Celebrities turned to shimmery metallic bling on the red carpet at last night’s Costume Institute Benefit at New York’s Museum of Metropolitan Art. The star-studded party, popularly-known as the Met Ball, is organized each year by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and kicks off the Costume’s Institute’s spring exhibition.
Madonna attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images)
As always, this year’s show, “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,” set the dress code for the evening. Inspired by the relationship between fashion and technology over the course of fashion history, the show did not have as much of as a cohesive identity as last year’s somewhat-controversial Chinese-themed gala for “China: Through The Looking Glass.”
Kate Hudson and Lady Gaga attend the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
Perhaps unclear on how to interpret the theme, many of the night’s attendees opted for shades of silver and gold, presumably in the hopes of channeling a robotic, futuristic vibe. If you were expecting the visible embrace of technology, such as 3D printing or motorized components, a lá the Micro LED-embedded chiffon gown Katy Perry rocked at the 2010 gala, you would be sorely disappointed.
This year, Perry’s look was reminiscent of Elizabeth Banks in the Hunger Games; the singer sported a severe black wig, painted-out eyebrows, and a long black dress with striking gold accents. (Presumably, the garment won’t trigger a lawsuit this time around.)
Taylor Swift attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Katy Perry attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
Kim Kardashian was in an armored-looking silver number, while Kanye opted for ripped jeans with a t-shirt and beaded silver jacket, accessorized with alien-looking blue contact lenses. Also in silver was Taylor Swift, the evening’s co-chair, and Lady Gaga.
Madonna, meanwhile, would have been more at home at last year’s notoriously revealing Met Ball, with her bum-bearing lace gown by Givenchy.
The art world/fashion/celebrity cross-over event was recently the subject of Andrew Rossi’s Tribeca Film Festival–headlining documentary, First Monday in May. The film offered a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into planning both the annual exhibition and the legendary party.
See more photos of the evening:
Anna Wintour attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Sarah Jessica Parker attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
Zoe Saldana attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
Emily Blunt and Olivia Wilde attend the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.
Nicole Kidman attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Courtesy of Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.