The Metropolitan Museum of Art has settled on quite the collection for this year’s costume exhibition; Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Religious undertones have dominated in 2018, as anyone who has seen Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2018 Ready-to-Wear collection can attest to. Although their choice may come with controversy, many designers have come out to support it and Versace is a major contributor to the exhibition. The Vatican has even donated some pieces to the collection. Regardless of the controversy, stars decked themselves out in Baroque attire, fitting in with the Catholic Imagination. Hosted by Amal Clooney, Donatella Versace, and Rihanna, this was a banner year for the MET Gala’s red carpet.
Baroque
Baroque refers to a period of European art, including architecture, music, and fashion, that involves dramatic silhouettes and ornate detailing. Opulence is the height of fashion this year, so it should come as no shock that celebrities wore baroque style ensembles to the MET Gala. Two of the hosts, Amal Clooney and Donatella Versace, shirked Catholicism for the extravagant look of baroque, which often overlaps with the lavishness of the Catholic religion. Clooney wore a stunning Richard Quinn gown paired with fitted pants, while Versace wore a dress of her own Atelier’s creation, both leaning into the dramatic silhouettes. Amanda Seyfried played up the opulence in a Prada gown of Vatican Yellow, paired beautifully with a golden crown and leaf detailing. Ariana Grande’s Vera Wang dress featured cherubs and a lot of pomp and circumstance. Blake Lively took the Baroque crown with a show-stopping Versace gown that featured a lot of taffeta, gold, and attitude.
Go Baroque with these fabrics:
Catholic Headgear
Many celebrities sported headgear reminiscent of the Virgin Mary, from white veils to sparkling halos. Amber Heard and SZA wearing a Versace gown sported the Virgin Mary’s pointed crown, while Rosie Huntington simply paired a crown with her Ralph Lauren dress. Winnie Harlow’s Tommy Hilfiger dress was definitely upstaged by the white floral crown, reminiscent of the Pope’s miter, while Kate Bosworth’s stunning veil, lined with pearls, is a clear nod to the Virgin Mary and the common western wedding dress.
Put yourself ahead with these fabrics:
Chainmail
Chainmail gowns have been mounting in popularity, but the Knights Templar were at their peak at the MET Gala. Zendaya took this the most seriously with an ornate Versace gown, equipped with a breastplate and armor, while Kim Kardashian wore a more simple Versace gown in gold and adorned with crosses. Sienna Miller opted for a chainmail skirt from Louis Vuitton, and Joan Smalls sported a Tommy Hilfiger chainmail dress that was matched in opulence only by her headdress. Olivia Munn’s sweet and simple gold H&M chainmail dress was paired perfectly with a chainmail veil. Check out the Hyacinth Gown on Mood Sewciety to recreate these looks!
Check out these pieces of chainmail:
Overt Catholocism
Some celebrities dove headfirst into the theme of the evening. Overt Catholocism plagued the red carpet as celebrities dawned wings and halos. Many invoked the spirit of those in power, dawning ensembles that resemble nuns, popes, and priests. Host Rihanna falls into the category of pope impersonators with a jaw-dropping John Galliano dress encrusted with jewels and paired with a priest’s miter. Stella Maxwell dawned a Moschino gown detailed with different versions of the Virgin Mary, while Madonna ironically emulated her in a Jean Paul Gaultier gown. Emilia Clarke’s ornate Dolce & Gabbana dress featured the Baby Jesus, with baroque style appliques weaving their way around the garment.
Fashion a couture look with these fabrics:
Menswear
Menswear tends to… disappoint when it comes to the red carpet. There are only so many different collar silhouettes you can pair with a black tuxedo before it gets boring. Thankfully, there are some designers who know how to style a man. Nick Jonas decided to stay subtle at the gala, simply wearing an ornate cross with his simple tux. Pharrell Williams went with a similar fashion but was a little more bedecked than Jonas. Two men on the runway really dedicated themselves to the theme of the evening; Jared Leto in a Gucci suit and crown, and Chadwick Bosman, who sported a priest-like cape. Donald Glover’s mauve suit may look simple, but there’s a stunning Illuminati applique on the back that has not been done justice in any photos so far.
Create stunning menswear with these fabrics:
What do you think of the MET’s latest costume exhibition, and who was the best dressed on the red carpet last night? I absolutely adore Donald Glover’s suit (and everything else he does), but Amanda Seyfried’s dress was my favorite.
4 comments
My personal favorites of the night were Ariana Grande, Olivia Munn, and Emilia Clarke. Ariana due to the beautiful use of the cherub fabric, Olivia was simple but complex with the larger chain mail cutouts. and Emilia due to the appliques are stunning.
Oh, I totally agree! Those were some stunning gowns. When I first saw chainmail gowns I wasn’t crazy about them, but they’ve totally grown on me. And those appliques on Emilia Clarke, absolutely magnificent!
I love all of these looks, but the beaded Dolce and Gabbana jacket Darren Criss wore was a work of art! My all time favorite look of the night.
Oh I hadn’t seen that one, it’s beautiful! A lot of the fashion at the MET Gala could easily have been in the museum, there’s so much artistry and craftsmanship that goes into them.