One of the major red carpet events of the year has arrived with the 2021 Met Gala. After a year without the iconic event, it's been more anticipated than ever. We saw plenty of noteworthy Met Gala red carpet looks that we'll be talking about for years, including Timothée Chalamet's outfit pairing of sweatpants and Converse sneakers and the crystal-embellished "naked" G-string dress spotted on Kendall Jenner.
Beyond just standout looks, I was curious to see which major trends would unfold on the red carpet, and there were definitely some worth diving into. I saw some trends such as saturated shades and bare midriffs borrowed from the recent runways. Others, like "naked" dresses, are designer favorites that seem to be reimagined for every red carpet. Ahead, see the five biggest trends from the 2021 Met Gala.
"Naked" Dresses
At this point, "naked" dresses are a mainstay on red carpets, and the 2021 Met Gala was no exception. This time around, we saw everything from crystal-embellished styles to netted versions.
WHO: Kendall Jenner
WEAR: Givenchy dress
WHO: Zoë Kravitz
WEAR: Saint Laurent dress
WHO: Julia Garner
WEAR: Stella McCartney dress
Bare Midriffs
Exposed midriff is another skin-baring trend that has been gaining traction among the fashion set on the street style scene. Now, it's proving to be popular on red carpets as well.
WHO: Lorde
WEAR: Bode outfit
WHO: Taraji P. Henson
WEAR: Moschino outfit; Stuart Weitzman shoes
WHO: Lily-Rose Depp
WEAR: Chanel outfit
Saturated Shades
For fall 2021, designers ushered joyful saturated shades into their collections. Tonight on the red carpet, the bold colors are adding a dose of fun to the celebrity looks.
WHO: Normani
WEAR: Valentino dress; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
WHO: Karlie Kloss
WEAR: Carolina Herrera dress; Christian Louboutin shoes; De Beers jewelry
WHO: Ciara
WEAR: Dundas dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Super Bowl ring
High Shine
From metallics to crystal embellishments, there was a big emphasis on dresses with shiny finishes. These looks feel ready for a party, and I'm here for it.
WHO: Emma Chamberlain
WEAR: Louis Vuitton dress
WHO: Precious Lee
WEAR: Area dress
WHO: Emily Blunt
WEAR: Miu Miu dress
Long Trains
Designers brought some drama to the 2021 Met Gala red carpet with extra-long trains. It's no surprise since the stairway is practically designed for a dramatic entrance.
WHO: Emily Ratajkowski
WEAR: Vera Wang dress
WHO: Diane Kruger
WEAR: Prabal Gurung dress; Jimmy Choo shoes; Tasaki jewelry
WHO: Amanda Gorman
WEAR: Vera Wang dress; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Chopard jewelry
Next, these are the best red carpet looks from the 2021 Met Gala.
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Chase Sui Wonders Sarcastically Describes Her First Met Gala as "Effortless"—See Everything That Went Into ItThis tomboy actress got in touch with her feminine side to cohost the biggest night in fashion.
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Hailey Bieber Slipped Into a Teeny-Tiny Dress for the 2026 Met Gala After-PartiesThe model can do no wrong in the fashion department.
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Wait—These Met Gala After-Party Outfits Rivaled the Main EventDon't miss a single look.
