In a stunning display of fashion and charisma, Bollywood actress Ananya Panday recently marked her international runway debut at the prestigious Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Week in Paris. Ananya walked the ramp for renowned designer Rahul Mishra, as reported by NDTV. Gracing the runway in a captivating black and gold ensemble, Ananya’s presence was a sight to behold. She added an artistic touch to her appearance by carrying a giant sieve, a bold and unique accessory that complemented the haute-couture vibe of her outfit. Expressing her exhilaration, Ananya shared on her Instagram story, “Walking for Rahul Mishra at Paris Couture Week,” capturing this milestone moment in her career. Read more: How to Identify an Authentic Bangladeshi Jamdani Saree? Designer Rahul Mishra also took to social media to welcome Ananya into the world of high fashion. He posted, “Hello baby girl. Welcome to the world of couture. Ananya Panday for Rahul Mishra at Paris Couture Week,” celebrating her successful debut. Away from the runway, Ananya continues to make waves in the Bollywood film industry. She recently starred in “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,” a film directed by Arjun Varain Singh, featuring Siddhant Chaturvedi, Adarsh Gourav, and Kalki Koechlin. Her fans eagerly await her upcoming ventures, including “Control” and “The Untold Story of C Sankaran Nair.” Additionally, she is set to appear in the upcoming show “Call Me Bae.” Since her acting debut in 2019 with “Student Of The Year 2,” Ananya has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood. Her filmography includes notable titles such as “Dream Girl 2” with Ayushmann Khurrana, “Pati Patni Aur Who” alongside Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar, “Khaali Peeli” with Ishaan Khatter, and “Gehraiyaan” featuring Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Ananya Panday’s ascent illustrates her versatile talents and her growing influence. Read more: "Khadi Fest 2024" begins in Dhaka showcasing its immense potential in shaping future of textile industry

In 2023, Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) industry marked a significant stride in sustainable fashion, with 24 of its factories achieving LEED certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the globally recognized green building rating system, underscores a commitment to environmental responsibility and energy efficiency. This recent certification brings Bangladesh's total to 206 LEED-certified green factories, a testament to the country's dedication to green initiatives within the garments sector, according to BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel. The BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) reports a breakdown of these certifications, with 76 achieving the highest, platinum rating, and 116 receiving a gold rating. This progress is particularly notable in the context of the global apparel industry's increasing focus on sustainable practices. Also read: Bangladesh now boasts 206 LEED-certified green factories: BGMEA Of the 24 newly LEED-certified factories, a majority, 16, were awarded the prestigious platinum rating, while the remaining 8 achieved a gold rating. Standout performers in 2023 included S. M. Sourcing with 106 points and Green Textiles Limited Unit 4 scoring 104 points. Also noteworthy are Integra Dresses and Knit Asia Limited, both achieving 99 points, Lida Textile & Dying Limited with 97 points, and Liz Fashion Industry Limited scoring 96 points, as detailed by BGMEA. This achievement positions Bangladesh as a leader in the global sustainable fashion movement, with 54 out of the 100 LEED-certified green factories worldwide located in the country. This includes 9 of the top 10, and 18 of the top 20 LEED-certified factories globally, according to BGMEA data.  