lupita Nyong’o in Versace. Picture: Twitter.

Designer Donatella Versace paid homage to her 1992 MET Gala look by wearing a white and gold gown with a bustier top by Versace and a star-spangled banner clutch bag. Gigi Hadid looked effortless in red hair as she channeled Jessica Rabbit in a Prada gown and black gloves. 

Actress Zoe Kravitz turned heads in a blinged out barely-there Saint Laurent dress with minimal jewellery, while her partner actor Channing Tatum showed up in a slim, black tuxedo. 

Actress and re-emerging fashion muse Megan Fox had heads rolling when she arrived in a blazing red Dundas cut-out gown and sporting 1950s-styled bangs. 

To quote social media slang on her red carpet looks, Megan has not stopped “stamping on our necks” since she returned to red carpet events.

Pharrell Williams and Hellen Lasichanh followed the theme with their own interpretation of American fashion, arriving in matching black Chanel western suits with jeweled boleros as neckpieces and gold-toed boots. 

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Jennifer Lopez also followed the Wild West aesthetic, rolling up to the MET Gala in a brown Versace ensemble with a wide-brim hat. Actress Tessa Thompson joined the rodeo in a daring Iris Van Herpen piece with black knee-high cowboy boots and matching cowboy hat.

Tessa Thompson, Helen Lasichanh; Pharrell and Jennifer Lopez. Pictures: Instagram

Rapper Lil Nas X, fresh off his award-winning night with MTV, stole the show upon arrival as he revealed three gold outfits ending with a black and gold jumpsuit that was very much Lil Nas X, and reminded many people of Lady Gaga’s MET Gala inspiration (referring to her 2019 Camp-themed reveal). Although the outfit itself can’t be considered American, the flair and dramatics can!

Lil Nas X. Picture: Twitter

Defending Formula 1 champion and a MET Gala favourite Sir Lewis Hamilton arrived en-posse on the red carpet, wearing a black slim suit with a white lace long sheer shirt by Kenneth Nicholson (who also joined him at the gala event) and minimal silver accessories. A look that would describe the effort by most of the men at the gala event – often in black with pops of colour. 

Sir Lewis Hamilton in Kenneth Nicholson. Picture: Twitter

Sir Hamilton was accompanied by US athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, stylist Luxury Law, singer Kehlani and four black designers that Hamilton invited to the event in order to uplift up and coming black designers. 

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The likes of Swizz Beatz, rapper Lil Baby, designers Heron Preston and honorary chair Tom Ford all wore classic, truly American, and somewhat dreary black suits on the red carpet. Model Alton Mason channelled the King of Pop with an all-white ensemble paired off with pearl encrusted boots and a slight hair curl (a nod to 1970s Michael Jackson).

Rapper Saweetie, while she stunned in an inspired old Hollywood glamour, was dull for wearing a dress silhouette she has become synonymous with wearing on (almost) every red carpet she has attended. 

Natalia Bryant, daughter of late NBA player Kobe Bryant, made her MET debut wearing a bubbly, glittery Connor Ives dress with a 70s inspired hair and platform heels. Model Iman stunned like the true goddess that she is, wearing a Harris Reed creation of a gold jumpsuit underneath and an extravagant matching gold headpiece. 

Another one of the gentlemen who dazzled was Kid Cudi, who honed the angst/emo aesthetic of the late 90s and early 2000s, down to the wide leg pants, green coloured hair, smokey eyeshadow and a bright blue jumper. A true ode to some of America’s best cultural moments.

Iman; Natalia Bryant; Saweetie and Kid Cudi. Picture: Twitter

Kim Kardashian shocked attendees and social media when she arrived head to toe in black Balenciaga, and accompanied by Kanye West, also in black Balenciaga hoodie and sweatpants with both of their faces completely covered.  

Honourable mentions include some of the 2020 US Olympic team: Allyson Felix; Simone Biles and Nia Dennis; as well as newly-crowned US Open champion Emma Raducanu; Keke Palmer; rapper Jack Harlow and debut Megan Thee Stallion who wore Coach.

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Other honourable mentions include Erykah Badu; new pop It-girl Olivia Rodrigo; Kim Petras, Ben Platt; Jennifer Hudson and Serena Williams who wore a star-spangled Gucci jumpsuit and feathered cape.

Let us not forget the star of the night, the name everyone (both A-list and social media) kept calling for as she made everyone wait until the red carpet was about to close – Rihanna. 

The Bajan singer and one of the undisputed queens of the MET Gala red carpet rolled up in a black ensemble that paid homage to not one, but two fashionable times for America (the 20s flapper girl and 90s streetwear). 

Rihanna wore a large Balenciaga overcoat; a matching black skull hat; Maria Tash and Thelma West jewellery with heels by Amina Muaddi. Accompanied by boyfriend and New York-native rapper A$AP Rocky, who was underwhelming yet followed the theme in his attire by ERL. He should be proud his girlfriend stole the show from him. 

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were the last to arrive on the red carpet. Picture: Twitter/Metgala2021

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By The African Mirror

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