3 cutting-edge designers from the 2021 Met Gala
This year’s Met Gala red carpet and the fashion statements made…
This year’s Met Gala red carpet and the fashion statements made…
Fashion’s biggest night of the year had the global fandom in awe with the innovative and distinct outfits celebrities and their designer dates rocked to the Met Gala red carpet. While the Met Gala date was moved from the traditional first Monday in May due to circumstances likely facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, 2021’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’’ inspired designers from around the world to reel out one of the most controversially satisfying looks of all time.
From Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga, Supermodel Iman in custom Harris Reed, and Kendall Jenner in Givenchy, to Billie Eilish in Oscar De La Renta, Virgil Abloh in Louis Vuitton, ASAP Rocky in Erl’s multicolor quilted cloak, and Lil Nas X’s three dramatic Versace outfits, most of the night’s outfits appeared to viewers as unconventionally above par, although some of the celebrities looked like they just wanted to wear whatever they were provided with.
For an event that some expected to be quieter than previous editions due to the limited planning time, the sense of joy that permeated the event was palpable, and the resilience of the fashion community after a challenging year made the moment even more meaningful. Although fans of the Met Gala were somewhat dissatisfied with most of this year’s looks, some designers threw in all their creative juices into making the most of this year’s event.
In all, three (3) fashion designers stood out from the flock with design, fashion statement, and sticking to the theme of the night.
Iris Van Herpen
The Dutch designer bags an enormous stream of accolades for exceptional outfits worn by Gabrielle Union, Grimes, Tessa Mae Thompson, Hailee Steinfield, Winnie Harlow, and Brazilian model and actress, Valentina Sampaio. However, the two dresses of prominence at first glance are Grimes’ “Bene Gesserit” look, and Gabrielle Unions’ “Aeternus” gown. Those dresses and what they speak for are undoubtedly why Iris Van Herpen is the embodiment of ‘Avant-garde’.
Grimes’s dress has a “Bene Gesserit” look, made from silver liquid silicone that is hand-cast into a mirror finished laser-cut labyrinth. Swooshy, curvy, and extended-lightning-bolt shapes were made onto a nude illusion bodice consisting of 26 meters long dramatically draped hand-pleated silk, intertwined through mirrored waves, and gradient-dyed from white to black.
Iris Van Herpen gets her inspiration from a distant future where people of different races coexist in peace and fluidity regardless of the color of their skin, and the Bene Gesserit cult. The “Dune-Esque’’ feel comes from Frank Herbert’s American novel, “Dune” adapted into David Lynch’s 1984 film and “Dune” showing in cinemas from October 21. Grimes also wears an original “Dune” mask to key into the theme of this year’s Met Gala, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”. This look is one of the most unique of the night.
The sword Grimes carries is a 6-pound sword based on a Western European sword from the end of the Middle Ages 1400. A permanent Met piece, cast from a Colt AR-1543 as part of a gun buyback program to turn guns into swords. This literal weapon has been reportedly referred to as the most theme-binding accessory of the night as it reflects the long-term history of gun violence in America. How Grimes was able to successfully team up with Iris Van Herpen to achieve this look is highly commendable and not far-fetched, considering how futuristic Grimes sees herself (once quoted to have said she would like to die on Mars) and the evolution of fashion Iris constantly displays in her creative pieces.
Gabrielle Union’s “Aeternus” gown by Iris Van Herpen
Gabrielle Union graced the Met Gala red carpet in a sculptural custom Iris Van Herpen piece that took over 1,400 hours to make at the Dutch designer’s atelier. This dress is one of the few outfits that champions the theme, and not just in the literal sense of it but in a positive light. It reflects the changing face of America in that the elements and features of the dress change as Union moves. Exceptional!
This dress doesn’t only reflect the theme and Union’s personality, but speaks volumes of the designer’s scope of work. Iris Van Herpen designs are known for transformation and evolution, and with this dress, you can see a certain color and shape, while others see different colors and shapes when the dress flows as Gabrielle Union walks. It is one hell of a dress and no more suitable person to pull this off than Gabrielle Union.
