This Year's Met Gala Theme Was "The Garden Of Time," So Here Are The Celebs Who Actually Tried

BuzzFeed
·5 min read

It's the first Monday in May, which means it's time to watch the Met Gala from my peasant's hovel with the vigor of an art historian.

The Met Gala steps
Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images

This year's theme is "The Garden of Time," based upon the 2024 Costume Institute's exhibit, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. You can get a full breakdown of what this means here, but the TL;DR is that it's about "fleeting beauty." Early predictions for what folks would wear encompassed reinvented historic garments, florals, and clocks.

Three historical dresses on display, featuring intricate patterns and full skirts

"The Garden of Time" itself is a reference to a rather macabre short story.

Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

So, which celebs stuck to the (quite good, actually) theme this year? Here are some of the highlights:

1.Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour in a black coat with colorful floral embroidery over a white dress at an event
Anna Wintour in a black coat with colorful floral embroidery over a white dress at an event
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour
Elegant black cloak with bold floral pattern and intricate lace collar displayed on a mannequin
Elegant black cloak with bold floral pattern and intricate lace collar displayed on a mannequin

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images, Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images, Heritage Images / Heritage Images via Getty Images

Why it's on theme: There was no shortage of moody florals this year, but Anna's Loewe coat takes it to the next level by appearing to be an homage to an 1889 Charles Frederick Worth cloak which is on display in this year's exhibition.

2.Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain
Model in a fitted, lace-detail bodysuit with a spine-like adornment down the back, on a fashion runway
Model in a fitted, lace-detail bodysuit with a spine-like adornment down the back, on a fashion runway

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, Alexis Duclos / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Why it's on theme: Emma's Jean Paul Gaultier look evokes a decaying, sepia photograph, harkening to the "time" element of this year's theme. As Vogue confirmed, it is also a re-imagination of a 2003 Jean Paul Gaultier look — leaning into the conservation and fragility element of the exhibition this year.

3.Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny in a tailored suit with an elaborate hat and ruffled adornment, attending a formal event
Bad Bunny in a tailored suit with an elaborate hat and ruffled adornment, attending a formal event
Bad Bunny wearing a sculptural hat, sunglasses, and a dark jacket with line patterns and floral adornment
Bad Bunny wearing a sculptural hat, sunglasses, and a dark jacket with line patterns and floral adornment

Aliah Anderson / Getty Images, John Shearer / WireImage

Why it's on theme: This Maison Margiela look appears to be playing with the theme of time through a yet-to-be-finished suit. The more obvious nod to the garden is through Benito's black flowers which, according to Vogue, includes the plant Sleeping Beauty was pricked with in the original fairytale (flax plant — who knew!).

4.Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson in embellished long-sleeve gown with fringe details at an event
Rebecca Ferguson in embellished long-sleeve gown with fringe details at an event
Rebecca Ferguson in a gown with a blue skirt featuring bird designs and a black cape, posing at an event with photographers in the background
Rebecca Ferguson in a gown with a blue skirt featuring bird designs and a black cape, posing at an event with photographers in the background

John Shearer / WireImage, Aliah Anderson / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: Who doesn't love a reveal! But, erm, thematically speaking, one must note the death symbolism of the raven on this Thom Browne look.

5.Zendaya

Zendaya in an elaborate blue gown with ruffled details and a dramatic headpiece on a themed event carpet
Zendaya in an elaborate blue gown with ruffled details and a dramatic headpiece on a themed event carpet
Zendaya in avant-garde blue gown with netted headpiece at event
Zendaya in avant-garde blue gown with netted headpiece at event
Woman posing in an elaborate gown with a sculptural design and textured layers
Woman posing in an elaborate gown with a sculptural design and textured layers

John Shearer / WireImage, Aliah Anderson / Getty Images, Pierre Vauthey / Sygma via Getty Images

Why it's on theme: As per Vogue, this dress is a re-imagining of a 1999 couture Dior look. Throw in the old-timey makeup and the additional nature imagery of the hummingbird, and this is another great co-chair look of the night.

6.Tyla

Tyla is wearing a strapless, floor-length beige gown as she poses on the red carpet with photographers in behind her
Tyla is wearing a strapless, floor-length beige gown as she poses on the red carpet with photographers in behind her
Tyla in strapless gown posing at an event with photographers in background
Tyla in strapless gown posing at an event with photographers in background

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: The moment I saw this Balmain gown, I knew it would be one of my favorites. She's dressed as the goddamn sand from her hourglass. Incredible.

7.Rita Ora

Person on stairs at an event, wearing a long sleeved dress with fringe detail, posing for cameras
Person on stairs at an event, wearing a long sleeved dress with fringe detail, posing for cameras
Person in a sheer, reflective, fringed outfit with photographers in the background
Person in a sheer, reflective, fringed outfit with photographers in the background

Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Why it's on theme: Rita claimed in her Vogue livestream that this dress includes beads from the first and second century BC. If true, then it's certainly a creative take on time. She also said that the beads were "older, I think, than anyone on this planet" which...yeah.

