The looks that grace the Met Gala red carpet in New York City are always the center of the event, creating a stir amongst fashion critics, enthusiasts, fans at Choate, and onlookers around the world — this year was no exception. The exclusive annual event, with highly-coveted invitations, welcomes celebrities and designers to showcase their best fashion while following the dress code; it is also a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year, the Met Gala’s theme was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” and the dress code was “gilded glamor, white tie.” “The 2022 Met Gala will ask its attendees to embody the grandeur — and perhaps the dichotomy — of Gilded Age New York,” wrote Vogue in April 2022.
To provide some context, the Gilded Age took place from 1870 to 1890 and was characterized by the emerging New York high society who discovered novelly ostentatious ways to spend their money. As a result, over-the-top fashion featuring rich silk, intricate lace, and expensive fur came into style. Another defining aspect of this time was the arrival of millions of immigrants into America through Ellis Island, who worked to keep the country’s industrial economy running. Attendees of the 2022 Met Gala were expected to showcase the glamor of the Gilded Age; yet, as many Choate students noted, very few referenced the time period and its essence in their outfits. Here are the looks that sparked both admiration and controversy among Choate students.
Blake Lively’s look for the evening, an Atelier Versace gown inspired by The Statue of Liberty, was one of the most well-received by audiences and Choate students alike. Lively entered onto the carpet in a copper gown, which was then unfastened to reveal a teal train that represents the oxidation of the statue over time. Explaining why Lively’s dress was her favorite, Ryan Froeb ’23 said, “Gilded means covered in gold yet hiding the rotten interior. Blake Lively literally stripped her copper exterior to uncover the rusted blue beneath.”
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Others admitted that the dress received so much appreciation because many other A-list attendees showed up in misplaced outfits. “Was it the prettiest dress ever? Definitely not. Did it fit the theme and have an unexpected reveal? Yes,” said Rio Federman ’25. Reka Bajus ’22 also observed that “it immediately called to mind the paintings of Elizabeth Wharton Drexel, a wealthy woman in the Gilded Age.” Having attended The Met Gala ten times prior to this year, Lively has mastered the art of arriving at the Met steps in newsworthy looks. “She is the Met Gala,” said Monicke Costa ’25.
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Another fan favorite for the night was Billie Eilish, who was dressed in a Gucci corseted dress cut from repurposed fabric. The dress was praised for its historical accuracy as it featured a corset and a bustle, both of which were defining elements of Gilded Age fashion. Although the look was simple, the pastel colors gave the dress a modern twist while still embracing elegance and highlighting the theme of the Gilded Age. Others, however, recognized the thought put into the look but took issue with the execution. “I think, ditch the flowers, [wear a] different skirt, and change the color scheme, and this would look great,” said Evelyn Stanley ’24. “Right now, [the dress] feels too light for her hair and like it should belong at the Met Gala in 2019.”
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Evan Mock worked with the brand, Head Of State, to make his mark at the Met Gala by creatively referencing the Gilded Age. Mock wore a white shirt with a frilled collar paired with a pale yellow corseted jacket and flared pants. “It is an American brand. So first off, that’s a plus one,” said Ximena Castillo Núñez ’24. “The collar had this sort of feminine sense to it, so he was pulling from feminine and masculine themes. I think he did a great job.”
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A curly-haired Kaia Gerber walked the carpet in an ethereal beaded silver gown by Alexander McQueen. “The metallic fabric perfectly fit the Gilded Age theme, but the sheerness, movement, and experimentation with texture made it modern. The hair is giving ‘fairy goddess’ and also references some historical paintings,” said Kate Laird ’24, explaining why it was her favorite look. “It was easily the most interesting and best dress,” said Oona Yaffe ’23.
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The Kardashian-Jenner family’s looks made it onto many lists of the event’s worst-dressed celebrities this year. Kim Kardashian chose to reference the mid-1900s, a couple of decades after the Gilded Age, by wearing one of Marilyn Monroe’s dresses. She lost 16 pounds in the two weeks leading up to the gala to fit into the jeweled dress. “What she’s representing by wearing that dress, I don’t really stand for, even if she looks amazing in it,” said Castillo Núñez. “I think the dress has to fit you. You don’t have to fit the dress.”
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Kylie Jenner’s look was one of the most widely disliked amongst her family. She paired an Off-White white strapless ball gown layered on top of a sheer white T-shirt with a white snapback attached to a veil that covered her face. Jenner wanted to honor the designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away recently, by wearing his brand. However, audiences were unsatisfied with the look for not acknowledging the gilded glamor theme. “I don’t think Virgil would have approved of that whatsoever,” said Castillo Núñez.
Some of the event’s attendees received significant backlash for not embracing the theme. “The average American high school spirit week is more likely to have people accurately following a dress theme than the Met Gala,” said Bajus. Furthermore, the event didn’t acknowledge the millions of immigrants who came to the country and the workers who were exploited during the Gilded Age, who were pivotal in the construction of America as it stands today. The timing of the event was also inopportune: “Watching people put together these very opulent, patriotic ‘yay America’ clothes, half of which weren’t very good, [on] the same day that Roe v. Wade gets overturned was rough,” said Yaffe. “I would consider myself a patriot, but I think making these art shows built around the grandeur of America maybe feeds into exceptionalism a little bit.”
Although some looks in the Met Gala rose above the others, others fell flat. The 2022 Met Gala theme inspired guests to focus on the glamor of the Gilded Age, an already flawed premise that many believed wasn’t duly executed. Nevertheless, spectators witnessed a plethora of gowns, suits, and everything in between on what is commonly described as “fashion’s biggest night out.”
