The Met Gala, which is, ostensibly, a benefit to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute, is also one of fashion’s most important nights of the year. With Vogue’s Anna Wintour at the helm, the gala brings together artists, designers, actors, and models on the red carpet, where the rest of us can stare (usually jealously!) at the major looks being served up.
Each year has a theme (previous years included technology, Catholic traditions, and superheroes, among others). This year’s theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” which obviously positioned itself to be one of the queerest years yet at an event that always brings out some spectacularly queer looks.
Billy Porter’s Winged Catsuit
As if Billy Porter’s Christian Siriano gown from the Oscars wasn’t enough, the “Pose” actor took it about ten levels up with his Met Gala look: a bejeweled gold bodysuit with stirrups and ten foot long golden wings. To complete the ensemble, he wore a 24-karat gold headpiece. Oh, and Porter arrived reclining on a throne carried by six shirtless men—queer and campy indeed.
Lady Gaga’s Four-Layer Fashion Creation
Lady Gaga was not content to serve up just one Met Gala look, so, instead, she went for four separate ensembles, each serving up campy realness. Gaga started with a bright pink gown featuring a 25-foot-long train carried by dancers. She then unzipped the dress to reveal look two: a subdued but beautifully silhouetted black gown with just enough asymmetry to give it some camp. Her looks later in the night featured another pink dress with giant sunglasses and a crystal-studded bra and panty set for her final camp look of the night.
Laverne Cox’s All-Black Stunner
Laverne Cox brought all-black drama to the red carpet with a long-sleeved Christian Siriano gown featuring a ruffled train and giant shoulder feature, which took the look from pure class to touch of camp. That is, of course, exactly what made it such a perfect look for the night. Cox also donned light blue hair and a black headpiece to top off her look.
Lena Waithe’s Timely Political Statement
Lena Waithe, never one to shy away from queer visibility, arrived with Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond in coordinating suits. Featuring oversized shoulder silhouettes and wide-set pinstripes, the suits really made their point from behind. Waithe’s suit back read “Black drag queens invented camp,” and Jean-Raymond’s said, “Fix your credit, pool money, buy back the block.” The Met Gala look was one of the most politically powerful we saw this year.
RuPaul’s Pink Zebra Suit
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@rupaulofficial attends the 2019 Met Gala ✨ #metgala #metgala2019 #rupaul
For RuPaul’s first appearance at the Met Gala, he showed up in a pink, sequined zebra print suit that also featured a pink zebra head at the end of a feather boa. And, of course, an oversized sequined bowtie topped off the look along with some seriously large rings.
Janelle Monae’s Tower Of Hats
Queen Icon Janelle Monae went a little bit “Alice in Wonderland” and a little bit Picasso with a futuristic look by Christian Siriano. The gown, in pink, black, and white, featured a tower of askew hats, a large eye, and a color block pattern that turned heads.
Ezra Miller’s Jewelled Corset and Freaky Optical Illusion
Ezra Miller, who has been bringing queerness to the front page (literally, in the case of his Playboy shoot), wore a magical look consisting of a Burberry suit designed by Riccardo Tisci featuring a bejeweled corset. The look really came together, however, with Miller’s makeup, which added an optical illusion of three additional eyes. Miller topped the Met Gala look off with a mask, completing the startling and compelling look.
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