At last night’s inimitable Met Gala, the fashion crowd seemed to approach the evening’s theme of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology in one of two ways. On one hand, the models and pop stars chose simple silhouettes that went to highlight their bodies, a result of working out on machines, if you will. Karlie Kloss, in a barely there Brandon Maxwell number, offered proof of that, as did Kendall Jenner’s colorful Versace number and the Calvin Klein Collection gown that Margot Robbie donned.
The other sartorial route taken was just plain sparkly. Some opted for layers upon layers of silver sequins, like the many Balmain creations donned by Cindy Crawford and the rest of the Kardashian/Jenner clan, or dark patches of tulle interspersed with the odd crystal, à la Chloë Sevigny’s Simone Rocha frock. And how could we forget Madonna’s overly revealing Givenchy number, the one with nipple tassels and butt cutout.
Taylor Swift decided to combine both of the aforementioned concepts into one, resulting in a revealing yet shimmering Louis Vuitton number with cut just so, to show off her toned obliques. Paired with her new Vogue-approved bleached mop and dark lips, the silver punk look worked rather well for the star who tends to play it safe.
Despite Beyoncé’s slippery, nude Givenchy dress, Ciara’s silver hairdo and Rita Ora’s tumble of Vera Wang feathers, Claire Danes’ Zac Posen gown was the most impressive of the evening. Made with a custom fiber optic organza, the blue-tinted dress was actually a glow in the dark number, at least away from the prying flashbulbs of the red carpet.