Mohiuddin Rubel, director at BGMEA, highlights this as a potential catalyst for increased investment and partnership opportunities in the Bangladesh RMG industry. Also read: Milestone for RMG as Bangladesh becomes top source of Knitwear into EU market The geographic spread of these certifications within Bangladesh further illustrates the RMG industry's widespread commitment to sustainability. The majority of the 2023 certifications were in Gazipur (15 factories), followed by Dhaka (4), Chattogram (3), and Mymensingh (2). This regional distribution indicates a nationwide embrace of LEED principles in the Bangladesh garments sector. Currently, over 500 Bangladeshi factories are in the process of obtaining their LEED certification, signaling a robust and ongoing commitment to green practices in the Bangladesh RMG industry. This move towards sustainable fashion not only aligns with global environmental goals but also positions Bangladesh as a forward-thinking leader in the green manufacturing space. The significant increase in LEED-certified green factories within Bangladesh's RMG sector in 2023 is a clear indicator of the industry's commitment to sustainable fashion. With the Bangladesh garments industry taking proactive steps to achieve LEED ratings, it sets a benchmark for environmental stewardship and positions the country as a key player in the global push for more sustainable manufacturing practices. Also read: Environment-friendly factories, circular economy key to sustainable growth in RMG sector: Speakers

Arka Fashion Week, the groundbreaking event with a mission to democratise fashion, kicked off its inaugural edition on Thursday at the Aloki Convention Center, Tejgaon in the capital. An exclusive initiative of Arka Studio, the Arka Fashion Week comes with a commitment to provide equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands in Bangladesh. The inaugural day of the three-day fashion week witnessed a bustling Marketplace and was alive with a dazzling array of fashion and cultural celebrations, and marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the country’s fashion industry. Also read: Personal Grooming Tips and Tricks for Better Life and Career Over 50 entrepreneurs and brands are participating in this three-day event which works with fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion-related products, made in Bangladesh. Alongside the marketplace, there are several other engaging spaces for the attendees including an exhibition curated by Shehzad Chowdhury and Adrita Mahin Khan on the theme "Analogue to Digital," an interactive space titled ‘Design Lab’ where one can buy a product and create their designs, live concerts with renowned bands and food zone. As part of the opening day extravaganzas, a pageant competition titled “Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024”, was held at the event. The pageant is a platform to empower individuals and enhance their talents through the grooming of a pageantry journey on a local and international level. Also read: Gemstones Guide: Precious, Semi-precious Stones Used in Jewellery In Bangladesh, the Azra Mahmood Talent Camp (AMTC) is the license holder for the pageant. AMTC also represents India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This has been an all-inclusive camp dedicated towards a focused endeavour of transforming models and aspiring models into their world-class counterparts by incorporating years of industry experience and knowledge, transforming the dreams of all men and women into groomed, artistic versions of themselves. A total of 16 participants, 8 male and 8 female contestants participated this year, and the winners of the titles of Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024 were Sajria Tabassum Proma and Rajiul Islam Shadhin, respectively. They will further go on to represent Bangladesh in Miss and Mister Celebrity International 2024 in Vietnam. Also read: Freshwater Pearls: All You Need to Know

The Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) is organising FDCB Bangladesh Fashion Week (BFW) 2023 on March 16 and 17 at Aloki Community Centre at Tejgaon-Gulshan Link Road in the capital. As the most prestigious fashion event in the country, Bangladesh Fashion Week 2023 brings spectacular collections from 18 FDCB members and exciting creations featuring 6 visiting designers from India. The show will bring together fashion designers, retailers and stakeholders on one platform. Sustainability and slow fashion are at the heart of this fashion event, the organisers said at a press conference in the capital’s Gulshan Club on Sunday. “Bangladesh Fashion Week (BFW) 2023 is a triumphal celebration of the age-old artisanal dress-making blending modernity and sustainability into the craft. The designers are set to express their thought-provoking and artistic perceptions in each cut and stitch,” FDCB Founder-President Maheen Khan said at the press conference. The theme for Bangladesh Fashion Week 2023 is "Wear clothes that tell a real story of people and the planet."

