The Craziest And Most Dramatic Outfits From The 2019 Met Gala
The theme for the 2019 Met Gala was "Notes of Camp." No, that doesn't mean the carpet was filled with cargo shorts. Pioneered by black drag queens in the 20th century, camp fashion embraces irony, humor, parody, theatrics, and exaggeration.
The 2019 theme was an open invitation for celebrities to not take themselves so seriously, while still serving up high fashion looks. The stars who arrived brought some of the most extreme, dramatic, and risqué looks we've ever seen on the Met Gala carpet and it worked perfectly.
Billy Porter Was Practically Angelic On The Pink Carpet
2019 has been the year that Billy Porter breaks down every wall in high fashion. He famously wore a tuxedo ballgown to the 2019 Oscars that took our breath away and at the Met Gala, he managed to one-up his past look. For the Gala, he arrived wearing a catsuit covered in gold tassels that featured 10-foot wings and a 24-karat gold headpiece.
The only thing more camp than Porter's outfit was his entrance, where he was carried in on a black velvet couch that was carried by six very fit men.
Celine Dion's Gorgeous Headpiece Weighed 22 Pounds
Canadian singer Celine Dion has said she firmly believes that when you start worrying about comfort, it means you're getting old. She certainly embraced that mantra in this Oscar de la Renta gold fringe ensemble. The look is reminiscent of Las Vegas showgirls, which is fitting for the singer, who just ended a decade-long residency in Vegas.
The show-stopping part of Dion's outfit is the gold feather headpiece that she said weighed a whopping 22 pounds.
Harry Styles Shocked Everyone In This Gender Fluid Look
Harry Styles served as a co-chair for the 2019 Met Gala and his outfit did not disappoint. The former One Direction member is used to pushing fashion boundaries and many of his performance outfits are colorful and shocking. Rather than wear his usual colorful getups, Styles instead wore a sheer, black lace outfit and paired it with high heels, a single pearl earring, and nail polish.
Arriving alongside Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, Styles said the look that was intended to be gender fluid.
Zendaya Stepped Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale With This Dress
Zendaya embraced her inner-Cinderella in this Tommy Hilfiger ballgown. When she stepped onto the carpet the dress was all black tulle and as her stylist Law Roach waved his wand, it slowly lit up with blue light. Zendaya later shared on Twitter a behind-the-scenes look at how the dress was made to light up.
At several of her past Met Gala appearances, Zendaya has embraced her natural hair texture, but for the 2019 Gala, she wore her hair styled blonde just like the Disney princess Cinderella.
The Jenner Sisters Wore Complimentary Camp Ensembles
Kylie and Kendall Jenner rarely make joint appearances anymore, but we're glad they broke that rule for the 2019 Met Gala. The pair arrived together wearing coordinating feather dresses. Kendall's neon orange dress was Cher-inspired, while Kylie seemed to embody a modern Marilyn Monroe silhouette with her lavender naked dress.
While critics adored the camp looks, many were quick to compare the two to other pop culture duos like Scooby Doo's Velma and Daphne or Cinderella's step-sisters.
Lady Gaga Delivered Not One, But Four, Perfect Camp Outfits
When Vogue editor Anna Wintour was asked about what the camp theme meant, she specifically called out Lady Gaga's infamous meat dress. The singer and actress has always embraced over-the-top outfits that still manage to be high fashion, but no one expected her to arrive with four perfect outfits.
Over the course of 15 minutes on the pink carpet, Lady Gaga transformed out of a massive pink ball gown to just a bra and she managed to look poised the entire time. She even had props for every outfit.
Cardi B's Dress Was The Grand Finale
Cardi B was the proud wearer of the gown that stole the show at the 2019 Met Gala. Arriving in a red feather Thom Browne gown, this look quite literally took over the carpet. The massive train was reminiscent of Rihanna's canary yellow 2015 Met Gala gown and took an entourage of ten men to carry.
While the red gown had plenty of volume in the shoulders and skirt, the bodice showed off Cardi's signature curves.
Kacey Musgraves Is A Barbie Girl Living In A Barbie World
For the country singer's first Met Gala appearance, Kacey Musgraves decided to channel her inner Barbie doll. Musgraves wore a body-hugging pink leather look with a hair-dryer handbag that looked like she had just stepped out of the plastic toy packaging.
While this outfit might not be adorned with feathers or sequins, many applauded the campiness of the outfit. Musgraves walked the pink carpet with a dead stare and open smile which made the outfit border on surreal while still being high fashion.
