The 2018 Met Gala: Fashion Review

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.

The Good, the Bad, and the Just Plain Weird: 2017 Met Gala Red Carpet Review

The Annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, more commonly referred to as simply "the Met Gala", is always an...um...interesting red carpet event. It is definitely a place where designers and celebrities alike attempt to out-avant garde each other. In other words, the outfits can get extremely weird. And the 2017 Met Gala was no exception. There were some lovely looks. There were some less-than-successful looks. And there were some truly bizarre trainwrecks. Let's look at a few of them, shall we?

Cara Delevingne's silver and black pantsuit was one of the more successful weird looks. The flower pattern of the fabric was beautiful, and the tailoring of the slim but not skin-tight pants and the high-waisted, square-shouldered, silver-belted jacket/top was impeccable, crisp, and flattering. Even the silver, slicked down hair and severe, monochromatic makeup worked for me. This is the type of weirdness that I like to see at this kind of event.

Celine Dion, on the other hand, showed us the less successful side of weird. The concept wasn't bad, with a full, poufed and draped black skirt and beautifully pleated and swirled bodice accented with metallic gold strips - but then it appears to be worn over a gray terrycloth t-shirt with unhemmed sleeves. Wait, what? It's like she had this fabulous dress but then decided it was too revealing so she grabbed some random thing from her closet to wear underneath it. And the look was not helped by the Sharpie eyeliner and spiky sculpted hairdo (or maybe fascinator). Nope.

Chrissy Teigen took a glamorous look and edged it over to funkiness. The silhouette of the gown was very traditional, but it paired a sheer black sheath with silver lace and fluffy white feather shoulder and wrist accents, which were both repeated at the hem of the gown. The high neck was a fun contrast to the peekaboo effect and miles of visible legs. And having John Legend on her arm was a pretty nice accessory, too.

Hailee Steinfeld often takes risks on the red carpet, and usually they pay off, but not this time. This strangely-proportioned dress made it look like she was wearing a man's military jacket backwards and falling off her shoulders. The empire peplum was too high, the sleeves were too long, the train was stiff and oddly shaped, and the clunky platform boots were just plain ugly.

Halle Berry, on the other hand, channeled a beautiful black-and-gold peacock in this simple silhouette gown. The back and train were decorated with increasingly large curved pieces that created a feather-like effect that was also a bit reminiscent of vinyl records. I loved her hairstyle, pulled back into a low chignon held in place by a subtle gold band. Elegant and eye-catching.

Trainwreck time! I'm not exactly sure what Helen Lasichanh  was wearing, but it wasn't clothes. It reminded me of those inflatable sumo wrestler costumes. Maybe she's always cold and wanted to be able to put her hands in her pockets inside her outfit? Maybe she's always had a thing for Gumby and Poky so she decided to combine their looks? Maybe she lost 200 pounds since her outfit was designed? Whatever the reason, it wasn't a good enough one to justify appearing in public wearing this crazy getup.

Janelle Monae went back to her trademark black and white look for the Met Gala, and surprisingly, her look was rather restrained (for her, anyway). I really liked her fluffy tiered white skirt and the black detailing on the bodice. The black feather collar was just weird enough to give it a funky look without completely going off the rails, so I'm calling this one a win.

Jennifer Lopez wore a surprisingly demure - and somewhat bland - ice blue cascading chiffon gown. Pretty but forgettable.

I loved Jourdan Dunn's funky geometric deconstructed men's suit. The shirt was a wild riff on a man's white dress shirt, with oversized loose cuffs, and a collar creating an angular line at the top of the bodice, and the skirt was made of diagonal panels that appeared to be strips of a pin-striped suit. The tangled train even had pieces of fabric tied like neckties. It was clever, it was unique, it was flattering. A+ from this reviewer.

Julia Carey's glittery gold gown featured some lovely red and blue embroidery on the bodice, but was generally quite tame by Met Gala standards. Extra points for the cute red clutch, though.

It's not easy to tell, but that's Katy Perry underneath that voluminous, Eastern-inspired gown. It felt to me like it included elements of traditional Mongolian, Indian, and Middle Eastern clothing. The intricate beading was exquisite, and the double train of the gown and the headpiece made a gorgeous line. This look falls in the "weird but very beautiful" category for me, which is exactly what I like to see at this kind of event.

Kerry Washington's dress had a bit of a "country quilt" look to it at first glance, but details like the small cutouts, thigh-high slit, varied fabric textures, severe bowl cut hairdo, and diamond choker brought the overall look up a level. It took a bit of time to grow on me, but grow on me it did.

