Every American Icon Referenced on the Met Gala Red Carpet

Elsewhere, Respect lead Jennifer Hudson brought high-octane glamour with a bright scarlet gown by AZ Factory, emulating her on-screen muse Aretha Franklin. Sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey honored “Hollywood sirens” and Tina Turner respectively with their showstopper Met dresses, designed by Rodarte siblings Kate and Laura Mulleavy, while Kaia Gerber directly referenced a strapless black Dior gown worn by Bianca Jagger in 1981. Kendall Jenner was one of many stars who opted for a sparkling Met look: she confirmed via Instagram that her shimmering Givenchy gown was a nod to Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady.

British Vogue’s September 2021 cover star Gemma Chan attended the gala with Prabal Garung, choosing to pay tribute to Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American film star of Hollywood’s golden era. “A trailblazer, fashion icon and woman ahead of her time – she paved the way for those who came after and continues to inspire,” Chan wrote on Instagram ahead of her appearance, before arriving at the event wearing a dazzling strapless mini dress adorned with a pretty sherbet-green bow. 

And of course, no American Met Gala theme would have been complete without a sprinkling of denim. Versace created Lupita Nyong’o’s avant-garde denim bustier gown, actor Ben Platt wore a Christian Cowen Canadian tuxedo, and musician David Byrne chose a white and blue denim suit for his red-carpet moment. 

Western wear also made Met fashion headlines. Jennifer Lopez arrived wearing a glamorous chocolate-brown, rodeo-ready Ralph Lauren dress that, in true J Lo fashion, exuded sex appeal. Leon Bridges embraced the #Ranchcore vibes – and his Texas roots – with a cornflower-blue fringed suede jacket courtesy of Bode, while Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh attended wearing piped leather looks from Chanel.