The Art of the Met Gala After-Party Look
The Art of the Met Gala After-Party Look
By: Aliza Warner
With the annual Met Gala in just a few weeks, many are eager to see the looks appearing on this year’s carpet steps. There is, however, another red carpet event to look forward to on the first Monday in May: the after-party. The after-parties of the Met Gala are a second red carpet display with an added aspect of uncertainty. The specialty of the after-party dress code is that there is no dress code and no one knows what to expect, which makes the endeavor mysterious and exciting.
One common aspect of the many after-parties over the years has been the overall aesthetic of heightened eccentricity and boldness. The festivity of an after-party look can shine through brighter colors, shimmering fabrics, or additional fun elements one may associate with parties, like fringe and feathers. Throughout the years, it seems one of the common themes is playfulness, showing that the after-party style should be more fun and carefree than the stressful events of the Met Gala.
If some of the guests wore simplistic looks on the Met steps, they can certainly wear something more bold to the after-party. Simone Ashley, who attended last year’s Met Gala, rocked a Moschino multicolored dress, pairing it with bright boots and heart-shaped sunglasses. In 2018, Zendaya, after wearing the iconic Joan of Arc-inspired dress, changed into a blue and yellow checkered Versace dress and polka-dotted heels for a more relaxed evening look.
Some stars may alter their look from the Met, adjusting it for the after-party events rather than switching themes completely. Billy Porter, for example, wore a The Golds gold jumpsuit, a gold headpiece, and gold wings as he was carried up the Met steps in 2019. For the after-party, Porter still embodied the gold theme with his look, wearing a gold sweater and pants and keeping the gold headpiece that he wore on the red carpet.
In 2016, Saoirse Ronan wore a Christopher Kane floor-length gown with feathers all over the collar and on the shoulder. For the after-party, Ronan wore a shorter-length version of the same look. Gigi Hadid, in 2019, wore a Michael Kors jumpsuit with a feathery, matching cape. Rather than changing, Hadid simply removed the cape for the post-Met Gala events.
The Met Gala is all about formal wear and high fashion, but for after-party looks, such dress codes are not required. While we may see long gowns with lengthy trains on the steps, it is more common to see mini dresses and other outfits more suited to dancing and moving around at the after-party. Many stars have worn glittery suits, flowing blouses, and oversized blazers to continue partying into the night. Rihanna, in 2018, for example, shined in a shimmering gray matching set by Prada, looking comfortable and glamorous at the same time.
There is not much predictability of what will be seen at this year’s Met Gala after-parties, but that just makes the night even more exciting. To watch this year’s Met Gala, check out the live stream on Vogue.com, starting on May 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. EST.
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Cover graphic by Lilly Hunter.