The fashion at the annual Met Gala is always edgy and couture, even by red carpet standards. But this year's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," was just begging for celebrities to cross the line from "edgy" into just plain "poor taste." I am pleased to say that the majority of the celebs on the red carpet managed to stay inside that line, imitating famous paintings and icons of saints, or incorporating halo-like headpieces or wings, but there were a few that danced on the edge of mockery by wearing a stylized bishop's mitre or a cardinal's robe. A few celebs, no doubt thinking "Discretion is the better part of valor," ignored the theme altogether and simply wore eye-catching couture gowns. Here are a few of the most memorable looks from the 2018 Met Gala, divided by category.
Hoods and Cowls
Juliette Lewis' clinging gold gown with mid-length train gave off a slight aura of religious garb, its draped hood bringing to mind a medieval monk's cowl or even a nun's wimple.
Priyanka Chopra often wears Indian-inspired fashion, and her stunning deep cranberry velvet column with separate circle train topped with a gilded yoke and hood was one of my favorites. The pop of bright red lipstick was the perfect accent.
Olivia Munn paired her figure-hugging gold column with a chained hood that, while not reminiscent of clerical garb, did remind me of the Crusaders. I would have liked a bit more tie-in to the theme, but at least she made the attempt.
Clerical Garb and Crosses
Laura Dern opted for a simple white dress with a vertical black front panel and sash that formed a cross, the keyhole cutout creating a "crux ansata" similar to the Egyptian ankh. Her spiky diamond necklace also looked a bit like a fallen halo.
Greta Gerwig wore a hugely voluminous short-sleeved gown over a puffy-sleeved white shirt. With its slightly stand-up collar, it looked to me like a riff on a cassock.
I was not a fan of Taylor Hill's modified cardinal's robe with its open sides, high front slit, and red satin sash, especially paired with a large cross. Or perhaps that should read, "crass." It's right up there with "sexy nun" costumes at Halloween.
Jennifer Lopez was much more successful with her Crusader-inspired gown. The cutouts above the large cross on the bodice showed just a little skin, contrasting nicely with the conservatively long sleeves and squared-off yoke, and the hint of silver criss-cross at the top of the split black feather skirt was a nod to the chain mail often worn by Crusaders.
Sarah Jessica Parker made an interesting choice of religious garb by wearing an actual nativity scene on her head! At first glance, her outfit made me think of traditional Laotian or Thai clothing ("Little House of Uncle Thomas" from "The King and I," anyone?), but upon looking closer, her gold gown is emblazoned with red hearts such as are often depicted in "Sacred Heart" iconography. I don't love the silhouette of the gown, particularly the multi-pointed shoulder poufs, but the concept is at least intriguing. That headpiece looks particularly painful, so points for committing to the concept, as well.
Rihanna's white and silver minidress with matching shoulder wrap and longer overskirt was quite pretty, but I didn't love that she paired it with a silver bishop's mitre. Aside from the religious connotations, it makes the look top-heavy and unbalanced. A delicate silver halo would have worked much better on several levels.
Angels
Mary J. Blige was among those who eschewed the theme in all but the loosest sense, giving just a hint of the angelic in her high-slit white gown with long trailing scarf and gold feather embroidery, paired with thigh-high boots. Come to think of it, maybe there's a little bit of devil involved as well.
Another all-white ensemble was worn by Kate Bosworth, who opted for a very bridal look. Her frothy lace gown had a full-length train and she wore a white veil edged with pearls. It certainly would have looked at home at the front of a church!
Hailee Steinfeld's simple white column was accented by flared panels in the back which hinted at wings, and she topped her look with a halo-like diamond headband.
Sarah Paulson's white and silver column included a cape which hinted at wings, but the silhouette, with its stiff A-line and puffed sleeves, also called to mind traditional clerical garb.
Instead of dressing like an angel, Emilia Clarke opted for a strapless black column with elaborate gold trim and multiple
pictures of angels - cherubs, to be specific. Her blond locks were also braided into a halo-like coronet.
Selena Gomez wore an angelic white gown with a silver-trimmed spaghetti-strap bodice and a full skirt made of three tiers of sheer fabric trimmed with feathery lace, ending in a huge train.
Katy Perry certainly committed to the angel imagery in this pair of enormous white and gold feathered wings that could have come straight off the Victoria's Secret runway. She paired the wings with a pretty gold slip dress with sheer bell sleeves, all studded with pearls, and over-the-knee gold lame stiletto boots. It was dramatic enough that it worked very well.
Halos
A number of celebrities, including Cardi B, wore ornate halos. Cardi's halo was set into a large white base and it and her column gown were both studded with silver stars. Her gown was finished with a voluminous white satin train. And a lot of cleavage. And I mean A LOT of cleavage.
Lynda Carter's halo was a more subdued golden crown worn with a lovely teal gown with matching short jacket and lots of angular draping at the back.
Lily Collins wore a severely-cut black and white gown softened with an elaborately braided updo topped with a black halo, and accented with a painted teardrop under one eye. Very dramatic!
