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
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.
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.
And Katy Perry really understood what “Camp” meant.
As did Lupita Nyong’O and Zendaya:
Host and co-chair Harry Styles with Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele donned their own version of camp.
Billy Porter, Hamish Bowls, Janelle Monae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jordan Roth got it, too.
Celine Dion, Kylie and Kendall Jenner went for “Show Girls” camp:
Ryan Murphy and Kacey Musgraves nailed camp as well by channeling Liberace and Barbie, respectively.
Mindy Kaling, Jared Leto, Cara Delvigne, Gigi Hadid and Hailee Steinfeld (in her Viktor and Rolf gown) grasped the concept.
Miley Cyrus used to be so Camp! This was a very lame showing for her.
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.
There were lots of really gorgeous gowns that weren’t camp. You can see those here.