The Met Gala can be an infuriating time for sticklers for a theme (me). Why, when you get invited to a prestigious themed party, would you decide to bypass it and go for a plain ballgown?
Thankfully, those that we’ve chosen for our best dressed picks of 2019 decided to run with the theme – which was Notes on Camp – and absolutely nail it.
Sadly we had no Rihanna this year. She usually acts as a great benchmark of how well everyone else is dressed, and leaves us all gasping for air under her thigh-highs.
Thankfully there were a few other VIPs who set the bar high enough for us to still be short of breath.
Lady Gaga
With a series of extra outfit changes, and some over-the-top posing on the pink carpet, it was clear Gaga was born for this theme.
Going from being dressed in a giant pink ball gown to laying spreadeagled on the stairs in her bra and knickers was a moment to behold from the ASIB actress.
Billy Porter
Probably the most iconic moment from this year;s ball was Billy Porter being carried in by a horde of burly men.
Aside from the Pose star’s entrance, his outfit itself was magnificent, and gave us the glamour we craved with the personality we needed.
Tessa Thompson
Although Tessa looks extremely elegant here, the leather daddy nods have enough subversiveness to make it perfect.
We hope there was plenty of hair whipping and whip whipping throughout the night.
Ezra Miller
Ezra always comes through for the Met Gala, but we’re seeing a whole lot of NYC Club Kid in this outfit.
From the bedazzled corset to the train to the amazing makeup, we’re big fans.
Lizzo
Lizzo looks like her third husband has mysteriously vanished, and she’s roaming his mansion in her finery waiting for the will to come through.
The ostrich feathers give this piece a gorgeous shape, but the Lil Kim meet Marie Antionette wig is the cherry on top.
Zazie Beetz
Atlanta’s Zazie Beetz could very well marry herself in this fit, switching from front to back and handing the ring to herself.
It’s great to see a woman serving a suit in a new way and making an androgynous look her own.
Cardi B
What’s more camp than a dress so heavy you need an entourage to carry it?
Cardi is chanelling two camp icons in this piece: The hormone monster from Big Mouth and HIM from the Powerpuff Girls. We stan.
Celine Dion
Celine has been an icon long before many of the pink carpet walkers were even born.
She doesn’t really need to try, but she did because she’s great. We will be seeing her in our dreams for the foreseeable.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Give Tracee’s stylist, Karla Welch, a medal for this.
With a nod to Harlem’s African American Day Parades, she’s a true work of art – and has interpreted the theme in a new and fun way.
Janelle Monae
This year required attendees to go big or go home, and Janelle’s four hats are pretty big indeed.
Looking like a Picasso come to life, she has nailed the whole bad-good-taste vibe of the evening.
Kacey Musgraves
The Golden Hour singer has really come to embody modern camp fashion of late, and a full-length pink leather number is another one of her triumphs.
Moving away from Susan Sontag’s pre-French Revolution camp origins, she’s giving us her Barbie Dream House interpretation of the theme.
Katy Perry
Props to Katy for embodying the most important Beauty and the Beast character (Lumiere, obviously) in her outfit.
She also dressed as a burger for the afterparty, and God loves a trier.
Hamish Bowles
This cape is a thing to behold, and was designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela.
What else did we expect from the always turned-out European editor-at-large for the American edition of Vogue?
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne has gone from bucket hat wearing Jessica in American Pie to our favourite lesbian OITNB jailbird to everyone in the world’s deepest crush.
Not pictured here is the pill-shaped clear handbag she carried, full of cigarettees.
Laverne Cox
It was pretty bold of Laverne to dress all in black for this gala, but she’s the only one that does so to perfection (looking at you straight men in black tuxes).
The drama in the shoulders and on the train are truly everything.
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