Glamming it up, Gilded Style: A Guide to the MET

May 11, 2022 Margot Dent

MUSE is back with another Met Gala look book only nine months after the last star and fashion studded carpet event. This year's theme is part of the two part exhibition, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. This May, the theme was ‘Gilded Glamor’, and as per usual, designers and celebrities were left to interpret it as they liked. Some stayed true to the theme, some interpreted it in a fresh and modern way, and others neglected it all together. The Gilded Age was a period of economic growth which saw America replace Britain as the leading global industrial power. The era is generally considered to have taken place after the conclusion of the Civil War and before the Great War between the 1870’s and early 1900’s. During this time of booming prosperity in the States, there was the creation an elite class of the ‘super-rich’ who lived lavishly and showed their wealth through their garments amongst other things. Gilding in a literal sense, is the practice of plating something in gold leaf so as to appear valuable.

Vogue and The Met have been criticized for choosing a theme which celebrates the financial privileges and extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy amidst the backdrop of a pandemic, war, and high wealth inequality. One critique described the ‘tone deaf’ met theme as ‘a slap in the face to average Americans’. Despite the ample criticism, the Met Gala went ahead and MUSE is here to share the looks of some of our favorite celebrities and fashion icons. From on theme to simply stunning looks, see the highlights from this year's Met below!

MUSE's Best Dressed

From iconic vintage pieces to creative and breathtaking interpretations of the theme, here are some of MUSE’ favorite looks from this year's carpet.

On Theme to a T

A few designers (emphasis on the few), made it their priority to pay homage to the gilded age and replicate its essence on the carpet.

Modern Takes

The following gorgeous looks were all intended to combine the gilded age with modern elements. Some worked, some did not. We will leave it to you to decide which fashion risks paid off.

Some of our Favourite Celebs and What They Wore

While the following looks did not particularly stand out or fit the theme, the celebrities that wore them were some of the most highly anticipated attendees, so it is only right to pay homage to their interpretation of this year's theme.

Newcomers to the MET

This May marked the first Met for several of the most influential and loved celebrities of 2022. From Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney to one of my personal favorite actresses Daisy Edgar-Jones, here are some of the exciting Met debuts.