Priyanka And Nick Jonas Returned To Where It All Began
Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Nick Jonas returned to the Met Gala for the first time together since 2017. It was at the 2017 Gala—where the theme was Commes des Garcons—that Priyanka and Nick had their first date. The two walked the 2017 pink carpet as guests of Ralph Lauren and one year later, they were engaged.
The pair matched with silver tones on the 2019 Met Gala. Priyanka chose a Dior dress with silver and multicolored feathers, while Nick opted for a white suit with silver accessories.
Jared Leto's Ensemble Was Designed By The Gala's Sponsor
Singer and actor Jared Leto showed up at the 2019 Met Gala in an embellished red Gucci gown and a head-turning accessory. The gown was designed by Alessandro Michele, who was the sponsor for the gala.
The choice to hold a replica of his head was a nod for Michele's 2018 fall collection, where the models walked the runway with similar replicas. According to Michele, dressing Leto like this for the event was to show how clothing could "create a new personality and identity."
Katy Perry Lit Up The Carpet As A Chandelier
Katy Perry gave camp a run for its money when she arrived dressed as a chandelier. It's not clear whether this outfit was inspired by Sia's hit song or by Lumière from Beauty and the Beast. Either way, Perry embodies the over-the-top surreal function of camp.
The Moschino dress was covered in real crystals and was stacked with working lights and a full headpiece. Later in the evening, Perry turned off the lights and changed into a hamburger costume which proves the singer knows when not to take herself too seriously.
Ezra Miller Faced Off For The Campiest Fashion Award
The 2019 Met Gala was actor Ezra Miller's debut and he certainly brought his A-game. No one actually knew it was him when he arrived wearing a floor-length white satin cape and a mask.
After removing the two pieces, Miller was revealed to be wearing a tailored pinstripe suit with a jeweled corset overtop and five extra eyes painted on his face. Burberry creative director Riccard Tisci is to thank for Miller's eerie, campy costume.
We Dream Of Elle Fanning's Camp Getup
Every time you look at actress Elle Fanning's Met Gala outfit, there's something new and shocking. Fanning took a retro inspiration for her look by combining an I Dream Of Jeannie hairstyle with a bold cat-eye and an over-the-top necklace.
The star of Fanning's ensemble was her quirky manicure. If you look closely, her long pink nails have kitcsch charms hanging off that includes a telephone, some french fries, and even a tube of toothpaste.
Janelle Monae Was A Surreal Work Of Art
Singer Janelle Monae's has always pushed boundaries when it comes to music and fashion, so she called on her personal stylist to design this surreal look for the 2019 Met Gala. Alexandra Mandelkorn designed 15 different outfits before landing on this Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali-inspired dress.
The black and white aspect of the dress is a signature look for Monae, but by adding a tower of hats and an eye with eyelashes that actually blink, Mandelkorn embraced camp in every way possible.
Serena Williams Paired Fashion With Comfort
Also serving as a co-chair for the event, tennis star Serena Williams arrived at the 2019 Met Gala wearing a neon yellow Versace gown. The custom gown was adorned with pink feathers and leaf appliqués that made her look like a glowing goddess.
Williams has proven time and time again that she can wear high fashion but she also keeps true to her roots. Rather than pair the Versace gown with heels, Williams instead wore neon yellow sneakers for ultimate comfort.
Hamish Bowles Looked Lavish In Lavender
The European editor-at-large for Vogue magazine was the one to announce the 2019 Met Gala. He knew the theme better than anyone and his multicolored outfit proved that. With pastel-dyed hair, a fringe cape and a multi-tone purple suit, Bowles brought camp to the pink carpet.
The outfit, designed by John Galliano, featured every texture and tone possible. The purple suit actually featured a skirt on the bottom with sheer paneling and a heeled shoe to finish it off.
Cara Delevinge's Outfit Was Pride-Inspired
British model Cara Delevingne has never been a wallflower and she proved that again with this pride-inspired camp outfit for the 2019 Met Gala. The sheer striped jumpsuit was paired with a Swarovski crystal cane and a shocking headpiece. The crown had strange items in it like bananas, wind-up teeth, and eyeballs. She even wore a fried egg earring.
Many interpreted the look to be pride-related since Delevingne has been an open supporter of the LGBT+ community.
Lupita Nyong'o Never Shies Away From Color
Lupita Nyong'o has always embraced bold colors on the red carpet, but her ensemble for the Met Gala pink carpet had a little more meaning. The actress's multi-colored feather dress made a statement but it was her hair and makeup styling that caught everyone's attention.