In an email by Iris Van Herpen’s team to W magazine, they describe the process of making this dress; “Over 10,000 spheres were cut and layered in size gradients from a translucent white ‘liquid’ fabric and laser cut with a fine silver reflective outline. The innumerous spheres were then hand-stitched individually to create a seamless and multilevel optical illusion, from which three-dimensional waves flare out weightlessly. ” This dress not only screams creativity, but maintains Gabrielle Union’s beauty in the plunging neckline and elegance.
Inspired by Union’s fluid style, ambition to drive positive change, and sexy confidence that constantly screams anti-Blackness, Iris and her team on meeting with Gabrielle Union knew they had to make an outfit that depicts constant change as one progresses, and in turn, stays on the theme.
It is worthy of note that both outfits made by Iris Van Herpen support Sustainable Fashion through enlivening positive change and cherishing conservation, as they will be auctioned this November with Sotheby’s and all proceeds donated to the Amazon Conservation and Rainforest Trust. Worthy of emulation if you ask me.
Harris Reed
Supermodel Iman walked the red carpet in grand style, as the 66-year-old model rocked a gold leaf dress to the 2021 Met Gala. For this year’s event, Iman’s unavoidable look was brought to life by the young designer Harris Reed, who partnered with Dolce & Gabbana to create this completely handmade Crinoline gold leaf gown.
According to Harris Reed in an interview with Vogue, the queer designer said it took 400 hours of “hand-tacking, hand-gluing, hand-embellishing, gold-leafing, finessing” to bring the supermodel’s look to life. The complete look consists of a handmade Crinoline gold leaf gown, a Jacquard bustier, flares with the true ray of light, and the Vivienne Lake-collaborated hat to top it off.
The essence of being in America, a place where one can be whatever they want to be at any height they wish, coupled with the iconic personality of Iman inspired this look. The custom brocade bustier and trousers paired with a tiered, gilded feather cage overskirt and bespoke matching headpiece depicts the glowing Queen statement represented by the supermodel Iman, who famously faced down institutional racism as a model and founded a line of cosmetics for Women of color in the ’90s.
This complete look speaks volume of “I deserve to be here and I own it”. The striking resemblance to Crinoline cages used by music performers in the 18th-century blends perfectly with the underlying bespoke bustier and pants that makes the statement for a Lexicon of Fashion in today’s America. Harris Reed, who is synonymous with ‘fighting for the beauty of fluidity’ outdid himself on this one and the Somali-American Super-model pulled this off with style. With this fantastic debut, it is safe to say this is not the last time the Met Gala will be seeing the young designer’s creation.
Donatella Versace
The renowned fashion designer is no stranger to the Met Gala or red carpets in general, and boy did she deliver at this year’s edition. In addition to her 1992 inspired outfit which she wore as she arrived at the event accompanied by Colombian Singer Maluma, she designed his outstanding fit with details that sold out the theme.
Maluma walked the red carpet with glitz and glamour in a fire-engine red leather-look by Versace, complete with a studded collar, monogram cuffs, and pairing fringe. The pants, also leather and looked very comfortable, featured bedazzled pockets and a glittering jersey stripe. Versace further spiced this fiery look with a signature Versace cowboy belt inspired by the late Gianni Versace’s classic ’90s looks. If I was invited to the Met Gala, I would have easily chosen this look.
A pair of matching red boots completed the Cowboy-inspired look that keyed into the theme and gave a smoldering look for the Singer who loves to ride horses. To further encompass the theme, Donatella added a standout accessory on his right hand, a 14-karat gold chain link glove by American designer CJ Aslan which had the Singer’s nickname ‘Papi Juancho’ in stones on request by his stylist, Ugo Mozie. The fact that this outfit encompasses the theme and was made to suit the Singer’s style wins my heart at a glance. Talk about attention to detail.
For this year’s event, it is worthy to note that most designers that featured at the Met Gala put a lot of effort into incorporating most of the issues surrounding America’s evolution, ranging from gender equality, sexuality, tax reforms, to the misguided idea of “the American dream” into the outfits, and the celebrities that wore these fits did so with pride as they walked the red carpet in giant strides.
Other notable and aforementioned looks are shown below;
