The Met Gala 2021: The Best Red Carpet Looks

The best of the best of "American Fashion."

met gala dresses
(Image credit: Getty Images)

No, it’s not the first Monday in May, and in fact, it’s not the first Monday in September either, but tonight, celebrities will return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for one of the most glamorous events of the fashion season—the 2021 Met Gala. Following the cancelation of 2020’s event amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s more intimate star-studded guest list will gather in celebration of a theme that hits close to home: American Fashion.

Rather than showcasing only big name legacy brands, this year’s exhibit will put an emphasis on young, emerging, and avant-garde designers who are the future of fashion. The hosts of the evening are also a nod to a new generation of artists: Naomi Osaka, Timothée Chalamet, Amanda Gordon, and Billie Eilish will kick off the festivities, while some 400 guests will arrived dressed in the theme of American Independence. Before guests enter the Met for cocktails and dinner (where social media is strictly prohibited), take a peek at what they’re wearing to this year’s Met Ball.

Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she has worked in various roles to ensure the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation around fashion's ever-evolving landscape. A Missouri School of Journalism graduate, she previously held fashion posts at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and covered style and travel for Equinox’s Furthermore blog. Over a decade in the industry, she’s guided shoots with top photographers and stylists from concept to cover. Based in NYC, Sara spends off-duty hours running, browsing the farmer's market, making a roast chicken, and hanging with her husband, dog, and cat. Find her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.