Lizzo wowed in a bright orange Dolce & Gabbana opera coat adorned with flowers and a huge hood as the wild and wacky Grammys red carpet did not disappoint Sunday. Tattered streetwear, T-shirts and denim mixed with blinged-out couture, wild patterns and plenty of skin. Lizzo walked gingerly as she navigated her heavy coat with a long train. After awhile, she dropped the coat to her shoulders to reveal a busty sequin corset gown underneath in a softer orange. The coat was entirely embroidered with handmade silk flowers, and the gown was silk with crystal mesh Swarovski details. She accessorized with crystal embellished heels and sheer fingerless gloves. “Lizzo is a floral garden fantasy in her ruffle orange 3D robe and matching corset dress underneath,” said Holly Katz, a stylist and host of the Fashion Crimes podcast. “And we love to hear her roar!” Taylor Swift, channeling her Midnights era, wore a long two-piece sparkly skirt with a high-neck, long-sleeve crop top, all by Roberto Cavalli. They were, yes, midnight blue. She added statement diamond earrings by Lorraine Schwartz, her hair in an updo. Fashion lover Harry Styles walked the carpet in a rainbow harlequin pattern jumpsuit adorned with Swarovski crystals. He was shirtless underneath. His low-cut, multicolored Egonlab look drew cheers. Egonlab is a young brand out of Paris. “The man seems like he’s having an enormous amount of fun with fashion, and even if that doesn’t mean wearing harlequin overalls for most of us, the end result — the sheer joy of it — is something we should all aim for,” said Esquire's style director, Jonathan Evans. Cardi B., meanwhile, wore a bombshell, sculptural electric blue gown with huge shoulders and a headpiece over one eye. “I'm trying, I'm trying,” she told photographers as she carefully walked down the carpet. Cardi's look was from Gaurav Gupta’s latest collection, "continuing to prove she intrinsically understands the delicate style dynamics of the Grammys carpet. It’s not about being silly, but rather making a statement,” said Bianca Betancourt, digital culture editor for Harper’s Bazaar. To present the award for best rap album, Cardi donned a silver metallic assemblage from the archive of Paco Rabanne. Rabanne died Friday in France at age 88. The top and skirt were done by Julien Dossena in 2021. The matching hood that covered her eyes dates to 2020. Anitta also made a splash in black Versace from 2003. “She went toward a more gothic aesthetic,” Betancourt said. “The flowing gown was sublimely tailored and showed the global star doing red carpet elegance in her own way. It was still sexy, still youthful, but still elevated. It didn’t look obviously vintage, which is a testament to Donatella’s artistry.” Machine Gun Kelly, who often pushes into edgy fashion, was in a silver double-breasted laminated foil suit with a Swarovski crystal harness. It was custom Dolce & Gabbana. He was accompanied by Megan Fox in creamy Zuhair Murad. Her gown had a corset bodice and heart embroidered applique.Sam Smith was in fire engine red. They were accompanied by Kim Petras, and drag queens Violet Chachki and Gottmik in the same color. Smith wore a top hat with a veil. They, too, wore matching gloves, a trend of the night. Monochrome was a major theme, Betancourt said. “It's a great way to experiment with more avant-garde looks while still maintaining a sense of stylistic structure,” she said. “Lizzo and Kacey Musgraves also opted for monochrome and textured looks from Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino.” The marathon carpet kicked off with some notable looks. Doja Cat, always pushing her fashion envelope, showed up in a vinyl, one-shoulder and skintight black gown with long matching gloves from Atelier Versace. Bebe Rexha sizzled in hot pink with twists from head to toe and a va-va-voom halter bodice, proving that Barbiecore is going strong. The look was Moschino by Jeremy Scott. Musgraves, in Valentino, also took the Barbie note with a feathery cape in a lighter pink hue over a catsuit. There were golden crowns (Matt B), glittery mouth bling (Alligator Jesus) and epic tattoos (Alisha Gaddis). And lots of slouchy and roomy looks that spoke to many of the men, as did an embroidered denim shorts ensemble for Benny Blanco. “While there weren’t any giant, unmissable, overwhelmingly popular red-carpet trends on the men’s fashion front, that actually proved to be a positive this year. It gave the smaller trends a little bit more room to shine,” Evans said. His most compelling? The double-breasted suit, or jacket. “It’s not just a 2023 thing, of course, but the popularity of the DB tends to ebb and flow, and it seems like this year could be a very good one for the silhouette. LL Cool J, Jack Harlow, Saint JHN and Scott Evans all wore a version of it. They all looked fantastic, and