Nyong'o's afro hairstyle featured five gold combs with "Fight the Power" fists as handles meant to signify solidarity with Black Power. Her makeup was also said to be inspired by original drag icon Divine.
Jordan Roth Flexed His Theatrical Wings
The owner of five major theaters on Broadway arrived at the 2019 Met Gala with an outfit fit for a Broadway show. Roth appeared at first to just be wearing a simple red cape but when he had the chance, the cape opened up to reveal the actual inside of a theater.
Considering the fact that camp fashion is all about embracing theatrics and bordering on cheesy, Roth definitely hit the theme on its head.
Darren Criss's Jacket Embodies Camp
Former Glee actor Darren Criss channeled the Harlequin character Commedia dell'Arte in his outfit for the 2019 Met Gala. While Criss's checkered, embellished jacket and over-the-top bow certainly turned heads, it was his campy makeup that everyone was talking about.
Criss arrived wearing bright blue eyeliner that extended out from his eyes like angelic wings and a single red line as lipstick. The makeup was a nod to the Harlequin character and showcased treater and trickery.
Sophie Turner And Joe Jonas Weren't Afraid Of Color On The Pink Carpet
Less than a week after eloping to a Las Vegas chapel to say "I do" in front of an Elvis impersonator, newlyweds Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner arrived at the 2019 Met Gala. The pair opted for matching Versace looks. Turner's catsuit was high fashion but could easily be found in an '80s music video.
Jonas took the same pattern from Turner's catsuit and wore it on a skin-tight turtleneck, making him look like the lead singer of that same '80s band.
Best Hair Goes To Tessa Thompson?
Up and coming actress, singer, and overall fierce woman Tessa Thompson came to the Met Gala with the longest hair we've seen in a while. Cosmopolitan awarded her with the best hair award as she showed up with a pony tail wrapped in latex.
Thompson used the extensively long pony as a functional whip! We think that's incredible and mischievous. It for sure gives off dominatrix vibes. All hail the new queen (or king?) of Asgard!
Portrait Ellis
In one of the most unique looks we've seen in a while, actress Tracee Ellis came to the Met Gala as a portrait of herself! Some can't decide if this is a prop comedy or if she was really trying to stun, but we don't care.
Anna Wintour bans selfies during this event, so it's super clever that Ellis would turn herself into one. We're surprised no one else has ever thought of this idea!
Singer Halsey Transforms Into a Superhero
Singer Halsey decided to become a superhero at the 2019 Met Gala. The theme for the night was camp, so this veers off a bit, but we aren't going to judge her based on that. We're only here to say that she still looks stunning.
She's channeling her inner Wonder Woman, which is fantastic. However, we do wonder if she wishes she could have worn something else after seeing what the rest of field brought to the event.
Kim K Is Dripping
Well, what wouldn't people do for Kim Kardashian? The reality star came rocking a Mugler outfit, which apparently, Mugler came out of retirement to design for her. It's not like he's Michael Jordan and can just come back and win three more titles, but this outfit is very eye-opening.
The effect is to make her appear as if she's dripping wet for photographs. We can only imagine how it looked in person. Oh, and there's Kanye too.
Gigi Hadid Looks Bright
Gigi Hadid showed up in a Michael Kors gown that reached down to the floor. It also served as boots, so essentially it was a onesie for rich models. The idea behind it was inspired by Sir Elton John.
We're sure he would be proud. All she's missing is a pair of big funky sunglasses. What if Elton got on the phone the next day calling Michael Kors asking for his own version of this outfit?
YouTube Influencer James Charles
"Being invited to such an important event like the ball is such an honor and a step forward in the right direction for influencer representation," James Charles wrote on his Instagram account. Those words sparked immense outrage on the internet.
Folks didn't like that he tried to marginalize influencers when there are real issues in the world. Still, his look is mighty shocking at first glance. Whatever point he was trying to emit came out perfectly.
She's Still Jenny From The Block
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Jennifer Lopez still looks stunning this far into her career. Just ask former professional A-Rod, he knew what he wanted and proposed to the entertainer. J-Lo came to the Met wearing Versace and probably boosted their stock at the same time.
She channeled Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard. She had the diamond encrusted headpiece with the matching gown. We're pretty sure that every guy wanted to be A-rod for just a few seconds.
Travis Scott Does Dior Military
Kylie Jenner's man, Travis Scott didn't disappoint on the carpet at the Met. The platinum selling rapper showed up in a military inspired outfit from Dior with his lady by his side the whole night.
