Pamela Anderson Makes Met Gala Debut Giving Old Hollywood Nostalgia

The 2024 Met Gala kicked off on May 6, and this year’s was particularly special for Pamela Anderson. The Baywatch star made her grand debut at the event on Monday, and she made a glamorous first impression with a dress that harkened to the days of Classical Hollywood.

The Met Gala was started in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as a fundraiser for the then-newly established Costume Institute. It has come to be regarded as one of the most exclusive events not just in New York but in the entire world. In celebration of her debut at this illustrious event, Anderson broke a few conventions and wore something particularly special.

Pamela Anderson channels the Golden Age of Hollywood for her 2024 Met Gala debut

Anderson stepped out onto the red carpet in a sweeping cream-colored gown by Oscar de la Renta. The light, flowy fabric of her dress’s skirt followed behind her in a cloud-like train. Meanwhile, the dress featured a ruched bodice that clung to her figure in a sweetheart neckline. One side draped off of her shoulder in an elegant arc. The other side covered her shoulder nearly to the elbow.

Anderson complimented the look with subtle yet sparkling silver jewelry, including a thin necklace that hung loosely across the width of her shoulders in a look reminiscent of a shawl.

To better show off the classical look, Anderson swept her signature blonde hair up into a tastefully messy do. Feathers coordinating with her dress acted as an accent piece to her hairstyle and brought guests right back to the 1920s. It’s also a look that Anderson favored throughout the ’90s, immediately evoking feelings of nostalgia.

Pamela Anderson shakes up her own trend for her Met Gala debut

Increasingly, 56-year-old Anderson has been ditching makeup, both in her social media posts and at high-profile events. For her first-ever trip to the Met Gala, however, Anderson broke from this new tradition and favored subtle makeup by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath.

In an interview with British Vogue, Anderson explained that she wanted a look that was “dewy, soft, and ethereal” that would quietly highlight her own natural elegance.

McGrath approached the request in a way that was adjacent to going all natural. “We wanted to explore the next incarnation of natural — an elevation of natural — and to show how you can wear a full face of make-up but in a very fresh and beautiful way,” outlined McGrath.