The 2024 Met Gala: Best Dressed List

Hey Bombshells,

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual costume event commenced on the 6th of May, 2024, in New York City. The theme of this year’s benefit, “The Garden of Time”, celebrates the institute’s spring exhibition titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibition shines a light on the history of fashion. It displays archival pieces that have been preserved for centuries while granting designers the moment to reimagine these styles at the gala to honor these fragile and rare pieces that are no longer wearable. It sounds simple, but the inspiration behind this benefit is unlike the last, which featured black-and-white looks.

This event lacked clarity and fell short of inspiring a unified execution of the theme. About a handful of attendees dressed in the theme, and the others pulled their inspiration from the title of the exhibition. Although the dress code calls for pieces that incorporate time and the natural elements of land, sea, and sky in fashion, the exhibit showcases Elizabethan-era corsets, nudes, flowers, and birds. With the conflicting yet complimenting dress code and exhibition, the guest portrayed their designer or stylist’s interpretation of the theme. While some focused on florals, others opted for sand or decay.

Nonetheless, the biggest night in fashion wrapped up with a good amount of celebrity looks that either executed the theme of the night or aligned with the exhibition. Read on for the 16 best-dressed looks of the gala.

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Demi Moore looked stunning in a glamour gown by Harris Reed made of vintage archived wallpaper. She accessorized with diamond jewelry by Cartier.

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Lana Del Rey executed the theme in a dark but romantic custom design by Alexander McQueen’s Seán McGirr.

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In her first appearance at the Gala, Mona Patel was arguably the most discussed guest. Her gorgeous and iconic dress is by designer Iris Van Herpen. Did I mention the moth wings moved?!?!?!

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Mindy Kaling evoked the passage of time in a truly stunning sculptural gown designed by Gaurav Gupta. The name of the gown is “The Melting Flower of Time”.

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Zendaya’s second look won the Gala! The star is In a regal corseted bodice, from Givenchy’s spring/summer 1996 couture collection.

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Ben Simmons put up numbers for the men in Thom Browne.

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Tyla in a sand sculpted gown by Balmain and hourglass clutch.

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A rose at the gala, Teyana Taylor made a statement while staying true to her art in a stunning gown by The Blondsy.

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Harris Reed graced the Met Gala in his own creation.

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This look wasn’t talked about enough. Kerry Washington stunned in hand-dyed satin and velvet pearl-embellished orchids gown by Oscar de la Renta.

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Janelle Monáe shimmered in glass-like flowers in Vera Wang. Her “Garden of Time” look is made from sustainably recycled plastic bottles, hand molded into organically shaped flowers.

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Keke Palmer as an earth goodness in a draped sequin gown by Marc Jacobs and super high sleek ponytail.

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Emma Chamberlain in an ivy-like custom brown and black lace gown. The gothic look was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.

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Jessica Biel walked the carpet in a pink dress by Tamara Ralph and Cartier jewelry.

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Zendaya wore an ocean blue gown by Maison Margiela’s John Galliano that included a matching dramatic headpiece by Stephen Jones for Margiela.

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A dramatic met gala moment, Rebecca Ferguson in Thom Browne.

The spring exhibition is curated by Andrew Bolton and Wendy Yu. It features 250 rare pieces drawn from the Costume Institute’s archives. Some pieces are displayed as CGI or video animation to preserve the original. Here are some of the pieces from the collection: