Well, would you look at that… Another article about the infamous Met Gala 2022! The evening that truly showed us how little people care to look into a theme. They had one job! Sigh… It wasn’t all a bust! Quite frankly, there were quite a few looks that nailed it, making us say, “slay the house boots down, Houston, I’m deceased!” One of those was, of course, the lovely Blake Lively, donning an impressive shape-shifting dress.
As impressive as the dress was, Blake’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, caught the internet’s eye with his heartwarming reaction to the dress change, making even the coldest of hearts sit by a fireplace and daydream of love.
My dearest fashion Pandas, make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below, upvote the story to keep the sass coming, and, mayhaps, consider kindly hitting the follow button of the author, as it makes their day better. Thank you! Now let’s get into it!
More info: The Met Museum
The Met Gala has blessed us once again, with many people missing the theme completely, yet some taking our breath away
Image credits: E! News
Shall we start with a question - what is the Met Gala? It happens every year, but for what purpose? Well, affectionately referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out” or the “Costume Institute Benefit,” The Met Gala is the main source of annual funding for the Costume Department's exhibitions, acquisitions, and capital improvements of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each May, the gala celebrates the opening of the spring exhibition. Organized by the fashion magazine Vogue, the event welcomes stars, young creatives, and industry paragons.
The event celebrates the specific theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition. Guests are expected to dress in a way which is mostly haute couture - exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design - to match the theme of the exhibit. This year’s theme was Gilded Glamour, an ode to 1870-1900s fashion, very much inspired by the Victorian era in Britain. Think corsets, puffy shoulders and bums. If you’re interested in the actual style development, I’ll leave a link to an interesting article on it here.
One of those was Blake Lively, accompanied by her husband of 10 years, Ryan Reynolds
Image credits: lyst_____
There were a lot of mixed reactions this year. Bored Panda has created a list of some of our favorites, which you can find here. But the main trend was based on the fact that a lot of celebrities seemingly forgot to do their research this year, but the ones that didn’t truly stole the show. There’s probably little debate that Blake Lively took the cake, both by sticking to the theme (looking fantastic doing so) and for wearing a very clever dress.
She wore a custom Atelier Versace transforming gown, going from rose gold to blue/teal in a matter of seconds
Image credits: lmlcbyn
Image credits: lidolmix
The Gossip Girl star wore a custom Atelier Versace transforming gown: a body-hugging rose-gold dress, full of geometric embroidery and mirrored accents, with what seemed at first to be a massive rose-gold colored bow on the side. It was actually layers of train waiting to be released from its confines.
It took a team of tuxedoed helpers to unravel the enormous bow-train, the end result nothing short of gorgeous. The rose-gold dress transformed into one of teal, with brilliant swirls of rose gold adorned throughout, dazzling in the lights. Blake put out her arms, donning rose-gold over-the-elbow gloves, which were taken off, revealing a teal pair hiding underneath.
The cherry on top is the hidden meaning behind the dress, as it was designed to emulate the Statue of Liberty, which was gifted to the US from France in 1886, fitting right into the Gilded era. Lively told E! News that her Lorraine Schwartz crown was a nod to the one worn by Lady Liberty, while the front of her dress was inspired by the architecture of the Empire State Building. A constellation-esque design also featured on the train, inspired by New York's Grand Central Station.
But why the color change, you ask? Well, it’s a very clever nod to the color change the Statue of Liberty experienced, as the initially copper statue oxidized, turning into the iconic green that is known and beloved today.
Alongside the magical dress, people noted Ryan's reaction to his wife, causing us all to utter a unanimous "Aww"
Image credits: brunettepiscess
She was accompanied on the red carpet by her husband, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, who seemed completely in awe of the transformation and his beautiful wife. Whether he knew that it would happen or not is unclear, but you know what's obvious - his love for her. He stood at the top of the stairs at the Met Museum while his wife had her big moment in front of the cameras, gazing at her continuously.
He couldn't seem to wipe the smile off his face as Lively's copper dress was unfurled to show off its blue hues hiding underneath and the viewers took notice of it. Ryan’s adoration that he holds for his beloved cannot be unseen.
He clapped whilst the dress was being revealed, a big unwavering smile on his face and a gaze full of adoration
Image credits: Variety
The pair met in 2010 and got married in 2012, becoming one of Hollywood's most beloved power couples
Image credits: Ronald Woan
The pair married in 2012 and currently have three beautiful daughters together: James, Inez, and baby Betty. They have been one of Hollywood’s most beloved power couples, who troll each other on social media endlessly and support each other’s various endeavors. I’m sure I won’t be wrong saying that we’d all like something similar in our own lives.
Their love continues to bloom, evident in these pictures, as I discuss the controversy of this year's theme "Gilded Glamour"
Image credits: vancityreynolds
Alongside the good came the critiques, starting with the misinterpretation of the theme, and ending with the theme itself. As written in the New York Post, ‘The Gilded Age’ might not have been the most appropriate theme, due to the parallels between the time period and the present.
The years between 1870 and 1900 marked a period of rapid economic expansion across the country, where certain families were able to acquire immense wealth, whilst millions of others lived in poverty, trying to make ends meet.
Sounds familiar? Marked not only by growing inequality, but the highest inflation levels in more than 40 years, people are struggling to make ends meet, thus, it isn’t surprising that criticism was put forth, stating the theme was out of touch with current issues.
In my humble opinion, everything will be criticized one way or another, but it’s the intention that matters. Is the Met Gala’s intention to bring about equality and World peace? Doubtful. Is it moral? Does it matter? What happens on the inside of the Gala is as unknown as what resides in the center of the moon.
Image credits: vancityreynolds
The pair have become notorious for trolling each other on social media, yet their support for one another cannot be broken
Image credits: vancityreynolds
Image credits: blakelively
The Met Gala unites fashion, artistry, and, it seems, difficult topics together, yet, at the end of the day, we rejoice at the love two people can feel for one another
Image credits: E! News
Lots of questions asked and lots of artworks in the form of fashion to be observed. But one thing is for certain - it is lovely to rejoice at the love two people can feel for one another!
What was your favorite look this year? What was the worst? I myself have a few contenders… Let us know in the comments and I shall wish you a fabulous morning/day/evening, dear Pandas! Au revoir et à demain!
People have loved this little exchange! Leave your favorite looks and thoughts in the comments
