Paintings, statues and an aging cure: it was see and be seen again on Monday evening at the Met Gala in New York. The biggest stars made an impression on the carpet, according to stylist Bastiaan van Schaik, although often too much. “What is this polonaise about their bodies?”
The first Monday in May is traditionally the setting for the Met Gala, which this year had the theme ‘Fashion is Art’, or fashion is art. A great theme and a great gala, says stylist Bastiaan van Schaik (56). “But it quickly leans towards Halloween or carnival.”
For example, the 32-year-old Bad Bunny, who appeared unrecognizable on the carpet as a wrinkled elderly man with a walking stick, wearing a black tuxedo suit from Zara. Or top model Heidi Klum, who also stands out with her Met Gala look (a living statue). one of her legendary Halloween parties would have fit. Beyoncé looked like she belonged on Día de los Muertos with her glittering skeleton dress, designed by Olivier Rousteing.
Van Schaik finds it ‘a bit of a shame’ that the fashion event is increasingly looking like a costume parade. “You look at the outfits and think: what is this polonaise on their bodies? Of course the Met Gala is a big moment for fashion, but it also makes it a very distant show.”
The stylist therefore thinks actress Julianne Moore really stands out. She was joined by designer and close friend Tom Ford and wore a figure-hugging black mermaid-style dress with feather sleeves. “Super boring compared to the rest, but really very chic. That’s actually how you want to go to a gala.”
Van Schaik also sees that many designers ‘lose their own handwriting and style’ because they adapt very much to the theme. For example, Madonna wore a ‘beautiful outfit’ with a translucent cape, worn by seven ladies-in-waiting. The look is a reference to a surreal painting by Leonora Carrington. “I thought: oh, how strange, she is wearing Galliano or an old Dior. But it was Saint Laurent. That was not recognizable.”
More paintings came to life on the carpet. For example, influencer Emma Chamberlain stood out with a dress from Mugler, inspired by The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. “That was of course very charming.” Charli XCX (in Yves Saint Laurent) also copied the work of the Dutch painter. Her dress was inspired by the painting Irises. Actresses Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer also stepped off the screen.
And then there was Katy Perry, who impressed in a white Stella McCartney dress. The pop star was initially unrecognizable on the carpet due to a huge silver mask. “That was quite a statement,” Van Schaik explains. Perry referenced the future of AI with her outfit and even had a sixth finger on her glove, a common mistake in AI-generated photos. “Whether you like it or not, that look is simply beautiful.”
“Beautiful outfits, just a bit too carnival,” is Van Schaik’s final verdict. “I’m curious to see what they will come up with next year.”
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