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The long-awaited Met Gala returned Monday night, and what an evening it was for mid-pandemic fashion distractions. Attendees were tasked with dressing to the theme of American independence to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute show, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”
Among the standout ensembles inspired by the colors of the stars-and-stripes were Amanda Gorman in a vibrant blue Vera Wang gown, Megan Rapinoe in an American flag-inspired suit, Debbie Harry in a denim and red-and-white gown by Zac Posen and Saweetie in a Christian Cowan gown that paid homage to the rapper’s Filipino and Black American roots.
Other memorable trends included the crystal-studded nude column looks seen on Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz and Hailee Steinfeld; Old Hollywood glamour seen on Billie Eilish, Yara Shahidi and Megan Thee Stallion; and the fantastical fashion on Kim Petras (in a show pony dress by Collina Strada), Iman (in a sun goddess gown and headpiece by Dolce & Gabbana and Harris Reed) and Grimes (in a Dune-inspired Iris van Herpen creation and a sword fashioned after Middle Ages-era weapon).
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Naturally, stars took to the museum’s steps as an opportunity to rep their own beauty brands, such as Jennifer Lopez (who wore a Wild West-inspired Ralph Lauren ensemble) and the fashionably late Rihanna in a sleeping-bag-esque Balenciaga gown (she arrived with A$AP Rocky, who wore a quilted ERL number). Kim Kardashian West, sporting an all-black and head-to-toe look by Balenciaga, seemingly opted to forgo the promotional opp for her namesake makeup label.
While most of Monday night’s looks likely won’t translate into everyday ensembles, there were a few red carpet fashion and beauty items that are shoppable and suitable for beyond a star-studded fundraiser. From Timothée Chalamet‘s laid-back kicks and Amanda Gorman’s Lady Liberty clutch, to skincare and makeup from J. Lo and Rihanna, check out our top picks below.
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1. Amanda Gorman’s Custom Edie Parker Clutch
Poet and Met Gala co-chair Amanda Gorman channeled the Statue of Liberty in her all-cobalt look that included a custom crystal-embellished gown by Vera Wang, jewelry from Chopard’s Haute Joaillerie Collection, a sparkling Jennifer Behr headpiece (here’s a similar gold leaf headband by the jeweler), custom-dyed Stuart Weitzman heels and an ocean blue pearlescent clutch by Edie Parker. Created to resemble Lady Liberty’s book, the carryall is emblazoned with the words “Give Us Your Tired” from the iconic statue’s poem. (The New York-based accoutrements brand was also responsible for Megan Rapinoe’s “In Gay We Trust” acrylic clutch.)
2. AOC’s Minimalist Mejuri Dome Ring and Earrings
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore Mejuri’s large 14-karat gold tube hoops and gold vermeil dôme ring with her statement-making white gown designed by Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, who accompanied the congresswoman to the event.
3. Timothée Chalamet’s Converse Chuck 70 High Top Sneakers
Met Gala co-chair and Dune star Timothée Chalamet paired Converse’s all-American Chuck 70 high-top sneakers with a tailored Haider Ackerman jacket and jogger-style pants by Rick Owens.
4. Bejeweled Beauty on Ella Emhoff, Julia Garner and More
Stars weren’t just sparkling with style — they adorned their eyes and hair with gems, too. Ella Emhoff, Grimes, Julia Garner, Amanda Gorman, Alicia Keys and Storm Reid were just a handful of gala attendees who adorned their visages and tresses with crystals and pearls. This face gem kit includes hundreds of self-adhesive gems in a variety of sizes and colors so you can recreate the Met Gala’s rhinestone-powered looks.
5. Rihanna’s All-Fenty Beauty Look
For Rihanna’s Met Gala look, Fenty Beauty global makeup artist Hector Espinal used the megastar’s Fenty Skin products to prep her face before using Fenty Beauty all over her visage. Espinal used the brand’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (in shade 300), Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer (in I$land Ting and Bajan Gyal), Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush (in Petal Poppin’ and Cool Berry) and Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder (in Butter) for Rihanna’s complexion.
