The Met Gala returned in 2022, it celebrated In America: An Anthology of Fashion, the second of a two-part presentation—that explores the foundations of American fashion through a series of sartorial displays featuring individual designers and dressmakers who worked in the United States from the 19th to the mid-late 20th century.
The benefit provides The Costume Institute with its primary source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements. A benefit not just for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, but for designers as well who want their fashion displayed at the biggest event of 2022, and this year did not disappoint.
Kid Cudi wore a KENZO custom-made outfit by NIGO to the 2022 Met Gala.
The look, inspired by Kenzo Takada’s Fall-Winter 1984 archive collection, features an Olympic blue wool cape with 1988 Archive Poppy print silk lining, golden metal Boke Flower pins, and chain, Olympic blue grain-de-poudre Spencer jacket with Duchess satin insert worn with matching slit pants, white poplin cotton ruffle shirt with a pleated Boke Flower bib, black satin bowtie, black smooth leather Boke Flower belt, black spazzolato Kenzosmile chelsea boots.
Courtesy of Altuzarra
Phoebe Bridgers attended the 2022 Met Gala with Jonathan Simkhai wearing a custom hand-embroidered crystal gown.
The hand-sewn dress was inspired by American artist, Keith Haring‘s distinctive patterned body painting on Grace Jones. The dress celebrates American fashion, bringing in gilded glamour with crystal embroidered pieces that highlight and contour Phoebe’s form.
Courtesy of Altuzarra
Golden Globe and Emmy Award-Winning Actress Rachel Brosnahan wore a custom gold embroidered ensemble featuring an intricately wrapped bodice and a full-length, fishtail skirt with a generous train to the 2022 Met Gala celebrating the second part of the exhibition “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at the Met Museum.
In a nod to the ‘Gilded Age’ theme, over 25,000 gold metal paillettes in a variety of sizes have been hand embroidered onto a silk crepe base. The application of the paillettes is entirely engineered to the garments in a degrade formation that grows from small sequins at the bodice and pools in larger paillettes at the hem and train. The dress was entirely constructed in New York City and weighs 70 pounds.
Courtesy of Altuzarra
Precious Lee wore a custom Altuzarra sheer body-hugging knit gown with corset and a fully embroidered mermaid train, attached balaclava, and gloves to the 2022 Met Gala celebrating the second part of the exhibition “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at the Met Museum.
The late nineteenth-century-inspired corset with traditional boning and topstitching is placed on top of a luminous viscose knit gown featuring lurex-infused yarn and more than 10,000 gunmetal paillette sequins.
The gown was entirely constructed in NYC and took seven embroiderers four days to finish. The application of the paillettes is entirely engineered to the garment in a degrade formation that grows from small sequins at the thighs and pools in larger paillettes at the hem and train.
Courtesy of Altuzarra
Madame Secretary Clinton wore a custom Altuzarra off-the-shoulder gown in a Bordeaux silk duchess satin to the 2022 Met Gala celebrating the second part of the exhibition “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at the Met Museum.
The neckline and hem of the dress are embroidered in Joseph’s handwriting with the names of 60 American women who have inspired Secretary Clinton, from Harriet Tubman to Mary Oliver and Ruth Bader Ginsberg. All of the women are featured in The Book of Gutsy Women by Chelsea Clinton and Hilary Clinton.
The inspiration for the embroidery came from the tradition of friendship quilts, which were stitched by friends, neighbors, and family, and were often signed by the quilters themselves. The embroidered names on Secretary Clinton’s dress pay homage to a history of home sewers, quilters, and embroiderers, which is integral to the fabric of American fashion.
Joseph Altuzarra wore a custom ALTU tuxedo featuring a skirt-pant hybrid from upcoming Altu release 02 to the 2022 Met Gala celebrating the second part of the exhibition “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at the Met Museum.
The look was complemented by a vintage American late-nineteenth-century broderie anglaise blouse, evoking the themes of this Met Gala’s exhibition, and accessorized with ALTU black Chelsea boots and Buccellati jewelry.
Bad Bunny wore a custom Burberry wool-linen boilersuit tailored with puff sleeves and a detachable reconstructed skirt along with Derby shoes with brogue detailing.
Bella Hadid wore a custom Burberry corset and lace leggings overlaid with a chiffon skirt along with a chiffon shawl, lace gloves, and leather sandals.
Olivia Rodrigo wore a custom Atelier Versace dress.
Dakota Johnson wore a custom Gucci sheer lace bodysuit embellished with all-over beaded fringes layered with a velvet draped robe and patent leather pumps.
Awkwafina wore a custom Gucci tulle puff sleeve gown with all-over graphic satin intarsia detail embellished with crystals, a velvet belt, and ruffles.
Billie Eilish and FINNEAS both wore Gucci designed by Alessandro Michele.
Alessandro Michele and Jared Leto wore matching Gucci suits inspired by mid-19th century photography that reproduced photos in series creating optical illusions.