Met Gala 2024 hits and misses

The best and worst of the 2024 Met Gala, from your favorite unqualified fashion critic

The first Monday of May is my favorite holiday. My superbowl. My Mardi Gras. My birthday.

I’m not exaggerating. I look forward to the Met Gala all year — to marveling at the best of fashion and judging — harshly — the worst.

This year’s theme was “The Garden of Time,” based on the Costume Institute’s Spring 2024 exhibition entitled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” I envisioned delicate, ethereal and abstract. Pastels, florals, mesh and lace. And while a few stand-out attendees pushed the boundaries and brought the theme to life, we saw a surprising amount of dark colors, geometric silhouettes, and straight-up boring looks.

I know everyone’s been waiting for my opinion, so alas: the hits and misses of the 2024 Met Gala, from your favorite unqualified fashion critic.

Tyla

My best dressed of the night, the singer stunned in Balmain by Olivier Rousteing and reminded us why we are all gathered here today: to celebrate art. Her dress, made of three different kinds of sand and perfectly molded to her body, belongs in a permanent exhibition.

While most attendees went the “garden” route, fronting florals galore, Tyla dove into the “time” aspect of this year’s concept. So points for being on theme and bonus points for doing something different. And bonus bonus points for being carried up the red carpet stairs like a perfect little doll. And the hourglass handbag!? There is hope for fashion yet.

Elle Fanning

Balmain triumphed again with Elle Fanning’s striking gown. The ice-like garment is so exquisite, it feels wrong to label it as a piece of clothing. It’s a work of art that belongs in a museum beside Tyla’s sand sculpture.

While Fanning would top my best-dressed list regardless of the theme, she nailed the “Garden of Time.” Her look appears to be directly inspired by the J.G. Ballard short story from which the theme derives. In it, Ballard describes flowers in the center of a garden, “their slender stems, like rods of glass, bearing a dozen leaves, the once transparent fronds frosted by the fossilized veins.” It’s spot on. It’s so good. It will live in my mind forever. No one, NO ONE, did it better than Rousteing and crew.

Gigi Hadid

Gigi consistently shows up and shows out for the Met. And unlike some of her supermodel counterparts, she’s not afraid to take risks — like her 2022 Versace latex-meets-quilt, dominatrix-meets-cockroach look that polarized the public. Whether you love her or hate her, you’ve got to respect her openness to experiment. 

This year, she played with contrasting masculinity and femininity, dressed by one of my favorite designers, Thom Browne. Her look took more than 70 people and 13,500 hours to make. And the attention to detail is not lost. The off-the-shoulder top is distinctly feminine, but the skirt is a tuxedo jacket, and then some. The black lining on the suit adds a striking cartoon-esque effect without crossing the line of costume. And a classic Hollywood bouncy bob and red lip complete the look. The dress also features a dainty pocket, as every dress should, almost invisible on her left breast.

Imagine if she had worn the suit version of this look for the after-party. She didn’t, but imagine.

Sabrina Carpenter

As a new Sabrina fan, thanks to that me espresso, I was eagerly awaiting her look. Styled by Oscar de la Renta, she fronted one of those two-in-one dresses that are popular on red carpets. On the top, a tight and simple black bodycon dress. On the bottom, a pale blue, pillowy skirt. She looked beautiful, but I expected more. 

Online, she is being coined the “Cinderella” of the 2024 Met. But I think this look was a missed opportunity. Sabrina is known for her feminine energy, from her buoyant blond locks to her bejeweled mini-skirt-corset sets. I wanted something more ethereal, something more woodland fairy than modern ball gown. Disappointment aside, I regret that I didn’t become a “Carpenter” sooner. I’m working laaaaateee… 

Taylor Russell

Taylor. Motherfucking. Russell. Queen of corsets. Queen of cannibalism. Just kidding. But ever since I saw her in Bones and All, she’s been on my list of ones to watch. This isn’t the first time she’s done a structured corset — at the Bones and All premier, she fronted an insane Schiaparelli drop-waist corset, complete with a geometric cropped blazer. But my jaw dropped when she stepped onto the carpet in this Loewe creation. 

The polished wash of the wooden corset matches her skin tone almost perfectly, creating the illusion that her torso is made of tree bark. This was her inspiration, she told Ashley Graham (whose look I did NOT like) in a pre-carpet interview. She’s always dreamed of being a tree. Seriously, could she be any more loveable? 

If you haven’t already, take a moment to stalk her Instagram. I’m calling it now, she is one of the next high-fashion It Girls.

Kim Kardashian

I have so many questions. Can she breathe? Where are her ribs? Why is she wearing a cardigan? I have to imagine that this was a PR move to get people talking about how unrealistically tiny her waist is. Because this is not good. On the carpet she let her discomfort get the best of her in a very un-Kim-like manner. This isn’t the first time she’s wedged herself into a constricting look at the Met Gala. Just two years ago, she controversially squeezed into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Mr. President” dress, open about needing to lose a lot of weight in an unhealthy amount of time. But has she gone too far?

