The Met Gala wrapped up last night, with celebrities including Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and Jennifer Lopez ascending the green tie-dye (?) steps. For us, that meant it was time to do our favorite thing: judge the best, worst, weirdest, and most on-theme outfits of the night. Read on for everything you need to know about the theme, guest list, and streaming options if you want to join in on the fun.
What was the Met Gala 2024 theme?
The official Costume Institute exhibition on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” but the dress code and general theme of the Met Gala is the “Garden of Time.” So you can expect to see nods to archival pieces, florals, and elements of nature.
The obscure and somewhat confusing theme will make this year’s red carpet particularly interesting; while some guests will rise to the challenge with impressive archival pulls and high-concept masterpieces, others will probably choose to ignore the theme completely for fear of misinterpreting it … sigh.
Who attended the 2024 Met Gala?
This year’s co-chairs — Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, and Anna Wintour — were on the red carpet. As well as Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. And then basically every celebrity you can think of. Read on!
The best Met Gala looks
Cardi B in Giambattista Valli
The rapper was one of the last to arrive on the red carpet, but her billowing layered gown was worth the wait; it earned a collective gasp from the Cut Style team.
Lana Del Rey in custom Alexander McQueen
Finally! The Lana best-dressed moment we’ve all been craving since her Born to Die era. The tree branches poking out of the tulle canopy and potentially causing a safety hazard on the red carpet took this look from good to great.
Gigi Hadid in Thom Browne
This is one of our favorite looks of the night. It’s everything a Met Gala look should be: on theme, fashion-forward, and striking on the red carpet but still flattering and true to the personal style of the celebrity wearing it. Bravo, Gigi! Bravo, Thom Browne!
Greta Lee in Loewe and De Beers Jewelry
Our favorite fashion risk-taker does it again, this time in a sheer floral-embellished dress by Loewe.
Jennifer Lopez in custom Schiaparelli haute couture
This look is quintessential J.Lo at her best: sexy, glamorous, and covered in rhinestones. She looks more fashion-forward than years past, thanks to the structured shoulders and soft glam.
Doja Cat in Vetements
After pulling up to the famed Mark Hotel wearing nothing but a plastic bag earlier today, the singer changed into a wet T-shirt dress by Vetements for the red carpet. Her glitter tears, thick black eyeliner, and bleach-blonde pixie cut made the unconventional look feel even more edgy.
Taylor Russell in Loewe
Fashion’s favorite “It” girl — and designer Jonathan Anderson’s latest muse — made her Met Gala debut in a Loewe look that featured a 3-D-molded bodice and draped white skirt. “When we work together it’s always an incredible creative dialogue,” Anderson told Vogue of the actress. “She is an amazing collaborator and a very special friend.”
Cole Escola
Wicker! Dog! Purse! That’s all.
Naomi Campbell in custom Burberry and Material Good
The perfect shade of baby blue does exist, and Naomi Campbell wore it tonight. Other highlights? The shimmery fringe and her unexpected side part.
Anok Yai in Swarovski
The supermodel walked the carpet in an ombré catsuit covered in tens of thousands of Swarovski crystals.
Demi Moore in custom Harris Reed
The actress returned to the Met Gala red carpet after a five-year hiatus in a custom Harris Reed black velvet dress adorned with flowers made of wallpaper. She was also the first person to wear Cartier’s new Nature Sauvage collection, which launches at the end of this month.
Isabelle Huppert in custom Balenciaga
The actress arrived in a reinterpretation of the 1930s Balenciaga mermaid bride gown that’s featured in tonight’s exhibition.
Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga
The actress wore a re-creation of a ruffled 1950s Balenciaga gown inspired by flamenco dancers. “I asked Demna if he was willing to reinterpret it. So he reinterpreted it in the vein of the sleeping beauties and the gowns, bringing them back to life,” she told LaLa Anthony on the red carpet. “So I consider this to be a ‘sleeping beauty’ brought back to life. It’s an honor to be able to bring it back to life.”
