The theme of the Met Gala 2019 was Camp: Notes on Fashion.
“What is camp?” you may ask.
Camp is an attitude, a style, a way of life. Camp is exaggerated, OTT, IDGAF fashion at its best and the attendees did not disappoint!
We asked a few fashion insiders for their favourite looks of the night.
“The theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” confused many ahead of the event, but what it basically entailed was the love of ‘extra’ and the exaggerated and that’s what I loved about these looks.”
─ Tarryn Oppel, Former Fashion Director | Marie Claire
Lady Gaga
More than just a look, Lady Gaga put on a show! The first to take to the carpet after Anna Wintour (and Anna’s daughter, Bee Shaffer), Wintour’s co-chair set the bar as attendees waited for her +/-15 minute entrance. Brandon Maxwell, who designed her look(s), accompanied Gaga with a mini styling kit attached to his suit, helping her transform from look to look. It started with a bright pink parachute gown, billowed by dances with umbrellas, death dropping out of frame whenever Gaga posed for a picture. Maxwell then undressed her to reveal her second look: a chic, black strapless dress with an asymmetrical, moulded hip. Her third look was a bright pink tubular spaghetti strap dress, an old-school antenna telephone (actually a clutch) and oversized, embellished sunglasses. The theatre continued as a glam squad approached her with brushes and hairspray, while Gaga applied lipstick removed from the handheld.
The main event: a black encrusted two piece with waist-high fishnets and the highest platform boots was how it was all finished off – her ‘all-night’ look. Draping herself on the pink carpet stairs, it was one of those moments where you’d rather turn right around and head home than follow that performance.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita channelled her inner drag queen in a Versace gown with exaggerated rainbow shoulders and glitter rainbow makeup to match. What I loved most about her look was the halo of gold afro picks that, upon close inspection, had fists on their handles with a secret message of ‘power to the fight’. I loved how she boldly embodied the theme, leaving no room for the norm.
“This year’s theme demanded attendees to go completely over-the-top. While many guests’ looks were amazing, not all of them were exactly on theme.”
─ Kim Cupido, Trend Forecaster | Zando
Ezra Miller
He combined gender fluid pinstripe suiting with a bejewelled corset and the most eye-catching make-up look of the night for camp perfection.
Janelle Monae
Janelle turned herself into a Surrealist work of art to look like a few million dollars herself.
Ciara
With a theme like “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” there were bound to be a few showgirl looks and camp heroines like Cher and Diana Ross would give Ciara’s take on the theme their nod of approval.
─ Cleo Marcopoulos, Group Fashion Director | Associated Media Publishing
Kim Kardashian
At first glance, Kim, in Thierry Mugler, seems to be wearing another ‘naked dress’ however, this time she really made a statement. Kim’s look was inspired by Sophia Loren’s sexy wet-n-wild look in the 1957 film, Boy on a Dolphin ─ and just like Sophia, she opted for tousled wet hair.
Harry Styles
Harry, in Gucci, was the ‘King of Camp’ (as declared by Twitter) in a look that saw an almost understated take on the theme. He pushed gender boundaries and did a great job at it.
“I loved all the dramatic looks that graced the pink carpet, I loved the element of surprise that came with it. The celebrities that stood out for me each sported a look that was fresh and pushed the boundaries. Lady Gaga and Cardi B’s looks were also dramatic but felt repeated as I noted that Rihanna wore something similar previously.”
─ Jessica Ramoshaba, Fashion Editor | True Love
