Unfortunately, pandemic erased a lot of events in 2020 including well-known Met Gala. The Costume Institute gala has been taking place since 1948. It took 50 dollars to attend at the time and now guest are expected to contribute at least 30 000 dollars. Finally, the Costume Institute announced a two-part Met Gala for 2021 and 2022, which will give us an opportunity to see spectacular dresses in September this year.
In the expectations to see most spectacular gowns of the Met Gala 2021 I have been reminiscing of the past events. Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute event always brings wonderful gowns designed by the most significant designers and fashion houses in the industry such as Balmain, Balenciaga, Chanel and others. As I was going through the pictures there was one gown that caught my attention. Designed by Versace Atelier, ruby gown that was completed with detailed embroidery, jewel-encrusted bodice and a long embroided train carried by three handlers. Custom-made by Atelier Versace dress took more than 600 hours to make and cost 2 million dollars. Ornate ruby and gold design features some of the extensive and intricate beading. The gown that make every woman feel royal and certainly made the actress who wore it, Blake Lively, feel amazing. Blake told Vogue that it was her favourite dress ever. That becomes apparent looking through Blake's Instagram post with our favourite one - 'When the carpet matches the Blakes' posted on 5th of May 2020. Was it a coincidence? we will surely watch this year's Met Gala to find out.
The stunning gown featured emeralds and rubies sawn with gold thread embodied the Met Gala's theme for 2018 "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination". The Greek adjective katholikos, the origin of the term catholic, means 'universal'; but there was nothing universal about the Versace crimson dress. Blake Lively was as ornate as a Catholic Cathedral with her masterpiece and jewels worth 2 million dollars.
A woman's gown is not completed without matching heels and clutch. The astonishing gown was completed by red high heels designed by Louboutin. Blake appeared at the gala with Christian Louboutin himself by her side. The red heels designed with teal, red, purple jewels and golden, silver beads. I personally loved the purple jewel in a shape of wallflower carefully placed on the strap of the sandal.
The look could not have been complete without a custom-made emerald and diamond earrings was made by Lorraine Schwartz and a custom handbag by Judith Leiber. A lovely clutch emblazoned with a medieval-style family crest featured Lively's initial, and the initials of Reynolds and their two children, James and Ines. The letters B, R, J, and I thrust out of a huge diamond in the middle like a cross, and the background features an intricate scroll with their family surname 'Reynolds'.
The next Met Gala that is planned for September 2021 will have a theme 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion'. How will the most exquisite gala gown look like and who will wear it?