Here’s a look into some of the most eye-catching looks from the Met Gala!
It’s that time of the year again when fashion and art collide at the Met Gala. The who’s who of the entertainment world ascend the infamous steps at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They are adorned in splashes of color and designs from the Gods of the fashion industry.
All while photographers and paparazzi snapshots; the camera flashes akin to shooting stars falling to the ground.
If you’re an enthusiast of avant-garde fashion and pop culture, this is your Superbowl.
This year’s dress code, or theme if you will, was “The Garden of Time.” The theme coordinates with the Costume Institute’s new exhibition at the Met titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” If you’re local to New York City, the exhibition runs from May 10th through September 2nd.
In true Met Gala fashion, some attendees nailed the theme while others failed. But before we dive into what the men wore, let’s take a journey into the past with a little history of the event.
What Is The Met Gala?
The Met Gala is a fundraising event that benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It’s also known as the Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit.
The annual event is typically held on the first Monday of May and marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s fashion exhibit. As previously mentioned, the dress code or theme of the event usually coincides with the theme of the exhibit.
The Met Gala’s history spans 76 years, with the first Gala held in 1948. However, it wasn’t always a themed event as we know it today.
In fact, in its early days, the Met Gala was a midnight dinner that attracted New York’s high society and members of the fashion industry. Under legendary Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, the event became themed (and star-studded) in 1973.
In the present day, you’ll always find Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, in attendance. After all, she is the lead chairperson of the Gala event and a trustee board member of the Met. She also carefully curates the guest list.
So, if attending the Gala is on your bucket list, make sure you somehow find yourself in the good graces of Wintour. Oh, and you’ll need a hefty bank account as well. 2024 Met Gala tickets cost $75,000 per person, or you could purchase a table for $350,000.
The Gentlemen of The Met Gala 2024: A Return to Classics
This Met Gala featured avant-garde, on-theme ensembles as far as the eye could see. Surprisingly, there was also a spattering of classic formal attire. I’m happy to announce that, unlike the 2024 Oscars, the guys seemed to get it right at this event. Admittedly, there were a few fit issues.
Here are a few men at the Met Gala that caught my eye.
Tom Ford in Saint Laurent
Shockingly, Tom Ford did not wear the brand behind his own name at the Met Gala this year. Instead, he opted for a suit by Saint Laurent. What makes this choice surprising is that Ford spent a few years as the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent. He had a fallout with the fashion house, and they parted ways.
Getting back to Ford’s look, I just love the deep scarlet color of his velvet dinner jacket. It contrasts quite nicely with the lush green tones of the Met entrance backdrop and carpet.
The rest of his look is rather classic, pairing the jacket with a white button-up shirt, black pants, and patent leather dress shoes.
A flower pinned to his lapel is a subtle nod to the botanical theme of the evening.
Jude Law in Versace
Jude Law looked absolutely dapper in a classic black Versace tuxedo. Sure, by event standards, he might look a bit boring, but this old Hollywood-esque ensemble is stunning.
Everything about his look works–the black tie, satin lapel, monochromatic pocket square, and patent leather shoes. He shines on the arm of Donatella Versace and certainly puts Andrew Scott’s outfit to shame.
Jude Law was in good company at the Met Gala this year. Jeff Bezos, Matt Damon, Andy Cohen, and James Corden also rocked the classic black bow tie, white button-up shirt, and tuxedo suit pairing.
Damson Idris in Prada
Double-breasted suits are trending in 2024, so it’s not surprising to see them grace the cream and green carpet at the Met Gala. Even if double-breasted suits are not your “thing,” Damson Idris absolutely rocks this Prada suit.
Double-breasted suits tend to add bulk to your top half, so it’s nice to see that Idris balanced out his suit jacket with tapered, slim pants. He chose to forgo a tie but added a delicate brooch to tie in the botanical theme.
The two-tone button-up shirt just works with this look, adding contrast at the ends of his sleeves and collar.
Charlie Hunnam in Brioni
It was Charlie Hunnam’s first time attending the Met Gala, and he did not disappoint. His Brioni midnight blue tuxedo with black lapel and coordinating silk button-up is a nice departure from the black tuxedos on the carpet.
Instead of a tie, he added a multi-chain necklace and jeweled brooch. He kept the metals between his brooch, necklace, and watch coordinating. His accessories definitely helped to take his ensemble to the next level.
Tommy Hilfiger in Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is a brand grounded in Americana. So, it’s no surprise that Mr. Hilfiger himself donned red, white, and blue at the Met Gala.
He opted for a satin or silk-red suit jacket with navy blue accents. His jacket topped a white button-up shirt and navy blue cropped pants.
Texture was the name of the game for his look. He chose velvet loafers to compliment the satiny fabric of his suit. Like many others at the event, he chose a bow tie and encrusted floral brooch to complete his look.
Met Gala Near Misses
This next group of guys pull off their respective Met Gala 2024 looks. However, there is just something about their ensembles that just isn’t quite right. They don’t fail, however, with a few tweaks, these looks have the potential to become something stellar.
Chris Hemsworth in Tom Ford
I’d argue that Chris Hemsworth’s Tom Ford look is a bit casual for the Met Gala, and it doesn’t quite land like it should. But, for some reason, it just seems to work for him, and he looks great.
The cream three-piece suit over a white button-up conveys a casual, beachy aesthetic. Especially since he left his shirt unbuttoned.
In some photos, his suit seems a bit ill-fitting. He’s a guy who is in great shape, so I would have liked to see his suit a bit more tapered to his build. But I guess the slightly relaxed fit contributes to the overall look.
