Awash with unique silhouettes, fresh flowers and connotations of the Orient, designers rose to the challenge of incorporating the ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ theme into this year’s Met Gala gowns. We’ve found the best-dressed stars of the evening and the undeniable colour conquering the red carpet.
By Jemma Walker
The satin embroided gowns came first, teamed with long elegant capes delicately adorning plum blossom designs, the Western adaptation of the kimono was a challenge many designers welcomed. It wasn’t long into the evening that ladies in red stole the show. Poppy Delevingne stepped out in a crimson Marchesa gown heavily decorated with poppies – a flower chosen by many attendees. Look a little closer at Rose Byrne’s maroon plunging Calvin Klein Collection dress and you’ll notice it’s leather; the sartorially-savvy design included a laser-cut train for extra extravagance. The pair were among the copious amount of stars dressed in red or incorporating the shade with a swipe of lipstick or a sequined clutch.
Selena Gomez brought the Chinese theme to life with a crown of fresh orchids, however the prevalent flower of the event was the poppy – a controversial bloom given the theme of the evening. Sarah Jessica Parker wore an oversized broach and cape decorated with the floral symbol, Jennifer Lawrence’s Dior gown was heavily decorated with the seductive red flower, Anna Wintour and Poppy Delevingne were among the stars wearing the flowering plant that could easily be misconstrued to recall a devastating period in Chinese history – the 19th Century Opium Wars. Memories of the conflict are still fresh. In 2010 the British Prime Minister David Cameron was asked to remove his wartime remembrance poppy on a state visit to China. During an evening exploring the Western interpretation of Chinese culture through fashion, the peony – which is the national emblem of China – would have been a far more considerate choice.
Shimmer and sparkle: the few stars opting for unapologetic glamour were well rewarded, Kate Hudson topped best-dressed lists globally in her custom-made Michael Kors gown – standing out from the crowd in the lavish design alongside a futuristic Anne Hathaway.
Here’s some more of our best dressed attendees from the ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ Met Gala:
