It’s the first Monday in May which, for the first time in two years, belongs once again to fashion’s biggest night out, the Met Gala.

Having been impacted by pandemic restrictions for the last two years, this evening’s soiree is back with a vengeance, with all of the fashion exposition your heart could ever desire.

But the Met Gala isn’t merely a chance to look good, as each year there’s a theme, which is based on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute’s annual exhibition. The theme for this year’s is “gilded glamour”, a reference to the decadent era of American fashion in the final decades of the 19th century, which is based on this year’s exhibition, In America: An Anthology of Fashion. It’s the second part of the museum’s examination into American fashion, with the first being last year’s In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. 

The postponed 2021 gala, which took place in September rather than May due to pandemic restrictions, was intended to answer the question “Who gets to be American?” with its theme, which made for a smorgasbord of patriotic ensembles. JLo opted for a Western-inspired ensemble courtesy of Ralph Lauren, while Kim Kardashian adopted a more obscure approach in a head-to-toe black Balenciaga catsuit, which entirely disguised her face.

While last year’s theme was designed to celebrate the work of young American designers that have recently taken the industry by storm, this year’s was intended to honour the history of those who came before them, including storied designers Oscar de la Renta and Halston. And the fashion cognoscenti didn’t disappoint. From Billie Eilish in upcycled Gucci to Sza in Vivienne Westwood, this year’s fashion exposition has provided all of the high-octane gilded glamour we’ve been hoping for (opera gloves, tiaras and corsets included). These are some of our favourite looks from the 2022 Met Gala. 

Images: courtesy of Getty.