Gilded Glamour: Who Followed the Met Gala's Theme?
In America: A Lexicon of Fashion exhibit. Image via Time Out.
As you must know, this past Monday, May 2, was the 2022 Met Gala, arriving not long after the postponed 2021 Met Gala which occurred in September. These two Met Galas honored a two-part exhibit put on by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the first being In America: A Lexicon of Fashion and the second being In America: An Anthology of Fashion. Yet this year’s Gala carried a slightly different theme than the exhibit itself: Gilded Glamour.
A purist interpretation of the Gilded Glamour theme constitutes dressing in the style of the Gilded Age in America, which was a period spanning from 1870 to 1900 characterized by economic growth and industrialization. The era earns the term “Gilded” from the way in which the surface-level prosperity distracts or conceals from the numerous social and political problems that plagued this time period, just as a gilded exterior fools one to believe the interior is solid gold.
Elon and Maye Musk. Image via Newsweek.
The issues of the Gilded Age seem to ironically parallel our current moment, as we too see great wealth disparity and the clash of big business and politics. I like to see this theme of this Met Gala as an intentional irony in itself, regardless of whether there was self-awareness in its selection. With politicians like Hillary Clinton and billionaires like Elon Musk among the attendees of the illustrious Met Gala, Gilded Glamour further demonstrated to the world that politics, exorbitant wealth, and fashion are three sides of the same coin.
Image via E! Online.
What’s more, the televised premiers of this year’s Met Gala red carpet coincided with the leak of a Supreme Court opinion document revealing that the court may overturn the landmark case protecting abortion rights, Roe v. Wade. As I, and I’m sure many of you, experienced, the breaking news shockingly snapped us out of the collective escapism of watching celebrities waltz in gold dresses down the red carpet, demonstrative of the gilded exterior of celebrity culture providing an enticingly well-packaged distraction from the demise of our democracy.
Anyways…
Back to the outfits!
As previously mentioned, Gilded Glamour could be strictly interpreted as wearing iterations of 1870s-1900s period dress. Or, as many attendees chose to do, you could wear a gold (or silver) ensemble. As a Met Gala theme purist, my favorite (and the most successful in my opinion) outfits, follow the theme closely, and these are the looks I will list for you here.
But first, a quick review of the fashions of the Gilded Age. Overall, the style of the Gilded Age reflected the influx of wealth and prosperity of the upper classes to own more dramatic and ornate clothing. Some popular aspects of women’s fashion in the Gilded Age included bustles, rich colors, corsets, hats, and accoutrements like embroidery and lace. (NPS) For men, popular styles included multi-piece suits, top hats, and eventually tuxedos. (NPS)
Though the Met Gala, of course, warrants creative and modernizing interpretations on the theme, there were a few select guests who nailed Gilded Glamour with their own personal interpretation of late 19th century period dress, yet rendering it appropriate for a 21st century fashion gala.
Emma Corrin in Miu Miu
Image via Red Carpet Fashion Awards.
Emma Corrin modernized Gilded Age men’s fashion with a formal top hat and an oversized double-breasted jacket, playing with the layering of suits that was typical of the era.
Normani in Christian Siriano
Image via Footwear News.
With puff-sleeved shoulder details, an expansive skirt resembling a bustle, and an elegant matching hat, Normani modernized Gilded Age styles by exposing her midriff.
Taylor Hill in Dolce & Gabbana
Image via Celebs First.
The colors, embroidery, and textural details in Taylor Hill’s Dolce & Gabbana dress evoke the intricacy and sumptuousness of late 19th century women’s fashion.
Billie Eilish in Gucci
Image via Tom + Lorenzo.
Perhaps the most classic and on-theme look of the night, Billie Eilish sported a Gilded Age Gucci evening gown with exposed corsetry and a bustle with intricate fabric drapery and lace details.
Evan Mock in Head of State
Image via Seventeen.
Evan Mock incorporated women and men’s Gilded Age fashion into his look by combining a corseted top with a suit silhouette.
Sarah Jessica Parker in Christopher John Rogers
Image via Red Carpet Fashion Awards.
This expansive dress with a large hoop skirt, train, corset-like details, and of course, a dramatic hat, make SJP a spitting image of a Gilded Age woman transplanted into the 21st century.
David Harbour
Image via Vogue Singapore.
David Harbour, shown with Lily Allen, sported the most Gilded men’s look of the night, evoking a railroad baron with a cane, vintage-style suit, top hat, and a cigar.
Autumn de Wilde
Image via WWD.
On the carpet, Autumn de Wilde payed homage to the writer Oscar Wilde by sporting a loose, cape-like top and a wide-brimmed hat.
Blake Lively in Versace
Image via US Magazine.
Image via E! Online.
Blake Lively’s transformative Versace dress slightly resembles a Gilded Age evening gown. Though most notably, the color change represents the tarnishing of the copper material of the Statue of Liberty, which was brought to the US in the middle of the Gilded Age.
Featured image via LA Times.