Personally, I would have liked to see different-colored shoes. The black patent leather slip-on shoes are a stark contrast to his sand-hued suit. But who am I to judge as I watch the red carpet event from my couch … in athleisure wear.
Donald Glover in Saint Laurent
I previously mentioned that double-breasted suits are making a comeback in 2024. However, Donald Glover’s (formerly Childish Gambino) Saint Laurent suit doesn’t hit the mark.
The reality is that double-breasted suits are difficult to style. The excess fabric creates a boxy torso.
So, when Glover paired his suit jacket with oversized, almost wide-leg pants, the fabric overwhelms him. Plus, the pants are a bit too long.
Glover isn’t exactly of modest height at 5’9” but this look makes him appear much shorter than he really is.
It’s giving 1980s door-to-door vacuum salesman, and that’s not quite the vibe of the Gala.
Steven Yeun in Thom Browne
Steven Yuen made a slight deviation from the classic black tuxedo. Instead, he opted for a monochromatic floral brocade suit jacket and pants by Thom Browne.
His jacket topped a black vest and white button-up shirt. His white pocket square adds contrast while complimenting his look.
His pants are a bit too cropped for my liking, and I’m unsure how I feel about the patent lace-up boots with his look. If his pants were traditional length the boots would work.
The biggest takeaway with this look is that you can choose to wear something that departs from the norm. In this case the brocade suit.
However, if that’s the focal point of your look, keep everything else traditional. This helps to strike an even balance between tradition and trend.
Jonathan Bailey in Loewe
By classic black tie dress code standards, Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey almost hits the nail on the head. I actually love his white tuxedo jacket with black lapel and coordinating black pants. It’s certainly a nice change from all the classic black tuxes at the event.
I can even appreciate the flower piece instead of a bow tie. After all, it’s perfectly on brand for the event’s theme.
However, adding the second floral accessory to his belt line is too much. This is another case of keeping eye-catching focal points to a minimum. Also, in some of his pictures, it looks as if his jacket doesn’t fit perfectly across the shoulders, creating divots at the top of the sleeves.
Jamie Dornan in Loewe
Jamie Dornan chose to wear a three-piece suit by Loewe. The ensemble is a bit overwhelming in multiple ways.
First and foremost, it’s beaded and that’s an understatement. The tie, shirt, vest, and jacket are all beaded. In photographs, it doesn’t look like beads but chunky knit sweater fabric that’s piling.
The beaded top half is paired with pinstripe pants that are a bit too relaxed fitting for his slender 5’11” frame. Last, he kept his facial hair scruffy and rugged which doesn’t align with the aesthetic of his outfit. It feels a bit British Parliament gone wrong.
Jeff Goldblum in Prada
Jeff Goldblum’s Met Gala ensemble by Prada has a lot going on, but for some reason, it really works for him, and he looks like a prestigious 1920s inventor.
He layered a black trench coat over his tuxedo and swapped a classic white button-down and bow tie for a pussy bow top.
Goldblum was the king of accessories at the gala sporting not one but two pairs of round gold-rimmed glasses. This was in addition to white gloves, a scarf, an oval watch, and three brooches.
However, his square-toed dress shoes are monstrous. A sleek rounded toe would’ve been a much better choice. However, chisel-toe shoes would be a good option if he wanted to keep the square shape as it’s much more refined.
Out of all of the guests in attendance, no one understood the theme more than Goldblum. His three Tiffany and Co. brooches were inspired by JG Ballard’s short story, “The Garden of Time.” If you recall, that is the theme of this year’s Met Gala.
Men in Abstract Art at the Met Gala 2024
In general, and especially for events like the Met Gala, high fashion is an interpretation. Think of high fashion as abstract art — it’s up to you to determine what it’s all about.
The next few looks are not The Modest Man norm, and some would consider them downright ugly. Let’s not forget the words of sculptor Alberto Giacometti, “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”
These ensembles are certainly intense. However, we would be remiss to not include them in our Met Gala list.
Little Nas X in Luar
Little Nas X is not afraid of wearing something fierce and adventurous as he has done in Met Galas of the past. This year, he wore a three-piece ensemble by Luar adorned with over 50,000 Swarovski crystals. Upon closer inspection, his ensemble is constructed in pieces held together with buttons.
Ben Simmons in Thom Browne
Brooklyn Nets basketballer Ben Simmons definitely had one of the more interesting looks of the evening. He wore a Thom Browne tweed suit with an overcoat. The plaids are coordinating, not exactly matching. But more important to note, more than half of the suit and jacket are painted with car paint.
He completed the look with a clock briefcase as a nod to the theme. However, all I could wonder was if he smelled like fresh paint all night long.
Dan Levy in Loewe
It would appear that Loewe tops the list of the most popular designer men chose to wear at the Met Gala this year. Dan Levy chose this double-breasted floral print that fades to black.
While the suit certainly aligns with the theme, the illusion of this suit doesn’t do Levy any favors. In fact, it makes him look a bit top-heavy.
Maybe I’m just not a fan of double-breasted suits, but the whole thing just looks ill-fitting. Or, maybe it’s because the floral print seems too busy juxtaposed against the black top half.
Wrapping Up The Met Gala 2024
There you have it — another Met Gala in the books. These guys covered the spectrum from nailing the classic black tie affair ensemble to choosing art as menswear. Now we wait another year for the next Gala. I don’t know about you, but it’s going to be a long 365 days.
What was your favorite look at the Met Gala? Let us know in the comments below.