And the cardigan. What the fuck is going on? It looks like something sitting in the back of my closet that I’ve been meaning to drop off at a thrift store. She told the press she was going for an I just had a crazy night in the garden, my hair is all messy, hahaha vibe. But I’m not buying it. She is too meticulous about her fashion choices for this to be the original vision. I am going to need a serious journalistic investigation into this. The people need answers. 

Mona Patel

If you didn’t know who Mona Patel was before last night, you’re not alone. It was the Indian entrepreneur’s first Met Gala, and what a debut. She was styled by Law Roach, best known for his work with Zendaya, in a custom Iris Van Herpen dress.

Her butterfly-inspired rose-and-champagne-colored gown featured kinetic butterflies that wrapped around her arms and gently fluttered their wings. She floated up the carpet like a woodland fairy who came straight from the garden with her insectile friends. Is she a new Met Gala It Girl? I’m excited to find out.

Barry Keoghan

Thank you, Barry, for not wearing a boring suit. And thank you, Burberry, for crafting this Victorian-Era velvet ensemble with no plaid in sight. According to Daniel Lee, chief creative officer at Burberry, Keoghan was dressed as a “stylish and eccentric gentleman.” And I have to agree. The top hat is the icing on the cake.

Emma Chamberlain

Originally, I thought Emma was a miss. I know what you’re thinking. I know. I’m Emma’s biggest fan — if she has no fans, I’m dead. But something about this look didn’t do it for me. This Jean Paul Gaultier design, inspired by a spring 2003 runway show, is darker than her previous Met looks. Last year she went with Miu Miu and the year before (my favorite) she attended with Louis Vuitton.

I feel conflicted. This look is definitely on theme, crafted from vine-like lace, and on par with her recent brunette-era gothic style. But I don’t think it flattered her. And it didn’t feel like Emma, which normally she does so well. HOWEVER, this look is objectively stunning. Too stunning to not be a hit.

And I refuse to say anything more without an attorney present.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey and Alexander McQueen are a match made in heaven. Need I say more?

Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X can always be trusted to make a statement on the carpet, and this year was no different. His Luar off-white suit is dripping in detail, embellished with over 50,000 Swarovski crystals. The abstract cut-outs, lined with what look like upholstered buttons, offer a satisfying contrast to the bedazzled panels. The look is effortlessly (not really) cool, streetwear meets splendor. And he looks comfortable, which we love.

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is one of the queens of the Met Gala. No argument there. She has attended the event since 2011 and she frequently appears in “best dressed” listicles. The great thing about her looks, creativity aside, is that she’s usually dressed for the theme. In 2019, her show-stopping Camp outfit featured a Picasso-esque face, deconstructed into a dress and accessorized with four (?) floppy hats. In 2022, her Gilded Glamour look, though a futuristic take on the theme, evoked the extravagance of the era. 

This year, she donned a Vera Wang custom dress made of holographic discs. Allegedly, there is a flower made of recycled plastic on her shoulder, but I think that’s a stretch. Overall, I was bored.

Wisdom Kaye

Finally, the master of fashion made his Met Gala debut. And he did not disappoint. This Robert Wun custom titled “The Burnt Red Rose” was hand-painted and burned to resemble an aging flower. Talk about “Garden of Time.” Anna, darling, please make sure Wisdom gets a permanent spot on the guest list.

Benedetta Piccioli and Pierpaolo Piccioli

I’m hesitant to say anything negative about this look because I love a father-daughter fashion duo. But this is a safe space. For the daughter of the former creative director of Valentino, I expect more than a prom dress. Sorry Benedetta, and sorry Donatella.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele surprised me. She’s not one that I usually look out for. But this beautiful blue Rodarte is just, chef’s kiss. And the pregnant belly completes the look. She’s giving joyful! She’s giving baby shower in the garden! Bravo, Lea!

Serena Williams

Who is her stylist? I just wanna talk…

Nicki Minaj

I’m not normally a fan of short dresses or the brand Marni, but this duo is a dream. This sculpture-like masterpiece honors both Nicki’s iconic silhouette and this year’s theme.

Though the dress’s base mimics solid gold, Francesco Risso, creative director of Marni, explained that it is made of satin covered in ten layers of paint.

While many stuck to a neutral color palette, Nicki’s vibrant blues, pinks and yellows brought the garden to life. This belongs in the exhibit next to Tyla and Elle Fanning’s looks.

And to all the men in boring suits…

Jack, this has nothing to do with you. My expectations for you aren’t that high, no offense. But you paid $75,000 to show up like this? Like this??? To all the men who show up in a boring suit: unless you have a beautiful woman on your arm, we don’t need you here. And no, your tiny lapel brooch does not qualify as being on theme.

~

Until next year…