There is no doubt that the MET Gala produces some of the wildest and fiercest fashion. From themes like Camp, Heavenly Bodies and Technology it is no wonder that the MET Gala is the fashion event of the year. With this year’s MET Gala coming up, we are looking at some of the most stunning, outrageous and eye popping (literally in some cases!) makeup looks that have walked the Metropolitan Museum of Art carpet in recent years.
Lady Gaga
As one of the co-chairs for 2019 “Camp: Notes on Fashion” MET Gala along with her fashion and makeup choices throughout her career, it is no surprise to see that Lady Gaga understood the assignment. First to arrive on the pink carpet, Lady Gaga gave the audience a 15-minute entrance with not just one but four different looks by Brandon Maxwell. If that doesn’t sound camp enough to you, her metallic lashes by makeup artist Sarah Tanno would like to have a word.
(Photos by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Billy Porter
From the Oscars to the Grammys, Billy Porter is known for turning looks. His 2019 MET Gala presentation, however, was on a whole other level. Porter was decked out in an all gold, Egyptian Pharaoh-inspired custom pantsuit by The Blonds. The outfit was paired with extravagant wings, headpiece and six men who carried the actor in a litter when he arrived to the MET. The Emmy Award winner’s golden, stone studded, Sun God makeup was done by makeup artist, La Sonya Gunter.
(Photos by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Ezra Miller
Ezra Miller had all eyes on him in 2019 when he walked the pink carpet dressed in a Burberry pinstriped suit featured with train and sparkly stoned corset. The Flash actor, fully embraced the year’s theme playing with the idea of gender all while tripping everybody with his seven-eyes optical illusion makeup look. Miller’s makeup was done by Mimi Choi, a Canadian-based makeup artist known for her makeup illusions.
(Photos by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)
Cara DeLevigne
Cara Delevingne never plays it safe when walking the MET Gala carpet, but we have to say her 2017 “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons Art of the In-Between” MET Gala look is IT. Delevingne wore a silver pantsuit from Chanel’s Spring 2017 couture collection with a deep neckline showcasing silver body glitter to match her freshly shaved and silver dipped head, dotted with rhinestones. It was the futuristic robot fantasy we didn’t know we wanted.
(Photos by Jackson Lee/FilmMagic)
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o is always best dressed when it comes to red carpets and premieres but the transformation for her 2019 MET Gala was unlike anything we’ve seen from her before! Nyong’o wore a rainbow dress by Versace, her makeup was an homage to drag queen, Divine and hairstyle was inspired by artist Lauren Kelley’s “Pickin’” (2007).
(Photos by Angela Weiss /AFP via Getty Images)
Lily Collins
Lily Collins is no stranger to playing around with makeup for her MET Gala looks (check her out on the carpet in 2018 and 2013 if you need proof). But, her 2019 Priscilla Presley-inspired look was everything! Collins wore Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2019 and donned a strong liner with big lashes and the perfect shades of pastel pink and purple to top it all off.
(Photos by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
SZA
SZA’s first time at the MET Gala was 2018’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” event. Looking like an angelic, fairytale princess, SZA wore a Versace gown paired with a beautiful starry halo headpiece. The singer looked absolutely amazing and although her makeup might not be as out-there compared to the others on our list; the golden tears made it even more opulent.
(Photos by Dia Dipasupil/WireImage)
Joan Smalls
The graphic eyeliner trend has been quite the hit these past couple of months with many influencers rocking the look. Although you can trace the origins of this makeup trend to 60’s supermodel, Twiggy, current day supermodel Joan Smalls and her makeup artist, Patrick Ta, stayed ahead of the curve by rocking a sharp, graphic liner that mirrored the pattern on her Prabal Gurung dress.
(Photos by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
Rihanna
We couldn’t end our list without mentioning Rihanna. During the 2017 “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons Art of the In-Between” MET Gala, Rihanna stunned as she wore a 2016 Comme des Garçons look with the perfect pink blush moment around her cheeks and her eyes done by Lora Arellano. It was also later revealed that the blush used for this look many have tried to recreate was from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty which would launch in 2018.
(Photos by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Jared Leto
For the 2019 MET Gala, Jared Leto was wearing head to toe to head Gucci. Yes, you read that right; that night, Leto showed up not only turning heads but carrying one as well – his own! A reference to the Gucci’s Fall Winter 2018/219 fashion show, the actor walked the pink carpet carrying a prosthetic sculpture of his head. Although not quite the traditional makeup look, as a makeup school for professional and SFX makeup we just had to mention it!
(Photos by Angela Weiss /AFP via Getty Images)
If you’re interested in learning the technical know-how in creating similar looks from Jared Leto’s prosthetic head to Billy Porter’s theatrical glitter and gold Pharaoh look, enroll in our 35-week Complete Makeup Artist Program and learn the full breadth of professional makeup fundamentals, from SFX makeup design, to practical hair & makeup application for film, television & fashion. CMU is the only institution in North America to offer training in all 8 disciplines of practical makeup artistry in an intensive. If you’re interested in learning more our diploma programs book a meeting with our admissions team.
