Kim Kardashian Wore Marilyn Monroe to the 2022 Met Gala—and the Costume Drama Didn’t End There
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The 2022 Met Gala was themed around “Gilded Glamour,” and as the evening unfolded we saw it doing so in the spirit of every Met Gala: some people getting the theme and following the invite, some tinkering with it cleverly, and some people doing what the hell they like. Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe’s “Mr President” dress was a matchless nod to American fashion and pop culture history. Vanessa Hudgens in stunning black channeled the Gilded Age more literally (with a twist). Host Blake Lively was in Atelier Versace with a panel that, when removed, transformed her into her idea of the Statue of Liberty. Cardi B and Emily Ratajkowski just, well, went for it.
Frankly, in these testing times, who gives a fig whether any of them got the memo? The rich and famous dressed up crazily, the public had Pringles, wine, and endless snark at their disposal. Everybody won.
Kim Kardashian (pictured with partner Pete Davidson) is a tryhard in the best sense—a fashion chameleon constantly striving for the look that’ll cement her in the hearts and minds of snobs and stans alike. For the 2022 Met Gala, she proved she didn’t need Kanye’s styling tips when she showed up in Marilyn Monroe’s original, infamous “Happy birthday Mr. President” dress by Bob Mackie. In a word? Iconic.
Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner. Invited to her first-ever Met Gala, Khloe played it safe in shimmery gold gown. In contrast, little sister Kylie wore an OFF-WHITE wedding dress and white baseball cap in homage to the late Virgil Abloh. Kourtney wore Thom Browne.
Carrying on her tradition of opting for stark black and white on the Met carpet, Janelle Monáe’s beaded gown by Ralph Lauren includes a head-hugging cap reminiscent of bathing beauty Esther Williams.
Kaia Gerber’s slinky, silver Alexander McQueen dress evokes the flapper era more than the Gilded Age, but we’ll give her a pass. Gerber also unfurled her tresses for the occasion, restraining her unfettered brown locks only with two bejeweled clips.
Ever the literalist, none other than Hillary Clinton showed up in a crimson Joseph Altuzarra gown embroidered with the names of other much-admired women, Abigail Adams and Harriet Tubman among them.
God, Sarah Jessica Parker is so refreshing. The huge bustle screams Gilded Age but the checkered pattern is thoroughly modern, and she tops off the Christopher John Rogers confection with a feathered hat that’d fit right in at the Vanderbilt Ball.
Glenn Close is resplendent in pink.
Billie Eilish has been going through notable sartorial phases lately; a recent lingerie update cast her as a 21st century Marilyn Monroe type. For the Gala, Eilish stuck to the theme (THANK YOU) and procured a corseted Gucci dress with lacy green sleeves and a punky black choker. It rules.
Hailey Bieber looks simple and chic in a white Saint Laurent number but would look more appropriate in a magazine spread than the Met Gala.
Gigi Hadid.
Addison Rae.
Emily Ratajkowski opted for Versace. Her look is beaded, scattered, and a bit all over the place, although she’s so stunning it hardly matters.
Jasmine Tookes.
Kris Jenner.
Kate Moss, eternally glamorous and never required to be on trend, arrived decked out in a double-breasted, off-the-shoulder black gown by Burberry.
Shalom Harlow.
Miranda Kerr.
Maisie Williams.
Normani.
SZA.
Tessa Thompson is bringing it in cotton candy pink tutu tulle by Carolina Herrera, accented with thigh high velvet pink boots.
Jessica Chastain, newly minted Oscar winner, is resplendent in blood red bejeweled Gucci with a matching turban. Norma Desmond, 2022.
Lizzo.
Naomi Campbell.
Ariana DeBose.
Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele (allegedly), Dakota Johnson, and Jared Leto (allegedly), wearing the outfit Michele designed for him.
Lily Allen and David Harbour.
Questlove.
Katy Perry.
Simone Ashley.
Irina Shayk.
Maisie Williams.
Lily Aldridge.
Awkwafina.
Christine Baranski.
Elon Musk and Maye Musk.
Erykah Badu.
Danai Gurira.
Gwen Stefani.
Imaan Hammam.
Karlie Kloss.
Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson.
Taylor Hill.