Lena Dunham makes many fashion missteps in my opinion, but this event is just perfect for her off-kilter style and non-model figure. Her tiered red-and-black-checked ballgown skirt was topped with a one-shouldered black bodice crossed with a huge ruffled sash from shoulder to waist, somewhat evocative of a Scottish tartan. It would have overwhelmed a more petite person, but Dunham carried it off beautifully. And I love that she reversed her more usual "foofy dress with minimal hair and makeup" to be a somewhat less frothy gown paired with lovely, feminine makeup and a really pretty updo. She really kills it with this look.

Lily Collins brought to mind a combination of Leslie Caron and Isabella Rossellini with her stark black pageboy with babydoll bangs, dark makeup, and frothy pink tulle ballgown skirt over a simple black bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The silhouette is striking, the color combination is terrific, and she pulls off this daring look amazingly well.

Madonna, on the other hand, fell flat in her satin camouflage sheath with olive drab boa and elbow-length black leather gloves. And I don't know what's going on with the hodge podge of necklaces around her neck and hanging from her belt, not to mention the weird grille she's been sporting lately. Oh, Madge. I never thought I'd be looking back fondly on the funnel-bra look.

Mandy Moore was strikingly out of character in this sleek black single-sleeved gown that flared slightly at the knee. She paired it with slicked-back hair, pink-toned makeup, and a single long glove. She looked as elegant and killer as Morticia Addams (and that is absolutely meant as a compliment).

Mary J. Blige opted for a semi-sheer black corset top that cascaded into a slim skirt that revealed plenty of leg. I loved the lace trim along the slit of the skirt and along the waist, and her zigzag diamond cuff was fabulous, as were her long diamond earrings. It wasn't weird or crazy or daring (at least not by the standards of this crowd), but it was beautiful and unusual and well-tailored and accessorized.

Nicki Minaj loves to dress a bit crazy, so this look wasn't entirely out of character for her. I loved the lines of her black and red...I'm not even sure what to call it. It wasn't not so much a gown as it was a short jumper with a double cape. But I loved the way the fabric came over her shoulders and tucked into the bodice, I loved the frothiness of the black underlining of the cape and the detailing along the edges of the red cape. I even loved the three-strapped platform sandals. This was a fun, weird, wonderful look.

Priyanka Chopra could look gorgeous wearing a paper bag, so it was no surprise that she looked gorgeous wearing a beige trenchcoat with an oversized collar and a large train. But although the woman was gorgeous, the outfit was just kind of meh. Pretty silhouette, but not much else going for it in terms of color, texture, or styling.

Rihanna's outfit made me laugh out loud. It seemed to be constructed of circles of fabric cut from 1980s bridesmaid dresses (possibly some were from 1960s wallpaper) and glue-gunned together by someone's mom as part of a school art project. it even looked like part of one of the bridesmaid dress the fabric came from was attached to her left hip. The red strappy sandals that laced all the way up her legs were stunning, and I even kind of liked the brightly pink makeup and super-high topknot. But that dress was a trainwreck.

Rita Ora knocked it out of the "weird but wonderful" park in this red satin concoction that appeared to be made of wide strips of fabric tied at the shoulder and then wrapped around ora's body, criss-crossing to form a skirt, with the strips cascading down from the knee over a tan tulle underlayer and train. The silhouette was gorgeous and the construction was fascinating.

Selena Gomez wore a simple white gown with a deep vee in front and a high center slit. The gown flared into an all-around train and was embroidered with delicate flowers along the neckline and scattered over the rest of the dress. Not exactly weird, but wonderful.

The color alone of Serena Williams' voluminous gown was enough to catch anyone's eye, but the sari-like swirl of embroidery from bodice to hem created a graceful line that delicately drew attention to her burgeoning baby bump - as if her glowing smile didn't already do that.

I'm pretty sure Solange was wearing what I would have come up with had my 7-year-old asked me to make him a costume for his school play in which he was playing a sleeping bag. Seriously, she was wearing a sleeping bag, with a second sleeping bag attached to the back as a train. And bandages on both her hands. And really weird shoes. Not good weird, just weird.

And to be sure we end on a "good weird" note, Zendaya's orange and yellow ballgown was printed with poppies and parrots and had a beautifully soft long train. The off-the shoulder bodice had a real Cinderella look to it, which was a fun contrast with the wild print and her long full hair. A nice youthful twist on weird and wonderful.