The biggest night of fashion has summoned the stars to the green and beige carpet outside New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (and plenty of pro-Palestinian protestors outside).

This year’s Met Gala exhibition theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, showcases a range of historic pieces from the museum’s archives – bringing long-dormant garments back to life.

There has been a lot of criticism of this year’s Met Gala, given the state of the world right now – a crippling cost of living crisis, the stripping of abortion rights, war and genocide, the rise of facism, a collapsing fourth estate, the possibility of another Trump presidency (do I go on?). 

For many, the parade of wealth and excess feels grotesque – and the short story that has inspired the red carpet theme is pretty on the nose also: The Garden of Time by J.G. Ballard is, according to the New York Times, about “an aristocratic couple living in a walled estate with a magical garden while an encroaching mob threatens to end their peaceful existence. To keep the crowd at bay, the husband tries to turn back time by breaking off flower after flower, until there are no more blooms left. The mob arrives and ransacks the estate, and the two aristocrats turn to stone.”

There was (disappointingly) no sign of political comment on the red carpet this year – and no ‘Teeny Tiny Statement Pins’, as jokingly predicted by SNL over the weekend. But there were plenty of beautiful escapist looks that interpreted the dress code ‘The Garden of Time’ in a delightfully diverse way, from soft and ethereal, to gothic avant-garde, elemental references (land, sea and sky), and the expected vintage fashion. Below, our favourite ensembles that stopped us scrolling in our tracks.

Zendaya wearing John Galliano for Maison Margiela (look one)

It seems unfair to include Zendaya in a best dressed list, given she’s consistently the strongest in most any lineup, and has a secret weapon in her relationship with retired ‘image architect’ Law Roach. But yes, her game is also above the majority, and speaking of ‘game’ I love this kind of ‘midnight in the garden of good and evil’ dark, mysterious look by John Galliano, after all the tennis-core she’s exposed us to on her Challengers press tour. - Rebecca Wadey

Zendaya in Givenchy and Alexander McQueen (look two)

Arriving early in an incredible look, greeting guests at the top of the stairs as co-chair then changing into a second look and re-walking the red carpet to close it is diva behaviour that the Met Gala deserves. This second look from Zendaya and Law Roach is absolute fashion nerd heaven – it’s Givenchy spring/summer 1996 couture worn with the  Philip Treacy flower bouquet from Alexander McQueen’s spring/summer 2007 show. I love how Zendaya and Law show real reverence to fashion history, in a way that’s always respectful (aka not wearing and destroying archival pieces) and feels modern and cool. - Zoe Walker Ahwa

Charli XCX wearing Marni

I expected Charli to do something cool and original, and I was not disappointed. When host Ashley Graham asked about her Marni gown – an archival piece, made of recycled vintage T-shirts, hand-embellished with rhinestones and glass beads – she ranted passionately about her love of comfy, thread-bare T-shirts, the inspiration behind the dress. She’s a punk at heart, and the night needed looks like this to balance out the florals and butterflies. As much as I love all the Galadriel-length hair going on, this dangerously spiky bun is perfect for the look as is her dark lip and ethereal makeup. It’s giving Spider Queen. - Lara Daly

Tyler Mitchell in Prada

I really liked this Prada shirt on photographer Tyler Mitchell. Very simple yes, and a literal interpretation of the garden adjacent theme. But the details, like the soft blush shade of the shirt and the slightly fluted cuffs pleased me no end. - Tyson Beckett

Naomi Watts in Balenciaga

I hate that this is Balenciaga, but it’s the epitome of chic – and very fitting with Naomi’s recent role as Babe Paley in Swans. This is reminiscent of old-school Met Galas, when the themes didn’t matter and ladies who lunch socialites – like Babe – dressed however they wanted, but always with opera gloves and a stole. I particularly love the stonking big ring worn over the glove. - ZWA

Taylor Russell wearing Loewe

Huge expectation on Taylor Rusell today, who is somehow only making her Met Gala debut in 2024 despite being a fashion girlie of several years’ note. She’s also a Loewe ambassador, so her appearance as their guest has it even more hyped. 

I’m besotted with this interpretation of the Garden of Time: the tree trunk bodice is very similar to a very old Kate Sylvester collection I had some pieces from, so it’s giving nostalgia, but it’s so breathtakingly crafted and shaped, as you’d expect from Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson. As he told Vogue about his interpretation of the theme, and how his brand, as a sponsor of the exhibit fits within it: “playing with the senses is central to the experience of the exhibition and we play similar tricks with trompe l’oeil in collections at Loewe, blurring the line between what’s real or surreal, what’s natural or unnatural.” - RW

FKA Twigs wearing Stella McCartney

Twigs is my other renegade favourite for always pushing the boundaries with her looks. She was dressed by fellow Brit Stella McCartney in a top, belt and hot pants dripping in lab-grown diamonds and the most extra cream knit shawl (that Ed Sheeran got his foot stuck in during an interview). I’m not sure how on-theme this is, but from a beauty perspective, it ticks a lot on my wishlist. SFX makeup, in the form of diamonds scattered on her body from head to toe, the headpiece made of woven hair, and the attention to detail with those pearly chrome nails! She looks ready to party – and she is apparently hosting (and maybe performing) at the Boom Boom Room, so I can’t wait to see her after-party outfit change. - LD

Cole Escola wearing Thom Browne

I love carnations, which are the perfect granny finishing touch to this adorable look on the comedian and Broadway star. By Thom Browne – a brand that dresses the most interesting stars before the break into the big time (like Ayo Edebiri, who wore Loewe tonight) – this skirt suit and cane dachshund handbag ensemble is weird, sweet and a bit silly. Cole, who’s currently performing as Mary Todd Lincoln on Broadaway, described it as ‘part beekeeper, part Miss Havisham’. - ZWA

Cailee Spaeny in Miu Miu 

Actor Cailee Spaeny is already a Miu Miu girl, appearing in their SS24 campaign and wearing the brand on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival last year. But I think this is the first instance where the pairing has really hit for me, maybe it aligns with my own tastes. It feels fresh, but also classic, but with a spiky, wrinkled edge. - TB

Erykah Badu in Comme des Garcons

The ‘Garden of Time’ theme, done in a refreshing way: hyper neon florals, texture, matching makeup. Of course Erykah is one of the coolest on the red carpet. - ZWA

Other Ensemble-endorsed looks:

Mike Faist’s radish brooch

Jeremy Strong’s single crystal earring

Sarah Paulson’s Prada bows

Paloma Elsesser’s metal rose corset

Hari Nef’s big ass bow

Lily Gladstone’s star constellation, a reference to her ancestors

Kylie Jenner’s pointy bustier

Keri Washington in Ensemble purple