Anne Hathaway paired a spiky black halo with a striking blood-red satin ballgown with front keyhole slit and a broad collar-like bodice. Couture, angel, and devil all in one.
Even when Solange Knowles doesn't design her own outfits, she tends to be something of a trainwreck, and this look was no exception. I did like the style of her gold halo, especially the way it was attached to the back of her head with a type of black 'do rag. But the shiny black vinyl dress looked like a half-inflated but melted truck tire, and even the thigh-high stiletto boots couldn't save the look.
Janelle Monae modified her signature black-and-white couture look by pairing a geometric column and short jacket with an enormous gold-lined, bonnet-style halo and a chain-mail hood. It was an interesting way to combine couture with the theme of the evening.
SZA (no idea who she is, but according to Google her "name" is pronounced "SIZZ-ah") also combined couture with a halo headpiece. Her pale pink ballgown featured pannier-style tufts at the hips and a heavily beaded bodice, but it was her delicate and graceful halo headpiece that made the look stand out.
Historical Figures
Donatella Versace channeled Joan of Arc in an embellished chain mail tunic with matching boots and a full cobalt blue taffeta skirt overlay topped with a wide black leather belt and oversized gold buckle. This was a wonderful pairing of theme and fashion.
Madonna - never one to shy away from religious imagery - opted for a look that brought to mind Queen Isabella I of Spain, a famously devout Catholic. Her all-black ball gown featured a simple gold cross on the bodice, with crepe bell sleeves and a full satin skirt. Her look was topped with a lovely gold crown that curved just enough to hint at being a halo. For her, it was a very toned-down and respectful look.
Shailene Woodley was almost unrecognizable in her Joan of Arc get-up, with its high-necked, long-sleeved silver tunic with white cuffs and skin-tight thigh-high black boots, topped with a sleek black bun and babydoll bangs. I didn't love it, but she committed to it fully and I give her credit for that.
Easily the most successful of the Joans of Arc, Zendaya took the chain mail style and converted it into a beautifully draped dress with a slightly more structured bodice and a fascinating breastplate-inspired collar and shoulder gauntlets. She's also rocking Joan's traditional pageboy hairstyle. Interesting and flattering couture and a clear tribute to a religious icon. Very well played.
Pure Couture
Cara Delevingne skipped the religious aspect altogether (I think, unless this is supposed to be a REALLY moth-eaten cassock) in this bizarre see-through black and white geometric number which alternates narrow bands of black fabric with sheer sections of wide fishnet, topped with a black crown and a veil of black beaded stars covering her face. Fortunately, the bodice has a flesh-toned lining, but the black underpants are all too visible. I'm not a fan.
I think Ariana Grande may have been stretching things when she announced that her gown was the design of the rear wall of the Sistine Chapel, but I do agree that the cut of the gown and the colors and pattern of the fabric are simply breathtaking. I could live without the giant beige Minnie Mouse bow on top of her head, but otherwise it's an elegant and just slightly edgy look.
Gigi Hadid's striking midnight blue flared gown covered with tan and gray feathers could have gone in the "Angels" category, but it's really the overall silhouette and colors of the gown that are striking, not just the feather pattern, so I'm categorizing it as couture. Really, really lovely couture.
Scarlett Johansson's fashion is often hit or miss for me, so I was delighted with her gorgeous off-the-shoulder, deep red-to-white gown with floral accents. It's delicate and feminine without being too frilly, and the colors are just slight nod to the theme. Plus, I think she looks fantastic as a brunette and this hairstyle looks great on her. Well done.
Blake Lively rarely stumbles on the red carpet, and she most certainly did not in this amazing red and silver gown. The jeweled silver bodice gave way to trails of silver embroidery down the length of the red satin skirt with its huge but graceful train, and her perfect posture and modelesque pose absolutely sell it. One of my favorite looks of the night.
Nicki Minaj was also somewhat surprising in her relatively conservative look, pairing a fairly simple red sequined column with a red and black wrap that cascaded into a long train, accessorized by an Egyptian-looking beaded hair cover and matching heavy collar necklace. It was actually quite a flattering and interesting look.
Yet another red couture gown, Ruby Rose went with a satin halter dress with full, pleated overlay skirt and wide sash. It moved beautifully, but it wasn't quite wild enough to stand out in this venue.
Alicia Vikander does not shy away from daring fashion, so I was a bit disappointed in her black-over-white lace column with white shrug and black elbow-length gloves. It was pretty, it was just terribly bland and uninspired.
Amal Clooney ignored the theme but still looked fantastic in her strapless open-fronted blue floral print gown worn over purple satin pants. It shouldn't have worked, yet somehow it looked ethereal instead of heavy, and colors that should have clashed, complemented.
I had to look twice to believe that this is Frances McDormand. Yes, really! McDormand is just about the opposite of a fashionista, not really looking bad on the red carpet most of the time, but not exactly known for her cutting edge fashion. But she was definitely cutting edge in this puffy aqua cape with hugely ruffled neck and wild feathery headdress, worn over a chartreuse underdress. I was pleased to see that she at least stuck to her usual style of not wearing makeup. You do you, Frances.