This isn't his first rodeo, so every year fans can expect him to show up and show out with a unique style. We've hardly ever seen something like this. It almost looks like he's really about to get into war with G.I. Joe.
Back Out For Mrs. Bieber
Hailey Bieber showed up in Alexander Wang and wowed everyone. The pink dress flowed on the ground as her back perched out like the beak of an eagle. We know the Mr. really enjoyed this look on his lady.
The bubblegum pink she sported sat well on her body as she strutted the pink carpet. The colors might look similar, but thanks to the low-back sequin, she didn't vanish into the carpet or anything like that.
Michael B. Comes Prepared
Michael B. Jordan had an amazing 2018. Starring in two huge blockbuster films, the young actor has slowly but surely made etched his name onto the wall of amazing up and coming talents. When it's time to party, he doesn't miss a beat.
Jordan came to the Met wearing Coach 1941. That makes sense since he not too long ago became an ambassador for the brand. The Creed actor always puts his best foot forward and that includes fashion.
Princess Lana
Lana Condor didn't come to play around at the Met Gala. Not everyone can pull this look off, but she did it flawlessly. Sporting a cotton candy shade Giambattista Valli, Condor looked exactly like a princess.
It was a nice added touch that the number was hanging off of her shoulders like that. It added an appeal all while still keeping classy. Imagine seeing someone wear something like this as you walk down the street. Your attention gets stolen.
Hello Miley
We'd like to think that Miley Cyrus has attempted to pull every look imaginable when walking the red carpets. Go ahead and think about it. After you've gathered your thoughts, would you agree it's safe to say this might be one of her best looks?
The '80s punk Saint Laurent get up she's wearing is fascinating. It pokes out and compliments her eyes perfectly. We hope no one got caught in the eye while walking by her!
Graham In Dapper Dan
The beautiful model Ashley Graham pulled out all the stops with this Gucci look! She stunned fans and photographers alike as she strutted her stuff across the pink carpet in a Gucci blazer mini-dress.
She had sparkling hair clips paired with rhinestone-crusted tights that read Dapper Dan. This is as camp as it gets with a splash of flirty as well. We believe she probably had the best Gucci outfit at this Met Gala and we aren't here to argue.
Check Out The Gold!
It's almost like Awkwafina seemingly popped up out of nowhere. She made a splash with her performance in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8 in 2018 and only looks to continue her ascension.
Awkwafina wore a crinkly gold gown by Altuzarra. Ironically, this is the same place she robbed during the movie we just mentioned. It must have felt a little funny for her to be back but this time serving looks instead of stealing.
Let The Hair Be Free!
What can we say about this stunning look from singer and dancer Ciara? Nothing besides that it's gorgeous. To think, Russell Wilson gets to wake up to this beauty whenever he wants. He's always so glad to show her off on social media and who wouldn't be!
Her afro is almost as big as our love for her outfit is. By the way, that's a custom made Dundas gown if you were wondering what she's wearing.
Stepping Out Alone
Model and sister to Gigi Hadid hit the pink carpet solo this year without boyfriend The Weeknd. She wore a lavish black gown with jeweled cutouts. The look was finished with huge dangling earrings.
The maker of the dress is Moschino. She's wearing colored gems and silver embellishments on her sleeve, around her neckline, and on the cutouts around her waist. She didn't spare anyone after serving this look and we don't blame her because her sister look fabulous as well.
French Pays Tribute
Rapper French Montana came to the Met looking as fly as they come. He looked like a North African prince thanks to Dapper Dan who gave him these threads. Montana said his look was inspired by the start of Ramadan.
The "Unforgettable" rapper channeled his Moroccan roots with this and we aren't mad at all. We almost want to call him your majesty for the rest of his career. It's always great to see other cultures get involved.
She Woo'd Us
Here we have another up and coming actress, Constance Wu. Best known for her recent starring role in Crazy Rich Asians, Wu is starting to garner attention worldwide, not just in her home country.
This heavy beaded outfit is by Marchesa. She poses with pure confidence because she knows she's killing it on the carpet int his dress. She even added an extra touch with the silver in her hair if you look closely on the right side.
Anna Wintour
Where would the Met Gala be without this fashion queen? The answer to that is probably nowhere. It would have been cool if Wintour showed up in something like a suit to shock the world, but she decided to be the hottest duck.
She's wearing a Chanel couture gown, a brand she always wears. To up the ante of the camp theme, she wore a feathered cape. How cool is that? That's why she's the hottest duck.
