Many criticised the event for some of the night’s designers’ use of cultural appropriation. The Philip Treacy headpiece worn by Sarah Jessica Parker was among the most condemned ensembles because it was seen as a sexualizing and dehumanising “dragon lady” image of Asian women.
The controversial red satin outfit that Karolna Kurková wore was described as a “sexed-up version of a qipao” by Fashionista’s Fawnia Soo Hoo.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of the United States also made a strong, distinct statement with her attire at the Met Gala, just like AOC did. Like any political pronouncement, it generated a lot of buzzes.
Everyone initially struggled to comprehend Kim Kardashian’s all-black Balenciaga outfit she wore to the 2021 Met Gala. It led to a lot of misunderstanding throughout the night, and in addition to tonnes of memes, hypotheses started to spread over Twitter. Although there was no official confirmation of inspiration, many people started to wonder: The topic is American fashion history, and what is more recognisable in American fashion than Kim’s silhouette? History is essentially her shadow.
During the 2021 Met Gala, there were great expectations for Rihanna, and when she and A$AP Rocky arrived an hour late on the red carpet, many fans were perplexed by the significance of her outfit. But, as Rihanna revealed in an interview that the inspiration was a black hoodie, “the item we’re generally incriminated by as Black people…,” it made a lot more sense. I wished to strengthen that. I wanted to adopt it, personalise it, and make it fashionable. Whether you agree with her idea or not, it’s certain that her Balenciaga costume generated a lot of buzz.
