I'm sure we were all very excited about the MET Gala lineup of celebrities and designers this year. The dress code was the elegance and embodiment of "The Garden of Time." This ode to the short story by J. G. Ballard goes hand in hand with the exhibit theme of "Sleeping Beauties." The 1962 story serves as the backdrop and inspiration of the Met Gala this year, bringing its melancholic beauty with it to one of the most significant events in art and fashion. And on the topic of time, this year's MET saw a lot of first-time attendees. Let's have a look at our favorites:
Shakira
Shakira made her Met Gala Debut in custom Carolina Herrera. It's hard to believe that this was Shakira's first Met Gala, but she set the bar high for newcomers this year, wearing a sculptural dress painting her as a red rose for the 2024 event. Someone larger than life deserves a gown representing the qualities she has brought to the music industry.
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Raye
Raye brightened the carpet this year in Fendi. She has always witnessed stars like Rihanna walk the carpet, and this year, she raised the bar for other 'first-time walkers' with this beautiful gown. The Fendi Haute Couture gown is composed of a silk bustier and a hand-embroidered skirt, and it was an ode to Old Hollywood and the talented women singers who graced the time period.
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Rachel Sennot
This was also Rachel Sennot's first Met Gala, and her look embodied the changing of seasons, as winter fades into spring, in such a retrospective beauty.
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Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo took a spin on the classic tux with a beautiful piece from Loewe. A singer taking the music industry by storm this year, becoming a Loewe ambassador himself, Apollo wore a custom piece inspired by Loewe's most recent women's collection. Apollo took extra care with the brand to be one with the event's theme and dress code. He stated that he relied on "just vibes." If that strategy produced these results, I would be going off of vibes in the future.
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Greta Lee
Greta Lee also graced us with Loewe. The delicate and lacy florals of this gown prioritize the silhouette of this gown with such grace and allurement. She has been working with J. W. Anderson, and the gown produced from the collaboration is artistic. There is something very vulnerable yet striking about this piece that genuinely fits the embodiment of Greta Lee.
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Ayo Edebiri
There was something in bloom this season, but it wasn't the cherry blossoms. Ayo Edebiri did such a fantastic job this year, and last year, with her work in the film industry, she received much praise, especially for The Bear. After her previous looks for award shows, we knew she would bring it, and this Loewe gown was a stunning piece for your first Met.
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Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo was in Willy Chavarria, and for his first Met, this was one of the best men's looks not only of the night but within the entirety of this event. This custom look was the perfect combination of a classic, timeless tux but adding a particular flare that complements Domingo's personality and work. This look was a tribute to Chadwick Boseman and André Leon Talley, his goal to honor those who came before him.
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Taylor Russel
Lastly, we have Taylor Russel in Loewe. The piece has Russel looking like a sculpture or classic work of art, pairing nicely with the lingering botanic element that came with the dress. This being her first Met, many were surprised she wasn't hand-in-hand with her significant other, Harry Styles, but she blew everyone away. Russel has never been afraid to take risks in fashion and design, carving a name for herself as this year's best-dressed.
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This is not every new face that graced the green carpet this year, but nonetheless, these looks have us rewatching videos of the Met Gala over and over. There were so many amazing pieces and tributes this year, and all of them will continue to pay homage to the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" exhibit and reference the legendary "Garden of Time."
by Ani Grigsby