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The Daily Californian Arts & Entertainment picks for best dressed at the 2019 Met Gala

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MAY 08, 2019

The Met Gala is one of the few red-carpet nights each year when celebrities can forget the conventions of high fashion and venture into creative and daring looks. The theme of 2019 — “Camp: Notes on Fashion” — made way for an especially extravagant red carpet, featuring bold, drag-inspired looks from A-list entertainers. Among all the beautifully outrageous looks, it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to just six top contenders. Nonetheless, here is The Daily Californian’s guide to the best-dressed celebrities at the 2019 Met Gala.

Lady Gaga wearing Brandon Maxwell

This year’s “Camp” theme seemed to be the perfect breeding ground for Lady Gaga’s creativity. The star is famous for her history of heterodox style, and while she has toned down her red-carpet fashion over the past few years, Gaga’s Met Gala look was a perfect balance between her eccentric roots and mature development. She wore four different outfits on the red carpet, which she revealed as she stripped each one off to showcase the next. They included a giant, puffy pink gown with a 25-foot train and matching bow, a black dress with an extra-large side bustle, a hot pink column dress and, finally, a set of black underwear that was encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Absurd on every level (literally and figuratively), Gaga’s look was perfect.

Ezra Miller wearing Burberry

Ezra Miller may have spent last awards season turning heads on the red carpet, but no one was ready for his appearance at the Met Gala. Miller complemented his chic Burberry pinstriped suit with a matching train and a jeweled corset. While the clothes alone were enough to land him a spot on our list, his makeup took him above and beyond — the star’s face was painted with five fake eyes, creating an optical illusion that stayed true to this year’s eccentric theme. His creative makeup and overall look paid homage to the bizarrely beautiful history of drag fashion while maintaining red-carpet elegance, making him a clear winner by our standards.

Lupita Nyong’o wearing Versace

Lupita Nyong’o has long been a red-carpet star, and this year’s Met Gala reminded us why. The actress wore one of the most daring looks of the night: a custom Versace gown that featured a geometric pink skirt and a colorful neon bodice. The top half of Nyong’o’s dress was defined by exaggerated shoulders that transitioned from bright pink to chartreuse, matching her purse. The star completed the look with gold Afro picks in her hair and bright, glittery makeup. While every part of Nyong’o’s look was surprising and extravagant, they all worked together to create a perfectly on-theme red-carpet moment.

Billy Porter wearing The Blonds

Billy Porter has spent his recent red-carpet appearances successfully experimenting with unconventional fashion, and his first Met Gala look was the culmination of it all. Porter arrived at the event on a black couch carried by six shirtless men who wore matching gold pants and face jewelry. Porter, on the other hand, wore a sparkling golden catsuit that was matched with a giant headpiece, golden shoes and bold makeup. Porter blurred the line between fashion and performance with his appearance, embodying everything the Met Gala should be. His look can be described as nothing other than formidable — it exuded pure power and creativity, and it secured an obvious spot on our best-dressed list.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner wearing Versace

Kendall and Kylie Jenner are known for their neutral, elegant red-carpet appearances; historically, the sisters have gone with safe, sophisticated and borderline-boring looks. However, at this year’s Met Gala, the Jenners certainly embraced the outlandish theme. They arrived wearing matching feathered dresses, Kendall in bright orange and Kylie in lavender. Kendall’s look was completed with a back full of feathers, and Kylie’s with giant feathered sleeves and a matching wig. The sisters complemented each other perfectly while looking on-point individually as well, making their red-carpet moment one to remember.

Jared Leto wearing Gucci

Jared Leto is another celebrity known for daring men’s fashion choices, and he certainly lived up to his reputation at this year’s Met Gala. The actor donned a bright red silk gown completed with jewel details along the bodice and down the skirt. However, the look didn’t end there — Leto completed the outfit with the best accessory of the night: a wax replica of his own decapitated head. The juxtaposition of Leto’s elegant dress and shocking accessory created a look that was peculiar and fascinating — it was undeniably “Camp,” and it undoubtedly merits the last spot on our list.

Contact Salem Sulaiman at [email protected].
LAST UPDATED

MAY 08, 2019


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