There comes a time every year when high fashion makes its’ presence known through the likes of Hollywood’s wealthiest and famous. Onlookers watch as their favorite celebrities, dressed to the nines, parade down the red carpet in diaphanous custom designer gowns and classic tuxedos tailored to the tee (no pun intended). While the unveiling of this year’s exhibition, Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, set the mood for this year’s gala, red carpet attendees proved that their creativity and eclectic tastes in fashion is a force to be reckoned with.
The attendees on our best-dressed list were chosen based on the incorporation of the exhibition’s theme, color, silhouette, and overall cohesiveness of the look. Lead fashion contributor Kevin Leo shares his perspective of the red carpet attendees in his favorite segment, Aesthetic Analysis. Here’s a breakdown from head-to-toe of the top 10 best-dressed celebrities at the Met Gala 2016.
KATE HUDSON x ATELIER VERSACE
Actress Kate Hudson wore an all-white cutout gown by Atelier Versace. From structure-to-hand-to -movement, this dress embodies how technology can enhance high fashion garments. Although the dress proved to be difficult to sit in (she rode in a limo standing up to the gala), sacrificing a seat for style is a win in my book- or at least in this instance it was!
JOURDAN DUNN x BALMAIN
British Supermodel Jourdan Dunn stunned in a metallic illusion dress by Balmain. With lame covering about 85% of her body, she still managed to look sexy and very tasteful while exuding a futuristic sense of style. Her black and gray ombre’d bob and perfect model proportions completed the look and propelled her into our best-dressed compilation.
POPPY DELEVIGNE x MARCHESA
London-based design studio Marchesa has featured some of it’s more innovative and memorable pieces this year at the Met; the chainmail dress Poppy Delevinge donned is no exception. Paired with an Oroton clutch, her dress was comprised of metallic fringe and an intricately embellished illusion bodice.
ZAYN MALIK x VERSACE
Former One Direction bandmate turned solo artist Zayn Malik took this year’s theme, ran with it, and came back with a robotic arm- literally. Manus x Machina translates into hand and machine. Well Zayn decided to collaborate with Versace and created a custom hybrid tuxedo complete with functional metallic hardware over the sleeve. And this is only the first Met Gala he’s ever attended- winning!
CLAIRE DANES x ZAC POSEN
The only thing Claire was missing in this diaphanous, luminous gown was a pair of glass Louboutins as she resembles the modern day Cinderella in her Zac Posen gown. Danes still manages to look strikingly elegant with over 150 LED lights and 30 mini battery packs attached to the underlining of her dress, illuminating her and everyone else within say…10 feet? Not to mention the 600 man-hours it took to create this hybrid of a masterpiece.
LADY GAGA x VERSACE
Singer and actress Lady Gaga has finally returned to her humble beginnings of being the ultra-theatrical, fashion icon that she is. Gaga dons a blue and black cutout leotard, metallic jacket (with designs reminiscent of some sort of electrical component) and platform heels that endow her with the ability to touch the ceiling of the museum. In all seriousness, her platform boots are ridiculously high…high fashion that is.
KARLIE KLOSS x BRANDON MAXWELL
Supermodel Karlie Kloss flaunted her perfectly toned body in a custom crème Brandon Maxwell cutout dress.
KYLIE JENNER x BALMAIN
Kylie Kardashian wore a heavily embroidered metallic dress with cutouts revealing her less-than-shapely silhouette.
CIARA x
Singer Ciara wore a chocolate-nude dress embellished with jewels that skimmed ever-so-gently over her perfectly toned model silhouette. She completed her look with short metallic pompadour-styled hair, effectively aligning herself with the theme.
RITA ORA x VERA WANG
British singer Rita Ora stole the show (and a couple dozen of some unlucky bird’s wings) in a metallic feathered Vera Wang gown.