Omar Apollo in Loewe and De Beers Jewelry
Everyone say thank you to Omar Apollo for proving that black suits don’t have to be boring.
Gwendoline Christie in custom Maison Margiela
After closing John Galliano’s viral Maison Margiela Paris Fashion Week show earlier this year, the actress arrived in a custom red velvet gown and structured black silk tulle opera coat by the French fashion house.
Emma Chamberlain in custom Jean Paul Gaultier
The YouTuber and media personality always delivers on the red carpet, and this year is no exception. According to Vogue, her custom Gaultier look is a callback to various references from the French fashion house, including a mocha-colored lace corset from the spring 2003 couture show. Her messy brown eyeshadow and matching lip color pull the whole look together.
Zendaya in Maison Margiela couture
The Challengers star wore a sculptural tulle gown by John Galliano with a feather fascinator and Gothic-inspired makeup. She looked incredible (of course), but the headpiece was definitely giving Carrie Bradshaw.
The weirdest Met Gala looks
Lizzo in Victor Weinsanto
Phew! So much to unpack, so little time.
Kieran Culkin
Our quirky king looked very on brand in a splatter-paint suit and pink loafers.
Michael Shannon in Balenciaga
The actor accessorized his black suit with an $1,850 potato-chip-bag handbag by Balenciaga. He ATE (literally).
Camila Morrone in Chanel
Hmmm. Camila Morrone couldn’t look bad if she tried, but this feels a bit too casual for the Met Gala and we are unsure how it ties into the theme.
Jessica Serfaty Michel
The actress interpreted the garden theme very literally with a fully embroidered flower cape (and the neon colors aren’t helping this situation).
J. Harrison Ghee in Howie B
The intricate gold headpiece is clashing with the Broadway star’s cotton candy-colored dress. From the mix-matched colors to the feathers and large bow, the look is way too busy.
Taraji P. Henson in Simkhai
The side panels of the corset should’ve been the same color as her skin color — or not exposed at all — and we could do without the flower hair pins.
LaLa Anthony in Alexander McQueen
This Alexander McQueen mermaid gown was better on the runway, where it was not as formfitting and shown without the black lace underneath. Too much going on here.
Jordan Roth in custom Valentino
While we can appreciate the campiness of this head-to-toe floral look, it is certainly weird.
Olivier Rousteing
The creative director of Balmain walked the carpet in what appears to be a sand-inspired mold of his own face. Chic!
Lea Michele in Rodarte
Between the tulle cape and the randomly placed flowers, this look is reading a little, dare I say, cheap?
Rita Ora in Marni
If you’re going to do nude illusion on the Met Gala red carpet, it has to be flawlessly executed — and this look is not. The color of the bodysuit is slightly off and the dress itself does not flow very well.
The most-on-theme Met Gala looks
Nicki Minaj in Marni
Structural floral dresses like this one from Marni are featured throughout the exhibition; we love the bright colors on this version and the way Nicki Minaj styled it.
Amelia Gray in Undercover
Many people expected to see this glow-in-the-dark dress on the Met Gala red carpet after it made waves at Paris Fashion Week last year. A version of this mesmerizing design is also featured in the exhibition and perfectly embodies the sleeping-beauty theme.
Tyla in Balmain
Somebody did their homework tonight! Not only is this dress tailored to perfection, it is also a clever interpretation of the theme with a nod to “sands of time” in both the texture of her dress and her hourglass-shaped handbag.
Bad Bunny in custom Maison Margiela
This got a resounding yes from the Cut group chat the second Benito hit the red carpet — and it only got better after we took some time to digest it. We’re guessing this is inspired by Count Axel, a character in the “Garden of Time” short story that inspired this year’s theme.
Ayo Edebiri in Loewe
She was one of the best-dressed celebrities throughout the 2023–24 awards season, so it’s no surprise that Ayo Edebiri had a successful Met Gala debut. It’s whimsical, playful, and fits the theme.
