Tonight would’ve been Met Gala night (*sighs*), as the event always takes place on the first Monday of May, but was postponed indefinitely on March 16 due to the pandemic.
The Met Gala 2020 theme was ‘About Time: Fashion and Duration’, and was partly inspired by Virginia Woolf and the theories of the French philosopher Henri Bergson.
Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute said, “About Time: Fashion and Duration was to take a ‘nuanced and open-ended’ approach. Reimagining fashion history that’s fragmented, discontinuous, and heterogeneous.”
It would’ve been a thoroughly intriguing evening to see this realised on the red carpet.
The event was set to be co-chaired by Nicolas Ghesquière, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, and Anna Wintour, so I thought we would take a brief look back at Emma’s seven Met Gala looks since her debut in 2011.
2011 ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ Met Gala in Lanvin
For her Met Gala debut honouring Alexander McQueen, Emma wore a printed Lanvin gown.
Accessorising with statement earrings and a hot pink pout, we officially had a new sartorial crush on our hands.
2012 ‘Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations’ Met Gala in Lanvin
Alber Elbaz made Emma is official date for the Met Gala once again the following year.
I was a bit disappointed by this Lanvin dress at the time, as I felt it was a little too twee for her.
As I stare it at now, I’m enjoying this throwback, I do like the design of the dress, yet I’m still wishing for a better shoe and hairstyle.
2013 ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Met Gala in Thakoon
When it comes to Emma Stone in this Thakoon dress, it’s not only Emma’s best Met Gala red carpet look, I would also put it in her Hall of Fame…at number one.
When I reminisce about her style and red carpet looks, this outfit is always at the fore front of my mind.
She may have worn more expensive Haute Couture gowns, had more magical moments during awards season or Cannes, but nothing comes close to this for me.
This is will always be her one to beat. Like Cate Blanchett and her Christian Lacroix Haute Couture gown.
Utter perfection from head-to-toe.
2016 ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology’ Met Gala in Prada
We almost didn’t recognize Emma at the 2016 Met Gala on account of her newly dye locks.
Draped in a cream Prada gown, this look would’ve missed the mark had it not been for the silver metal corset and shoulder detailing embellished with floral accents.
2018 ‘ Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic’ Met Gala in Louis Vuitton
Keeping up her run of attending every other year, the actress was an official ambassador of the house of Louis Vuitton by the time the 2018 Met Gala rolled around.
There wasn’t much “theme” in this look, but a whole lot of LV, so as an ambassador this look served its purpose.
I will never understand how a custom look can miss the mark.
2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion in Louis Vuitton
Is a sparkling jumpsuit camp? It could be interpreted that way I guess, but the majority of you weren’t impress with any of the nine celebrities dressed by LV on this night.
The saddest thing for me with regards to the Met Gala is all the gorgeous custom gowns which would’ve been a near completion before this event was called off in March.
I’m praying that they don’t go to waste.
Hopefully the theme will carry over to 2021, and those gowns that are probably being archived now, will get to climb those steps at the Met on the first Monday in May next year.
Credit: Getty
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Hi Catherine, can I just say I LOOOVE, LOOVE these look-back posts. For me fashion, especially red carpet fashion has been so processed: a stunning moment nowadays doesn’t have the same lasting impact as the ones in 5 years ago. During times like this it’s great to revisit some of the great moments in red carpet and appreciate how amazing they are.
I believe you have a very huge archive to do many more “look-back” segments. Looking forward to read ALL of them.
I second that!
Pink and dark pink in Thakoon at Met gala is the best
ya, the Thakoon dress was the best. Although none feel ‘on-theme’, which irks me always.
the red little Lanvin dress looks ridiculous…like a childs dress, and styled like on too.
that 2018 LV is horrendous. aged her by quite a bit, besides being dreadfully ugly.
I much prefer Emma Stone before the LV era. The Thakoon is amazing.
While I’m a huge fan of Emma’s style, her Met Gala looks aren’t really my favorite looks of hers. Although the Thakoon is pretty great and maybe could make my Top 5 looks of hers. I also do like the first Lanvin. And the LV jumpsuit is really cool as well, would’ve liked it a lot more at a different event, though.
I don’t think any of these achieve the greatness of Emma’s best looks like the yellow Atelier Versace she wore to the London premiere of the second Spider-Man, the green Valentino Couture she wore in Venice, the black Gucci she wore to the Paris premiere of the first Spider-Man, the iconic Lanvin jumpsuit she wore to the Golden Globes, just to name a few.
Agree, the Thakoon is definitely a top 5 look of Emma’s. I quite like all the looks, but none really scream Met Gala.
I love the pink & red Thakoon (definitely my fave Emma look of all time). But the rest are a little disappointing. I don’t think there’s enough risk/fun/embrace of theme.
I think it was an odd decision to have her (and Meryl) co-chair 2020. I don’t think of either when I think: “Met Gala”.
I hope you, Catherine, get to attend the Met Gala some year.
Perhaps the lovely pink Thakoon skirt is what Zendaya needed to pull off the Tom Ford look where we were all so critical of the skirt. I like the Lanvin look, hair and all.
I was very curious on how this theme was going to be interpreted through the outfits. Unlike camp, China or Catholicism I didn’t have a quick mental visual of a possible look. LV and Saint Laurent though always keep with their respective own aesthetics rather than doing anything interesting to mix it up and adhere to the themes.
I think Emma’s yellow Atelier Versace look for the ‘Spider-Man 2’ world premiere is my favourite Emma Stone.
https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2014/04/10/emma-stone-atelier-versace-amazing-spider-man-2-rise-electro-world-premiere/