Every year, we eagerly watch as our favourite stars get glammed up for red carpet award shows and festivals like Coachella. Some of us obsess over the fashion, and others zoom straight in for the beauty details, taking notes of the makeup, hair, and nails. If (like me) you’re in the later category, you know that the Met Gala always brings the most creative looks.
This year’s dress code, the 'Garden of Time', unfolded as expected, with floral tones in full bloom, fairytale hair, and nods to the elements – glistening wet-looks, earthy and metallic hues, ethereal shapes. The museum’s exhibition theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion also paved the way for avant-garde beauty with references to decay and dystopia, with many comparing the 1962 story that inspired the theme, in the current context of a humanitarian crisis, to The Hunger Games, IRL.
There was no shortage of escapism on the beauty front. Below, a round-up of the best looks that came down the mottled green carpet.
Rapunzel hair
Watching the stars from the land of The Lord of the Rings, I couldn’t help but think “Galadriel!” as an army of booty-length (and knee-length) hair swished up the steps of The Met. Dove Cameron, SJP, Kendall Jenner, Karol G, Zoe Saldana, Sienna Miller and Elizabeth Debicki were all sporting ethereal fairy tail length. How many metres of hair extensions were in the museum at once is anyone's guess.
Spikey, shiny crops
On the opposite end, lots of celebrities embraced their dark side with short, structural styles and lacquered wet-looks. Greta Lee looked chic as hell in her choppy micor-fringe/mullet, as did Taylor Russell, Kerry Washington, Rita Ora and Sarah Paulson. In a local twist, the hair stylist behind Charli XCX’s incredible spiky up-do was Kiwi Matt Benns.
SFX
I was hoping to see more special effects makeup at this year’s Gala – some Isamaya Ffrench creations like the mermaid prosthetics or chrome spine she has done on Rita Ora in the past. The other thing on my wishlist were butterflies. So when Ariana Grande came out with iridescent 3D wings floating from her eyes, I’d hit the jackpot. Her makeup artist Michael Anthony used a lot of pearl-tones from r.e.m beauty (obviously) and made the custom petal wing appliqués with designer Daniel Vile.
Other surreal beauty looks included singer Tyla’s sand-dusted shoulder to match her sculpted Balmain gown, and 3D nails with chain embellishments that mimicked dripping sand. Elle Fanning’s makeup artist used some unknown sorcery on her skin to make her look crystallised in her Balmain gown.
FKA Twigs matched her (lab grown) diamond outfit with sparkles all over her skin and half-shaved head, while Keke Palmer bedazzled her hairline and temples, drawing the eye up (and up and up) to her pony.
Gothic glamour
Zendaya’s first look of the night was made 1000% cooler by the Galliano doll makeup, a nod to Pat McGrath's viral beauty looks at the recent Margiela show. Makeup artist Raoul Alejandre transformed Zendaya with pencil-thin brows, berry-toned eyeshadow and a 1920s glossy plum lip. Emma Chamberlain went smokey and grunge with a burgundy tonal look and Charli XCX sported a dark lip, keeping the rest of her makeup nude and ethereal.
Doja Cat’s glittery streaked tears (by Dame Pat McGrath) definitely brought the drama, and Cynthia Erivo was another standout with a striking neon pink blush (it was a Haus Labs lip pencil) and custom spidery lashes lacquered on by makeup artist Sam Fine. Her nails deserve a mention too – monochrome pointed claws by Rose Hackle, her longtime nail artist.
Someone alert Lorde: purple lipstick had a real moment. Amelia Grey also rocked spiky lashes, paired with a stunning purple lip by makeup artist Tatyana Makarova, and slicked hair with tendrils cascading down her neck, while Amanda Seyfried’s violet lipstick added a pop of colour to her silver ensemble.
