Met Gala attendees are notorious for ignoring themes. The annual event raises money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and guests are asked to dress in accordance with a specific theme that pays tribute to the current exhibit.
This year, the exhibit is "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," and the accompanying dress code was gilded glamour. The Gilded Age refers to the late 1800s to early 1900s, a period of great economic growth and technological advancements. The fashion back then was rooted in excess and extravagance: think bustles, ruffles, and fringe galore.
The Met Gala theme isn't necessarily a requirement to follow. It is, however, a strong suggestion. Think of the Met Gala like a costume party: Some people will go above and beyond, planning their outfits for months ahead of time. And others will rummage through their closet at the last minute only to throw something together that's more of a regular going out look than an actual costume.
The 2022 Met Gala served an onslaught of underwhelming ensembles that felt more Gatsby than gilded. Gorgeous as the gowns may have been, they simply didn't fit the theme. But it wasn't a total loss.
A host of celebs managed to stay on theme for their Met Gala fashion moment, including Billie Eilish, Sarah Jessica Parker, and more. Keep scrolling for the full list of style stars who nailed the gilded glamour theme.