2021: In America A Lexicon of Fashion
The first Met Gala "after" the pandemic. I don't know about y'all, but I had completely scrubbed this from my memory. The only look that rung a bell was Lil Nas X and his multi-part reveal. Everything else: new as a daisy to me!

Iman in Dolce & Gabbana and Harris Reed
Goddamn!!!


Lupita Nyong'o in Versace
Solid second place for Lupita. Elegant dress in an on-theme material, tasteful jewelry, set off by exactly the kind of innovative hairstyle we've come to expect from her. 8.5/10.

Debbie Harry in Zac Posen
Is wearing a shredded-up American flag cliché or punk? Is it a subversive commentary on jingoistic nationalism, or a hollow gesture which only pretends to criticize the status quo, whilst in fact conforming to it? Well, nice dress, anyhow.

Mj Rodriguez in Thom Browne
*gif of Marge holding a potato saying 'I just think it's neat'*

Tessa Thompson in Iris van Herpen
As much as I've gotten tired of this yeehaw shit—chiefly due to over-exposure, because once something becomes vaguely popular in the underground we have retread it endlessly across every vector of culture, for 5 years MINIMUM—wearing an Iris van Herpen minidress with hybrid moto/western boots and a cowboy hat is actually really, really cool.

Carey Mulligan in Valentino
This year's "Pretty but Not Very Exciting" winner: Carey Mulligan's "Revenge Barbie" gown, which got horribly washed out on the red carpet, but looks quite nice in the correct lighting.

Bee Carrozzini in Valentino
Bee Carrozzini (née Shaffer) has attended every Met Gala since 2005, because she is Anna Wintour's daughter. This is the first year that I saw her look and said "oh, that's not bad!". So congrats to her on that!