The Met Gala 2021: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By Kate Hangen, 2024

Published 10/5/21

The Met Gala is one of the most premier fashion events where top designers have a chance to show off their best looks. The outfits debuted at this event will oftentimes be remembered for years. The Met Gala is held as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the guest list including high-profile actors, singers, and models. Each year a theme has been picked to represent a new exhibit in the museum. Previous years themes have included camp, punk, religion, etc. This year's theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, focusing on how fashion in America has developed throughout the years because of both social and political justice movements. This theme could be interpreted in many different ways; some designers hit the mark while others failed completely.

Timothée Chalamet, an American actor most known for his roles in “Call Me by Your Name” and “Little Women”, was one of the co-chairs of this event. Timothée Chalamet walked ten blocks to The Met Gala as a collaboration with French artist and photographer JR, and honestly, with his outfit I believe it. Haider Ackmann, the designer of the outfit, said he was inspired by how different cultures and energies mix in America. While I can see his vision, I don’t think that sweats and converse should be worn anywhere near the Met Gala. I wish the outfit consisted of more colors. I feel like the intricate details of the suit jacket and sweats are being washed out. Overall, this wasn’t one of Timothée’s worst looks, but it certainly wasn’t his best either.

Originally uploaded to SoundCloud, Bille’s Eilish’s Ocean Eyes gained popularity overnight contributing to her massive success. At only 19 years old, Eilish has become one of the prominent singers of our generation. Like Timothée, she was a co-chair of the Met Gala and wore this gown designed by Oscar de la Renta. This look was heavily inspired by a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe to the 1951 Oscars. I adore this look. After releasing her most recent album, Happier Than Ever, Eilish has drastically changed her style. Her edgy look was replaced by a more feminine one when she bleached her hair. I believe this stunning tulle gown encompasses everything the “new '' Billie Eilish is.

American singer Frank Ocean has had several hits musically, including albums like Blonde and Channel Orange. His outfit itself is pretty mundane; it’s a three-piece black Prada suede suit. What really adds the spice is the bright green robotic baby accompanying him. It is not uncommon to bring accessories to the Met Gala, several celebrities have done it before, such as Jaden Smith bringing his own dreadlocks and Erza Miller carrying a mask that looked exactly like them to name a few. While I appreciate the boldness, the baby is not for me. Personally, I don’t think the baby, who Frank has named Cody, relates to the theme at all. I wish he would have focused more on his outfit than the accessories, but I do give him props for matching his hair to the baby.