At my core, I’m a very judgmental girl, and that’s why I fucking love the Met Gala. For some reason, it’s totally acceptable for plebeians with zero fashion qualifications to get on TikTok or Twitter and roast the living hell out of celebs’ Met Gala outfit choices for the charity event. The Hollywood elites all think they ate on those Met steps until they go home and see Lexi from Michigan going viral for Photoshopping their outfits to improve the looks. The internet is a tough crowd — as we should be. I give my money, time, and stanhood to a lot of these people, so in addition to singing their praises, I’ll make fun of them when I feel like it. I have powerful parasocial relationships with them; we’re basically best friends.
This year’s Met Gala theme is, of course, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The idea is to explore the “Garden of Time” dress code inspired by the 1962 short story by J.G. Ballard. He wrote about flowers as a metaphor for beauty and youth, so floral motifs and garden vibes are really the name of the game here… or at least that’s the intended plan.
Earlier in the day on Met Monday, Anna Wintour apologized for causing confusion over the 2024 theme. During an interview with Today‘s Jenna Bush Hager, Anna said: “This exhibition broke my cardinal rule. When we came up with the title Sleeping Beauties, it’s wonderful and poetic and romantic, but actually, it could be many, many things.” Queen Anna went on to say that she herself went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute curator, Andrew Bolton, and was like, WTF do I wear? “I said, ‘What are we gonna say to people to wear to this night?’ And he said, ‘Well, what about ‘Garden of Time?’” she explained. “So, I fear that we’ve unleashed a lot of confusion out there, and for which I deeply apologize.” So I guess we have her to blame if the looks are all misses! Nice to have a scapegoat, honestly.
Now, I’d say some celebs this evening are giving put-me-to-sleep-beauty, but others are actually ~reawakening fashion~, thank goodness. I will never understand why it’s so hard for some people to stick to a theme, but I’ll always be grateful for the more reliably on-theme crowd. As a close follower of the annual fashion event, a stan of the key players, and a girl who likes to make her opinions heard, this is my super official Met Gala 2024 best and worst dressed list.
The Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet Best And Worst Looks:
Zendaya — Best
She ditched tennis for goth-mermaid-shaped-gardenesque-Reawakening-Fashion Beauty. That’s your co-chair. That’s Mother. That’s the woman no one will ever beat at this event.
Zendaya – Best
Oh, what’s that? You think it’s a typo? No. This is Zendaya’s SECOND look of the night with stylist Law Roach. Obviously landing her on the best dressed list, again. In the same night. Byeeeee.
Mike Faist — Worst
Devastatingly but predictably, Zendaya’s sidekick showed up in one of the most bland ensembles imaginable. At least he slightly decorated the jacket??
Bad Bunny — Best
I won’t pretend to understand exactly what’s happening here, but I support it. The hat, the flowers, and the leather gloves are everything. King.
Kendall Jenner — Worst
Kendall once again looks pretty but mostly boring. At least she’s consistent, I suppose.
Kim Kardashian — Best
This is not my favorite ~best~, but since my SKIMS girl boss recently got booed at the Tom Brady roast, I’m being nice to her. Her corset dress couldn’t be a more flattering shape, and the metal flowers and leaves are a lovely touch.
Kylie Jenner — Worst
Can we please, please, please, PLEASE be done with the clean girl aesthetic? The Met Gala is not the time for it. Thank you.
Jennifer Lopez — Worst
Hear me out. She looks stunning, but I’m not seeing a ton of evidence of the theme. Also, it definitely looks like something Kendall Jenner wore before??
Gigi Hadid — Best
Gigi understood the assignment with this off-the-shoulder corset dress complete with adorned yellow roses. Make no mistake: She is the moment.
Ariana Grande — Worst
This is the same pop culture treasure who gave us “thank u, next” and the legendary Sistine Chapel Vera Wang dress at the 2018 Met Gala?? I’m upset.
Cynthia Erivo — Best
I realize this is a bit chaotic, but I have a weakness for trains and people who pay attention to the theme, OKAY? I love a black and pink combo too.
Anna Wintour — Worst
I’m so sorry, Anna… I really am. The jacket is giving. LOVE the flowers! But the plain white dress and excessive jewelry is not doing it for me. Where are her sunglasses?
Emma Chamberlain — Best
Okayyy, she’s serving glamorous tree trunk for the Garden of Time, I see!!
Chris Hemsworth — Worst
Go girl, give us nothing! Chris. YOU ARE THE CO-CHAIR. Could we see just a sliver of effort? A hint of a theme??
Lea Michele — Best
I fear Lea and her baby bump really ate with this dreamy, silk princess gown. She delivered Garden with those white flowers and Sleeping Beauty with this dress. A++.
Ayo Edebiri — Worst
I love this woman with my whole soul, and I really respect the commitment to Garden of Time. That being said, I just don’t think this dress is super flattering? It’s also not exactly Met Gala-level exciting. My apologies, Queen.
Rebecca Ferguson — Best
QUEEN. THIS IS HOW YOU DO THE MET GALA. Unexpected. Fresh. Sparkly. Not too much. I love.
Kris Jenner — Worst
I think this sheet could’ve… stayed on the bed? She wore a couple green rings and green earrings and said, “Look, it’s a garden.”
