Last night didn’t deliver the parade of inspiring men's fashion that I like to see from the Met Gala. This is supposed to be the one carpet where more conservative guys feel a freedom to take a risk. Unfortunately there were few risks taken this year, but at least we had Lil Nas X. 

 

After celebrating his big night at the VMAs, to the point where he had to be carried out of the club, Lil Nas arrived at his first Met Gala in a structured gold cape custom designed by Donatella Versace. Like Lady Gaga two years ago, his entourage soon removed the cape to reveal another look: a gold Versace suit of amour, as in C-3PO. But the transformation didn’t stop there. Underneath was a Versace catsuit stoned with crystals which was my favourite look out of the three. It’s fancy enough for the Met but casual enough to bounce around the party inside, which you know he did. He told Keke Palmer, who was doing a stellar job hosting Vogue’s livestream, that he wanted something “sexy slutty”, and you could tell he was feeling himself the way he started posing all over the Met steps. On nights like this I live vicariously through him. 

 

Most of the other guys were serving us nothing. Even Russell Westbrook, the most fashion forward player in the NBA, gave us a predictable suit. He did dye his hair blue with white stars (to fit the “In America” theme) but that was it. At least his suit was navy blue, as opposed to all the guys who looked liked they just grabbed a black tux from their closet. 

 

Frank Ocean wasn’t in a tux but he too was in black and came with a robot baby that looked like one of Shrek’s kids. As far as I know, no explanation given. 

It wasn’t all boring in the menswear department though. Maluma showed up on Donatella’s arm, wearing cowboy-inspired Versace red leather, with gold-studded fringe and a bedazzled gold glove. Pete Davidson, of all people, switched thing’s up as well. He said, “I’m a slutty nun tonight”, sporting a black dress and white blazer by Thom Browne. 

But the man who really turned it out was Dan Levy, wearing a custom outfit by Loewe, featuring the image of two men kissing on a map of America. It’s inspired by an image from the late American multimedia artist and LGBTQIA+ activist David Wojnarovicz’s work, F—k You F-ggot F—ker, named after a homophobic cartoon the artist had come across. On Instagram, Dan said,“Tonight, we’re celebrating the resilience, the love, and the joy of the community while honoring a crucial American voice that was taken from us too soon.” That’s a much less lazy way to stay on theme over a black suit.