It's the first Monday in May which, to most of the world, means nursing a Bank Holiday weekend hangover. But in Anna Wintour's world — also referred to as the fashion-cum-socialite industry — it's arguably the most important event of the year: the Met Gala. This year's theme is the first to branch into religion with its Vatican-approved exhibit Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.
If we're taking bets, we're not not anticipating Madonna -esque (the musician, not the OG Holy Mother) iron crosses c/o Chanel, gilded capes, and shrouds and veils that would fit right in with the cast of The Handmaid's Tale. But the Met Gala's red carpet always has a way of surprising us — and reminding us just why we tune in to the over-the-top event year after year. With every new and unexpected theme comes, well, new and unexpected fashion that breaks out of the "pretty" mould. This is the moment the avant-garde pieces the industry lives and thrives by can really shine.
With a star-studded cast led by unofficial Met Gala Queen Rihanna, here's how the world's biggest names tried to channel the divine, the holy and the OM-literal-G (if you're Catholic, that is).
Would you expect any less from the host of tonight's event? We put £10 down that the pope would make a cameo appearance tonight. If Pope Rihanna in Maison Margiela is the closest we get, well, we still consider it a win.
If Solange isn't a religion yet, she's about to be (she doesn't go by Saint Records for nothing). Shutting it down in this Iris Van Herpen number, she completed the look with her own bottle of communion wine in a netted bag.
Game over. The Immaculate Conception of our era, aka a pregnant Cardi B, has shut it down in a jewel and pearl-encrusted head-to-toe Moschino garb. All other headpieces can go home now.
Anna Wintour: Vogue editor-in-chief, Condé Nast artistic director, Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee, Future Patron Saint of Fashion. If you've ever questioned whether Wintour is as all-powerful as she seems, this image of her in an ethereal Chanel gown as pristine and white as the pope's cassock oughta prove it.
Get thee to a nunnery! If anyone could make being a nun look better than Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, it's Lily Collins in Givenchy.
Meet SZA, your new high priestess. We're bowing down to this celestial Versace crowned get-up.
How do you make a statement that grabs the church's attention? If you're Lena Waithe and Carolina Herrera, you wear your message in the form of a rainbow cape.
Full nun garbs aside, we can appreciate a more subtle take on themes, too. Kim Kardashian-West tends to fall towards our best dressed list simply by following her own rules. This Versace slip gown is both simple and dress code-abiding with a few choice crosses.
Lili Reinhart ranks as a pretty divine being on her own, but paired with this jaw-dropping renaissance high-low custom gown c/o H&M, she's somehow now divine and relatable.
First Queen Elizabeth, now Amal Clooney. Looks like budding British designer Richard Quinn is winning over royalty in every realm. While we're over the moon for Amal's large trouser-train combo, we can't help but chuckle along with her husband, who reportedly joked that their two kids were hiding under there.
What better inspiration for a Catholicism-themed dress code than wearing the Sistine Chapel itself. Ariana Grande brings a whole new meaning to "take me to church" in this Vera Wang reinterpretation of Michelangelo's masterpiece. Admittedly, we could do without the bow, though.
We can't help but think Bella Hadid's dominatrix Gareth Pugh look would receive '80s Madonna's nod of approval.
What do you get when you mix Catholic crusader with Daenerys Targaryen? Katharine McPhee in Georges Chakra, we guess. While her gold-heavy ensemble kind of shoots past the theme, we can't help but love the new daring style direction for the singer and actress.
Kate Bosworth is giving angels a run for their money in this saintly Oscar de la Renta look.
Don't ever say Greta Gerwig doesn't bring it. Going full nun throttle in The Row, she's 100% receiving an invite to our next themed party.
We're still trying to decide whether J.Lo falls under the camp of mysterious celebrities who may be vampires. In this Balmain cross-encrusted look (leg-baring slit included), Jenny from the Block looks the same as she did 20+ years ago.
Joan of Arc, that you? Zendaya is ready to slay in this Versace chainmail gown.
Evan Rachel Wood's current role may be playing an AI host, but a spin at an archangel is something we're sure she'd play just as well. She's a gilded, feathered vision in Altuzarra.
Priyanka Chopra's royal oxblood gown is a refreshing step away from the black, white and gold littering the carpet this year. She stuns in a Ralph Lauren gown topped off with a gold netted veil.
The dress code did say Sunday Best, and we're ripe to believe that's exactly what Kylie Jenner had in mind with this custom Alexander Wang cut-out gown.
No front to the true designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, but this all-black gown and netted shroud screams Madonna by Madonna. Rihanna may be hosting this year's event, but Madonna was always set to be this theme's guest of honour.
There's a draw between Kate Bosworth and Winnie Harlow (in Tommy Hilfiger) for best wedding dress we're adding to our Pinterest boards.
Cara Delevingne in this column Dior gown is one confessional we wouldn't mind going to.
Lana Del Rey's Gucci gown is her in a nutshell. A little untouchable with a style all her own, but a little like the ephemeral girl next door who secretly conquers Comic Con in her off-time.
Sarah Paulson's crystal-encrusted Prada gown puts the Heavenly in Heavenly Bodies.
Frances McDormand doesn't have time for your shit. She's too busy pulling off the most avant-garde Valentino look to date and looking fabulous while doing so.
All we're saying is we'd be here for an Elizabethan period piece starring Blake Lively in this intricate Versace gown.
Sasha Lane has us rethinking whether nightgowns are better left to our grandmothers. Tory Burch's heavenly iteration is chic, chic, chic.
Are we the only ones who pray to Kris Jenner before bedtime?
We'd like to think Kerry Washington's long-sleeve Ralph Lauren dress is a subtle nod to just how much gold the Catholic Church owns.
Our Lady, Janelle Monáe has a certain ring to it. Probably because she's an endless source of style inspiration every time she steps out in public. Mixing a chainmail-evoking crystal headdress with a black and white gown, she turns a modern Marc Jacobs piece into a believably medieval dream.
Letitia Wright brings Wakanda to the Met Gala with a gilded Coach dress. #ShuriForever
Heaven must be missing an angel, because Diane Kruger is a vision in this high-low Prabal Gurung dress.
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