Let's Get Spiritual: Our Favorite Looks From the Met Gala

May 11

By Phil Zminda and Victoire Cointy

From the runway to the prêt-à-porter, inspiration for fashion has always come from sources both esoteric and ubiquitous. Religion, in particular, has provided us with plenty of material to mine, from flowery, ethereal silhouettes from the Virgin Mary to rugged, all-chainmail ensembles inspired by the Crusades. Thankfully Anna Wintour, Rihanna and recent Vogue cover girl Amal Clooney, this year’s Met Gala aka high fashion prom organizers, recognized the notoriously showy and luxurious aesthetic of Catholicism and brought it to this year’s installment. Although the declaration of the theme was met with some lukewarm (and some hostile) responses, the gala’s literally Vatican approved “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme gave way to some of the boldest, most daring, and stunning outfits we’ve seen there. Here are the ones that took us to Church.

Bella Hadid in Chrome Hearts Official

We expected it to be quiet for Bella Hadid this Gala, but her high fashion vampire widow look was too good for her to not, like, get it.

Photo by Vogue

Blake Lively in Versace

Spotted on the steps of the Met: Blake Lively in a dress which took 600 hours to embroider and on the arm of Christian Louboutin, no less. Clearly, every one of those hours was worth it.

Photo by The New York Times

Cardi B in Moschino

These expensive, these is pearl-encrusted, these is Moschino! 2018 was already the year of Cardi, so a look this flawless is hardly a surprise.

Photo by The New York Times

Chadwick Boseman in Versace

FINALLY! A MAN WHO STUCK TO THE THEME! Boseman’s regal floral jacket in the style of a pastor’s robe went toe to toe with the best of the women’s looks tonight and proves that Wakandans do their homework.

Photo by The New York Times

Darren Criss in Dolce & Gabanna

In a world of black tuxedos, be a Dolce & Gabbana jacket with your face embroidered on the side.

Photo by Rex Shutterstock

Frances McDormand in Valentino Haute Couture

Is it Catholic? Unsure. But Frances McDormand’s unique turquoise fascinator and billowing dress by Valentino made for one of the most interesting silhouettes of the night.

Photo by The New York Times

Janelle Monáe in Marc Jacobs

Fresh off the release of her color spectrum of an “emotion picture” and album “Dirty Computer”, Janelle Monáe brought back her classic black and white color scheme with a saintly twist.

Photo by The New York Times

Kate Bosworth in Oscar de la Renta

Full disclosure, we didn’t know who Kate Bosworth was until we saw this “Virgin Mary but make it fashion” look, but it was good enough to get us to check out her Wikipedia page.

Photo by Vogue

Lana del Rey in Gucci

It’s only fitting that indie music’s definitive sad girl put together a stunning replica of the Statue of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. Look at her and weep, Met attendees.

Photo by Getty Images

Lena Waithe in Caroline Herrera

Organized religion hasn’t always been kind to LGBTQIA+ folks, so Ms. Waithe took it upon herself start one of her own with her outfit. She told the New York Times, “The theme to me is, like, ‘Be yourself…’ You were made in God’s image, right?”

Photo by The New York Times

Lily Collins in Givenchy

We applaud Lily for reminding us that not all saints wear halos - sometimes they just wear hauntingly pale skin and virginal tears.

Photo by Vogue

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren

Priyanka Chopra and Ralph Lauren confirm their “match made in heaven” — no pun intended, we promise — relationship status by collaborating a second year in a row, this time allowing Chopra’s Indian heritage to shine through.

Photo by The New York Times