NEW YORK – As the Met Gala we all know and love came to an end, it’s time to sit back and reflect on some of the most iconic looks that caught the eyes and attention of many at the annual fashion and art fundraiser.
The renowned, invite-only Met Gala, held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in support of its Costume Institute, took place on May 4 alongside the opening of this year’s exhibition, ‘Costume Art’.
According to the official site of The Met, the exhibition is designed to “examine the centrality of the dressed body, juxtaposing garments and works of art from across the Museum’s vast collection, to create pairings that not only illuminate the indivisible connection between clothing and the body, but also the complex interplay between artistic representations of the body and fashion as an embodied artform.”
With the evening’s dress code set as ‘Fashion Is Art’, this allowed many celebrities, and their designers, to get creative and push boundaries with their artistic flair and fashionable looks that wowed crowds, and definitely caught their attention.
The Met Gala site revealed how the idea behind the dress code was for guests to “express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form, and celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history.”
One of the most common observations from this year’s Met Gala was the number of looks which seemed to be inspired by ancient Greece, with several high-profile guests arriving in ensembles inspired by Hellenic statues or incorporating elements of Greek-influenced artwork and designs.
Some of the celebrities and high-profile guests who had the most-notable and impressive Greek-inspired looks include:
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway’s iconic look was custom-designed by Michael Kors, in collaboration with the well-known American artist Peter McGough.
It featured an elegant, black Mikado silk ball gown, which was hand-painted by McGough himself.
Speaking with Vogue magazine, Michael Kors revealed how the inspiration for the visuals in the design, actually came from a poem with a Greek theme.
“We used ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ by John Keats as a starting point,” Kors said.
McGough noted that for him, the dress is about “the goddess of a Grecian urn, and what I love about the dress is that it turns the person into an object of art,” McGough told Vogue.
“It’s moving art – fashion and art, they go together for me: Fashion is wearable art.”
Anne Hathaway arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the ‘Costume Art’ exhibition on May 4 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Kendall Jenner
Another noteworthy, Grecian Goddess-inspired look spotted at The Met Gala was from the American supermodel and celebrity, Kendall Jenner.
Jenner was seen wearing a custom GapStudio look designed by the creative director of Gap Inc. Zac Posen, which was paired with beautiful Buccellati jewelry.
According to People Magazine, her look was inspired by the sculpture ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’ – a piece from 190 BC which depicts the Greek goddess, Nike – Victory.
The look was brought to life by Posen and his team with a simple white GAP T-shirt, which was then blended with leather, chiffon, and organza to create the final piece.
Kylie Jenner
The American TV personality, businesswoman, and celebrity Kylie Jenner was seen wearing a look inspired by the Venus de Milo sculpture (c.100 BC), which was a custom-designed Maison Schiaparelli look created by Daniel Roseberry. The ivory gown consisted of a molded nude corset, which was designed to look like it was falling, therefore creating a living statue effect.
Hailey Bieber
The American model, media personality, entrepreneur, and founder of Rhode, Hailey Bieber was labelled a ‘Greek Goddess’ by many at this year’s Met Gala. She was seen wearing a sculpted bodice, which was made out of 24-karat gold and was paired with a long blue silk chiffon skirt, and metallic leather sandals. It gave off a Gladiator-like look and was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s fall 1969 couture collection.
Suki Waterhouse
The English singer-songwriter, actress, and model, Suki Waterhouse was also spotted wearing a Greek-inspired look designed in collaboration with Michael Kors and was inspired by terracotta statues.
Speaking with Vogue, she shared: “Michael was interested in Greek statue draping, and the figures you would find in the Met.”
“He’s the ultimate storyteller. He can walk into a room of hundreds of people and understand why everyone’s there, pull something from the past and bring it into the present,” Waterhouse told Vogue.
Her look was described as a “low-cut, body-skimming silhouette with elongated panels trailing behind the dress.”
Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo
Entrepreneur, tech investor, and strategic advisor Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo also turned heads at the Met Gala, where she was seen wearing a custom Jean Paul Gaultier look also inspired by the ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’.
Her ball gown featured wings and a statue embedded as a front piece.
Doja Cat
The Grammy-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer Doja Cat was seen stepping out in a long sleeve, toga-inspired look which featured a unique gold accent by her shoulders and a thigh-high slit designed by Saint Laurent’s longtime Creative Director, Anthony Vaccarello. It was inspired by the ancient Greek sculptures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Serena Williams arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the ‘Costume Art’ exhibition on May 4 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Serena Williams
The internationally-recognized tennis star Serena Williams was dressed in Marc Jacobs on the evening of the Met Gala, with a look uniquely curated by Kesha McLeod.
As described by Women’s Wear Daily, Williams’ look featured a contemporary variation on Grecian design, which consisted of a custom silver lamé draped gown adorned with gold leaf accents, with shoes crafted in gold Italian leather. What made the look even more Grecian, the outfit included Williams’ asymmetric pleated skirt. Her look was additionally accessorized with jewelry pieces by David Yurman.
Ciara
Although it wasn’t Greek-inspired, American Grammy-winning singer Ciara stepped out in an Egyptian-inspired look reminiscent of Queen Nefertiti, where she wore a stunning design created by Greek fashion designer Celia Kritharioti. Kritharioti is known as the owner of the oldest Greek fashion house, established in Athens in 1906.