For her eyes, Espinal created a smokey eye with Fenty Beauty’s Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in Smokey and Cool Neutrals, Flypencil Longwear eyeliner (in Cuz I’m Black and Big Truffle), Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (in Trophy Wife, Ginger Binge and Lightning Dust), Diamond Bomb Triple Drip All-Over Diamond Veil Palette and the Full Frontal mascara. He finished the look with the beauty brand’s brow pencil and Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in the dark berry Underdawg shade.
6. Lil Nas X’s Regal Complexion
To give Lil Nas X a high-wattage visage to match his trio of regal gold getups by Donatella Versace, makeup artist Grace Pae used Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Vision Cream Cover (in N09 and N10), Balm Contour (in Deep 2 and 3) and Evolution Powder (in shade 4.5).
7. Billie Eilish’s Old Hollywood Beauty
Celebrity makeup artist Rob Rumsey created Met Gala co-chair and Grammy winner Billie Eilish’s ’60-inspired look to go with her peach Oscar De La Renta gown. Rumsey prepped the star’s skin with vegan beauty brand BYBI’s Swipe Clean and Mega Mist for a dose of moisture and dewiness, then mixed two drops of the Strawberry Booster with the C-Caf Cream to hydrate and brighten her face. He used the sustainable label’s Bright Eyed cream to illuminate her eye area and used the Buffer Lip Scrub and Babe Balm on her lips.
For Eilish’s Old Hollywood makeup, Rumsey used Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics including the Light Wonder Foundation, Magic Away Liquid Concealer and Charlotte’s Genius Magic Powder for her complexion. To add a rosy finish, he used the brand’s Super Nudes Nudegasm Face Palette and Cheek to Chic (in Pillow Talk), and gave the singer rock-and-roll eyes with the Luxury Palette (in the Sophisticate and Golden Goddess), Rock ‘n’ Kohl eyeliner (in Bedroom Black) and Full Fat Lashes mascara (in Glossy Black). For her brows, Rumsey used Brow Cheat (in Natural Brown) and Brow Fix), and finished her glamorous visage with Lip Cheat lip liner (in Iconic Nude) and the Super Nudes lipstick (in Runway Royalty).
8. Naomi Osaka’s Haitian Schoolgirl-Meets-Japanese Warrior Hair
Even if you’re not going to the same extreme lengths as Naomi Osaka, you can wash and protect your tresses like the Olympian with the same NatureLab Tokyo haircare used by L.A. hairstylist Marty Harper. He cleansed her hair with the Japan-based brand’s Perfect Texture shampoo and conditioner, then used the Perfect Smooth Blow Out Lotion before blowing out her hair using a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.
Harper then used NatureLab’s Perfect Smooth Hair Oil and Perfect Shine Oil Mist to give Osaka’s hair a sleek look during straightening using Dyson’s Corrale tool.
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9. Emma Chamberlain’s and Barbie Ferreira’s Vibrant Eyes
Byredo’s eyeshadow palette was the peeper pigment of choice for makeup artists Kali Kennedy and Kelsey Deenihan, who used the cult-favorite Swedish fragrance and beauty brand’s recently-launched cosmetics to give pops of color to clients Barbie Ferreira and Emma Chamberlain, respectively. Kennedy used the Sciomancer palette on the Euphoria actress, while Deenihan swept Byredo’s Colour Sticks across the social media star’s lids and used the brand’s Syren palette for a neon green finish.
10. Jennifer Lopez’s JLo Glow
Jennifer Lopez used her namesake beauty brand to prep her skin for a sun-kissed look. The multi-hyphenate star began her pre-makeup skincare routine with That Hit Single Gel Cream Cleanser, That Limitless Glow Sheet Mask and That JLo Glow Serum, then topped it off with That Fresh Take Eye Cream, That Blockbuster Hydrating Cream and That Star Filter Complexion Booster.
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