The annual Met Gala is one of the most notorious events in our culture. Every year tons of celebrities, influencers, athletes, and other star-studded names gather to show off their elaborate designer outfits in support of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The gala marks the opening of the Institute’s annual fashion exhibit which has a specific theme that that dictates the theme for the gala itself. Some looks are stunning, edgy, and unique, while some miss the mark in my personal opinion. This year was no exception. Here is my personal opinion and review on the 2021 Met Gala.
This year’s Met Gala theme was “American Independence” which gave attendees lots of freedom, so to speak, in their outfit choices. Some people had outfits that very clearly fit the theme, but some were more puzzling to me. For example, Kim Kardashian’s all black ensemble that included an accessory that fully covered her face didn’t do it for me. I was confused about the reasoning behind it and I was not impressed with the actual execution either.
However, Kim’s little sister Kendall made up for her sister’s lackluster outfit with a stunning crystal embellished gown worn over a nude bodysuit that was inspired by My Fair Lady. Without doing a little research and finding out that her outfit was inspired by My Fair Lady, I would have been a little confused about the reasoning behind her gown as well, but unlike Kim, her execution was incredible.
Another incredible look (and my personal favorite) came from pop singer Billie Eilish. This 19 year old icon swept the crowd off their feet with a stunning blush colored tulle ball gown. Her Holiday Barbie inspired outfit reminds me of Old Hollywood glamour and romance and it will forever be one of my favorite Met Gala looks.
Another iconic look came from New York representative, AOC. She wore a white mermaid style gown with the phrase “Tax the Rich” written down the back in red. I don’t love the actual construction of the dress, but I appreciate the symbolism and message of her outfit and how well it fit into the theme. This was definitely one of the most controversial outfits of the nights, and lots of people appear to have strong feelings about whether they’re positive or negative.
The last outfit of this review comes from beauty Youtuber, NikkieTutorials. Nikkie paid tribute to trans icon, Marsha P. Johnson in her sky blue, mermaid style tulle gown. Her gown also features a sash attached to the bottom half that has the phrase “Pay No Mind” written in it. This was one of Marsha’s famous sayings you would use in response to people questioning her and her lifestyle. I love how impactful this look is and that Nikkie was able to honor an important figure in the LGBTQ+ community to represent a different side of American independence.
I enjoyed seeing all of the different outfits for the Met Gala this year. It’s an opportunity for celebrities and designers to reflect their own personalities into the fashion through their interpretation of the theme. I can’t wait to see what the Met Gala has in store for us next year.