The 2024 Met Gala has officially come and gone, and it’s left a big impression behind! 2024’s biggest fashion event celebrated the opening of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year’s exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” is set to re-introduce hundreds of rarely-seen items from the Met’s collection.
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To celebrate, the star-studded gala invited attendees to join in with a dress code of “The Garden of Time,” named for a 1960s dystopian short story by J.G. Ballard. Which celebs nailed the assignment? Here’s who stood out to us.
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Zendaya in John Galliano/Maison Margiela
One of the co-chairs for the 2024 Met Gala, Zendaya continued her fashion winning streak. The super-intricate, textured dress featured a peacock color scheme, with layers of blue, green, and black intertwined. Tulle, sparkling berries and leaves, and a fascinator complete the look. Plus, there’s even a hummingbird perched on her neck!
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Ayo Edebiri in John Anderson/Loewe
We know what you’re thinking: “Florals, for spring? Groundbreaking.” But when they’re as pretty as Edebiri’s, even the most cynical fashion watcher has to be charmed. Her halter gown flowed from a white top to a technicolor garden below for a perfectly sweet and spring-y look.
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Colman Domingo in Willy Chavarria
Domingo is a reliable pick for the best-dressed man on any red carpet. For the 2024 Met Gala, he combined his particular blend of sartorial glam with an emotional touch. Tapping into the “time” portion of the theme, he revealed to E! that he wore a cape in honor of two late greats: actor Chadwick Boseman and journalist André Leon Tally. “I wanted to honor these brothers who were here before me,” he said.
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Dove Cameron in Diesel
There were plenty of florals at the Met, but none evoked the “sleeping beaut(ies)” vibe as well as Cameron’s. At first glance, it looks like a gorgeous, though standard, gown of head-to-toe pink florals. Then, when she raises her arms, the stunning, floor-length, deconstructed sleeves reveal themselves.
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Sabrina Harrison in Chris Habana
Early in the 2024 Met Gala, Harrison’s gleaming gold look caught the eyes of red carpet watchers right away. While many attendees leaned into the “garden” theme, Harrison went for a “time” inspired look. Both her sleek corset and her headpiece depicted a clock motif, and her skirt featured dozens of tiny timepieces, too.
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Elle Fanning in Balmain
Fanning has actually played Sleeping Beauty, but she went deeper for her look. Her sculpted, silvery gown gave the appearance of an ice or crystal sculpture. It’s a subtle evocation of J.G. Ballard’s dystopian short story that gave the night’s dress code its name. In that story, a count plucks the petals from his crystal flowers, one by one, as the “rabble” approach to throw down the aristocracy.
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Tyla in Balmain
Singer Tyla stepped onto the 2024 Met Gala red carpet in a gown inspired by the “sands of time.” Even her accessories leaned into the theme, with an hourglass-shaped purse. Her gown was so form-fitting that she had to be literally lifted up the famous stairs! Now that’s taking commitment to fashion to a whole new level.
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Alia Bhatt in Sabyasachi
Bhatt combined the ethereal garden of Ballard’s short story with the timeless silhouette of a glittering sari. The sparkling, pastel-hued outfit features a 23-foot train, plus intricate embroidery and gemstones. It’s a tribute to the craft of fashion, as well as to the themes that inspired the night.
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Jeff Goldblum
In a dapper, loose-fitted suit, Goldblum looked like he could be an aristocrat awaiting his doom in the most stylish way possible. The silhouette evoked earlier eras of menswear, while the brooches and glasses — including a green-tinted pair he wore — seemed to nod at his role as the Wizard in the upcoming Wicked film.
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Harris Reed (and Demi Moore)
Designer Reed walked the 2024 Met Gala carpet in his own creation, one of the most striking and architectural looks of the night. He also designed Moore’s gown, with the theme of a flower in bloom, then in decay. Using upcycled Victorian wallpaper, he created a look that reflected themes of bloom and inevitable decay for a true showstopper.
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Gigi Hadid in Thom Browne
Hadid knows how to make a fashion statement, and this one was no different! She walked the carpet in a vintage-looking corset gown, topped by an enormous coat and train covered in vines of 3D yellow roses. According to Vogue, the whole look took a team of more than 70 people over 13,500 hours to hand-make!
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Bad Bunny in Maison Margiela
It’s a cliche that men don’t tend to dress on theme, but don’t tell that to Bad Bunny! His custom navy suit featured details that evoke the seam markings seen mid-tailoring, plus a pop of red and 3D flowers. He finished his 2024 Met Gala look with black gloves, diamond-shaped glasses, and a poufy hat for good measure.
