The 2019 Met Gala’s Campiest Fashions

2019 met gala

The biggest annual red carpet extravaganza, The Met Gala, chose a theme this year that was apparently lost on some. Curators and co-chairs for this year’s annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute decided to go with “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” a play on writer Susan Sontag’s seminal essay, “Notes on Camp.” From the looks of it, several opted to ignore the theme and just appeared in formal gowns- albeit beautiful formal gowns- and suits. But others really nailed it and we’ve got pics of the 2019 Met Gala’s Campiest Fashions to prove it.

Oh how we love covering this event. There’s no better eye candy when it comes to the couture, and sometimes catastrophic, ensembles that ascend the stairs at the annual Met Gala. In 2013, the theme was “Punk”, in 2015 it was China: Through The Looking Glass, in 2017 we shared our 45 most memorable looks from the Gala and last year, 2018, we covered the “Heavenly” themed event with a fab photo album on the If It’s Hip, It’s Here Facebook page. And now, 2019.

2019 Met Gala’s Campiest Fashions

Screenwriter, producer and actress Lena Waithe’s at The 2019 Met Gala.

The dictionary describes the adjective “camp” as deliberately exaggerated and theatrical behavior or style. But there’s also an element of tackiness to camp. And the Met Gala dinner reflected that with their Pink Flamingo decor.

2019 Met Gala's Campiest Fashions

Ezra Miller. Few understood camp as well as Ezra Miller, actor, singer, and fashion aficionado who channeled Man Ray in his Dada-esque Camp ensemble custom made by Riccardo Tisci of Burberry.

Lady Gaga got it. She appeared in a pink coat which concealed a pink gown, then stripped to reveal a black gown which she then peeled off down to fishnets and sparkly black lingerie.

Singer Cardi B. certainly gave Lady Gaga a run for her money in her own wild getup.

cardi b met gala

cardi b

met gala cardi b

And Katy Perry really understood what “Camp” meant.

Katy Perry dressed as a human chandelier to the 2019 Met Gala
Katy Perry dressed as a human chandelier to the 2019 Met Gala

As did Lupita Nyong’O and Zendaya:

Lupita Nyong'O at the 2019 Met Gala
Lupita Nyong’O at the 2019 Met Gala
Zendaya dressed as Cinderella with an illuminating gown
Zendaya dressed as Cinderella with an illuminating gown

Host and co-chair Harry Styles with Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele donned their own version of camp.

harry styles and jared leto

Billy Porter, Hamish Bowls, Janelle Monae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jordan Roth got it, too.

Billy Porter’s entrance to the event.
Billy Porter at the 2019 Met Gala
Hamish Bowles at the 2019 Met Gala
Janelle Monae at the 2019 Met Gala
Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2019 Met Gala
Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2019 Met Gala
Jordan Roth wore an Iris Van Herpen cape printed with the interior of an opera house

Celine Dion, Kylie and Kendall Jenner went for “Show Girls” camp:

Celine Dion at the 2019 Met Gala
Kendall and Kylie Jenner at the 2019 met Gala

Ryan Murphy and Kacey Musgraves nailed camp as well by channeling Liberace and Barbie, respectively.

Ryan Murphy at the 2019 Met Gala
Kacey Musgraves went as Barbie! She even arrived in a pink car.

Mindy Kaling, Jared Leto, Cara Delvigne, Gigi Hadid and Hailee Steinfeld (in her Viktor and Rolf gown) grasped the concept.

Mindy Kaling at the 2019 Met Gala
Jared Leto carried his own head to the 2019 Met Gala
Cara Delvigne at the 2019 Met Gala
Gigi Hadid at the 2019 Met Gala
Hailee Steinfeld in Viktor & Rolf at the 2019 Met Gala

Miley Cyrus used to be so Camp! This was a very lame showing for her.

Miley, what a disappointment!

A few attendees seemed to confuse ‘Camp’ with ‘Game of Thrones’ such as Florence, Saoirse and Halsey:

But alas, Game of Thrones’ real Mother of now just one Dragon, Emilia Clarke, went more Renaissance than camp.

Emilia Clarke didn’t really get the ‘camp’ thing.

There were lots of really gorgeous gowns that weren’t camp. You can see those here.