8.Taylor Russell

Woman in elegant white slit gown with sheer and embellished bodice on steps
Woman in elegant white slit gown with sheer and embellished bodice on steps
Woman poses in a transparent halter-neck gown with decorative floral embellishments
Woman poses in a transparent halter-neck gown with decorative floral embellishments

Theo Wargo / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images, John Shearer / WireImage

Why it's on theme: The exquisite painting on this corset looks as close to real wood as it could. I'd expect nothing less from Taylor.

9.Elle Fanning

Woman in sheer, embellished off-shoulder gown on steps at event
Woman in sheer, embellished off-shoulder gown on steps at event
Woman in a sheer, glittery gown with unique shoulder embellishment on steps, photographers in background
Woman in a sheer, glittery gown with unique shoulder embellishment on steps, photographers in background

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: Sleeping Beauty herself, Elle's gown references her look in Maleficent. What's more, it's created to look like glass, evoking the theme of fragility in this year's dress code and exhibit.

10.Wisdom Kaye

Person in a dramatic red outfit with hat and train, posing with a rose at an event. Photographers in background
Person in a dramatic red outfit with hat and train, posing with a rose at an event. Photographers in background
Individual in a red statement hat and fringed outfit posing with a finger on their lips
Individual in a red statement hat and fringed outfit posing with a finger on their lips

Getty Images

Why it's on theme: This Robert Wun look takes the floral nods further by singeing the whole thing.

11.Charli XCX

Woman in a lace embellished gown with off-shoulder sleeves and a train, standing on steps at a gala event
Woman in a lace embellished gown with off-shoulder sleeves and a train, standing on steps at a gala event
Woman in an elegant off-shoulder white lace gown with a feathered hair accessory
Woman in an elegant off-shoulder white lace gown with a feathered hair accessory

Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images, Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: This Marni dress is actually made of a patchwork of white t-shirts from the previous century.

12.Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner in a sparkling black dress with a bold V-neck lace at a gala event
Kendall Jenner in a sparkling black dress with a bold V-neck lace at a gala event
Woman in a detailed black gown with cut-outs poses on the Met Gala stairs
Woman in a detailed black gown with cut-outs poses on the Met Gala stairs

John Shearer / WireImage, Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Why it's on theme: It's a 1999 Alexander McQueen look for Givenchy haute couture that has never been worn in public before! It was initially displayed on a mannequin, but never the runway.

13.Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman waving, wearing a strapless gown with black and white details and long gloves at an event
Nicole Kidman waving, wearing a strapless gown with black and white details and long gloves at an event
Woman in vintage strapless gown with tiered feather skirt and a pearl necklace
Woman in vintage strapless gown with tiered feather skirt and a pearl necklace

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, Bill Brandt / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: Nicole's Balenciaga dress is a reimagining of a 1951 gown.

14.Lana Del Rey

Person in a sheer dress with branch-like embellishments and a flowing veil at a gala event
Person in a sheer dress with branch-like embellishments and a flowing veil at a gala event
Person at event in a beige gown with branch-like embellishments and a sheer overlay
Person at event in a beige gown with branch-like embellishments and a sheer overlay
Model in elaborate textured gown with high ruffled collar and antler-like headpiece at a fashion show
Model in elaborate textured gown with high ruffled collar and antler-like headpiece at a fashion show

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, Theo Wargo / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images, Michel Dufour / WireImage

Why it's on theme: This look references Alexander McQueen's iconic 2006 collection. Plus, given her interview with Kim Kardashian, it appears to be somewhat of a hazard.

15.Janelle Monáe

Tessa Thompson in a sheer, embellished gown with metallic and crystal details at a gala event
Tessa Thompson in a sheer, embellished gown with metallic and crystal details at a gala event
Person wearing a crystal-embellished dress with shoulder detail at an event
Person wearing a crystal-embellished dress with shoulder detail at an event

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue, Mike Coppola / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Why it's on theme: There were a few nude dresses on the red carpet tonight, but none understood the theme like Janelle's. This Vera Wang gown is so fragile, it can only be worn once. Plus, the shoulder piece is made out of recycled bottles.

16.Zendaya (again)

Woman in elegant black gown with long train posing on staircase at a gala event
Woman in elegant black gown with long train posing on staircase at a gala event
Person in an elegant black gown with a voluminous skirt and a large floral hat, posing on a themed backdrop with cameras behind
Person in an elegant black gown with a voluminous skirt and a large floral hat, posing on a themed backdrop with cameras behind

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Why it's on theme: There's a freakin' Alexander McQueen bouquet on her head. The dress is a never-worn vintage 1996 Givenchy gown, making it the same age as Z herself.

We'll keep you updated as the night continues...

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