The 2016 Met Gala was held last night in New York City, and Black celebrity fashions did not disappoint. Animalistic eyes and daring robotic dresses and tresses were on display.
The event is an annual fundraiser for the city’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Headed by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, this year’s theme was “manus versus machina,” or “Hand Versus Machine: Fashion in the Age of Technology.” The spring collection of The Costume Institute showed how fashion designers are adapting handmade garments to those made with technology, according to the website.
Celebrities at the gala challenged what it means to be avant-garde. Silver and white were the colors of the night and skin was frequently exposed.
Beyoncé carefully controlled her image before walking the red carpet by sharing a photo of herself in a latex Givenchy gown on Instagram. She then walked the red carpet with long, super-straight hair in the flesh-colored dress. Jay Z was noticeably absent days after he was seen with Bey during the Miami stop of her Formation World Tour.
Kanye West was accompanied by wife Kim Kardashian. He wore a silver robotic jacket dressed down in a white t-shirt and jeans. His most prominent accessory was his eyes. The rapper wore icy blue contact lenses to give him a look fitting of the techie theme. He described his look to E! News by saying, “vibes” before walking away.
After the event, he later tweeted about getting a best-dressed couple title with Kardashian.
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/727370506622607360
After Kerry Washington announced her pregnancy May 2, she prominently displayed her baby bump in a gothic-inspired look. Curly purple hair and dark eye makeup completed the look along with elbow length lace gloves.
Idris Elba turned heads in what Vogue reports was a tuxedo by Tom Ford. The British actor is a loyal Ford wearer and donned a white tie to match. A velvet smoking jacket with a flower on the lapel gave Elba a vintage look.
Ciara told E! News that she wanted to do “something different” with her custom-made gown by H&M. The look featured a dress of Swarovski crystals and was topped off with a silver wig.
Other stars who made it out for the fundraiser included a host of rappers in addition to West: Wiz Khalifa, Nas, Tyga, Nicki Minaj, Future and Will.I.Am. Singers The Weeknd, FKA Twigs, Jennifer Hudson and Zendaya attended, too. Athletes were also at the dinner, including Carmelo Anthony with wife and former MTV VJ LaLa Anthony, as well as Odell Beckham Jr.