Bad Bunny.
Cardi B, perhaps predictably, focused on the Gilded in Gilded Age and arrived decked out in solid gold Versace.
Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham and Nicola Peltz-Beckham.
Chloe Bailey.
Lena Waithe.
Lucy Boynton.
Lena Waithe.
Sabrina Carpenter.
Lily James.
Megan Thee Stallion.
MJ Rodriguez.
Nicki Minaj.
Carey Mulligan, always tasteful, true to herself, and never over the top, looks luminescent in a black and gold Schiaparelli gown.
Mayor Eric Adams and partner Tracey Collins; he with a message on his jacket. No one would disagree, so one hopes he read it himself as he is, ummm, the mayor of New York.
Winnie Harlow in Iris van Herpen.
Emma Stone.
Ashton Sanders.
Caroline Trentini.
Evan Mock.
Sebastian Stan.
Camila Cabello.
Michelle Yeoh.
Ashley Park.
Mindy Kaling.
Louisa Jacobson.
Gemma Chan.
Claire Danes.
Cynthia Erivo.
Quannah Chasinghorse.
Pregnant with her second child, Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner looks witchy and alluring in a beaded black long-sleeved Louis Vuitton gown. Joe Jonas, also in Louis Vuitton, looks like he’s doing B-Harry Styles cosplay.
Chloe Fineman.
Paloma Elsesser.
Rachel Brosnahan and Joseph Altuzarra.
Julianne Moore.
Huma Abedin.
A day ahead of the release of Anna, Amy Odell’s forthcoming unauthorized biography on Vogue’s grande dame, Anna Wintour, the legendary editor herself arrived at the Met clad in armor of sorts: a feathered, bejeweled Chanel haute couture cape and skirt by Virginie Viard.
Paloma Elsesser.
Nyjah Huston.
Fredrik Robertsson, or “Jared Leto,” as he was mistakenly identified by multiple media outlets, before the real Leto turned up—allegedly—dressed exactly the same as the designer of his outfit!
In caped Ralph Lauren, Alicia Keys pays homage to the New York City skyline, a look that is in itself an homage to her most famous banger.
Amber Valletta and Charlotte Tilbury.
Vanessa Hudgens, one of the gala’s co-hosts, took the lead on the red carpet in a sheer, striking, black Moschino gown complete with lingerie-like accents and period-appropriate voluminous cap sleeves.
Chloe Grace Moretz.
Venus Williams.
Emma Chamberlain, YouTube’s favorite low-key, mise-en-scène queen, went rogue in a Louis Vuitton ensemble including a tan, fluttery crop top and sharp white fitted skirt.
Renate Reinsve.
Isabelle Boemeke.
Blake Lively (with husband Ryan Reynolds) always looks best when she leans into the maximalist appeal of her crowd-pleasing beauty and golden blond hair, and this look is an early highlight. Halfway up the steps, assistants unfurled Lively’s blush rose Atelier Versace bustle to reveal a Tiffany blue train. Her opera gloves changed hues too. Bravissimo!
Caroline Wozniacki.
Shawn Mendes rocks a red and navy double-breasted Tommy Hilfiger coat complete with gold buttons, looking every inch the suave courtier.
Maude Apatow looks gorgeous, but her fringed Miu Miu dress is lacking in daring; the black, off-the-shoulder Old Hollywood confection would do fine on any old red carpet. This is the MET GALA, guys. Get weird or go home!
Jon Batiste.
Kacey Musgraves.
La La Anthony.
Camila Mendes.
Austin Butler.
Joan Smalls.
Melissa King.
Priscilla Presley and Baz Luhrmann.
Vanessa Nadal and Lin Manduel Miranda.
Hamish Bowles.
Tom Ford.
Amy Schumer.
Tommy Dorfman is wearing Christopher Kane and had done a practice run on the red carpet to ensure no tripping or falls on the night. And that crown is 300 years old.
Jordan Roth.
Forgoing the Gilded Era-appropriate three-piece suit complete with tails that many other guys have been adopting, LaQuan Smith instead opted for a slick silver jacket and a bow tie complete with a bell; he also designed LaLa Anthony’s look.
Janicza Bravo.
Wendi Murdoch.
Lisa Love.
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