the really great thing is that men in all walks of life can emulate their outfits and look equally fantastic,” he said. Evans also had thoughts on all that denim. “Miguel was decked out in it. Benny Blanco, too. The looks were seemingly made with the word ‘divisive’ in mind, but they smacked of a sort of youth-culture cool that embraces that word instead of shying away from it. Love ‘em or hate ’em, those outfits seem like a bellwether of a more denim-forward world in the near future, so take note,” he said. But back to Doja Cat's vinyl. “Who can’t stop talking about Doja Cat donning 30,000 red Swarovski crystals for Paris Fashion Week? Well, she certainly doesn’t disappoint at the Grammys as she totally channeled the queen of darkness," Katz said. “The Mia Farrow 60′s haircut was a perfect match for this look.” Betancourt was also a Doja fan. “The look was gritty, sexy and much like Doja herself, forward-thinking. Her makeup also deserves a notable mention. It was an exquisite cat eye (pun intended) by Ernesto Casillas with a juicy metallic glossed lip that echoed the early aughts, but done without the kitsch most 2000s-inspired looks often perpetuate," she said. Viola Davis, meanwhile, completed her EGOT by winning a Grammy at the Grammys pre-telecast ceremony in a Naeem Kahn red, silver and blue tiered sequin short-sleeved gown. Shania Twain isn’t up for a Grammy. That, she said, freed her to have fun with fashion. Twain’s hair was red and her Harris Reed wide-belled pantsuit was adorned with huge black polka dots against white. She topped it off with a towering, matching wide-brim hat. “Here I am with all my new fun things to wear,” she said. Reed is a young British American designer she wanted to support. Her goal: “I just wanted to add some pop and cheer.” Twain, said Katz, “definitely scored in the avant-garde category but does sort of look like she just stepped out of Alice in Wonderland.” Laverne Cox WAS “Wakanda Forever” in her custom strapless leather Kim Kassas embellished warrior figure dress and African-inspired jewelry, Katz said. “Paying homage to the African culture through fashion is always in style.” Cox’s leather dress by Kim Kassas honors the vision of the late fashion editor Andre Leon Talley. There was another vibe on her mind: “Egyptian/Cleopatra.” Prabal Gurung whipped up a custom sunny yellow chiffon look for Kelsea Ballerini with light-as-air back pieces she unfurled on the carpet. Amanda Gorman was in a top color of the night: black. Gorman, wearing Prada, twirled her long, sheer overlay worn over a mini-dress on the red carpet.Ballerini's look, Katz said, was “so ethereal and dreamy on the red carpet.”  

Showcasing the rich history of Bangladesh's illustrious silk industry as well as efforts to support and promote local designs, a three-day exclusive solo fashion exhibition titled ‘Majestic Silks of Bangladesh Exhibition by Maheen Khan’, is currently underway at the Nordic Club, Gulshan in the capital. The solo design exhibition began on Tuesday (December 27, 2022), featuring some of the unique designs of eminent Bangladeshi fashion designer Maheen Khan, the founding president of the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) and the founding managing director of Mayasir, a trend-setting brand that emphasizes the nation's traditional embroidery. Sharing her motifs and visions with UNB regarding her major solo exhibition in a long time, Maheen Khan said that this event is proudly showcasing some of the exclusive, handmade crafts as a befitting tribute to the country’s majestic silks. Read more: BGMEA, Fashion Design Council to promote khadi globally

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated “Made in Bangladesh Week 2022”. The event aims to showcase innovations in Bangladesh’s apparel sector to the world. The week-long event with the theme “Care for Fashion” was opened at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka. It will continue till November 18, 2022. Read more: Can’t control global economy, but want to boost exports: BGMEA president Bangladesh Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has organised the event to enhance the market share of Bangladeshi apparel products in the global market. More than 100 participants from overseas – foreign buyers and representatives – are also taking part in the weeklong event. At the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister also unveiled the covers of books titled “The Untold Stories of Bangladesh RMG Industry: Economic, Social and Environmental Good Practices” and “Beauty of Bangladesh.” BGMEA president Faruque Hassan delivered the welcome speech at the opening programme. Read more: Harmonious relations between workers, employers key to Bangladesh's RMG success: BGMEA  Yesterday, while talking to media, the BGMEA president said, “We’ve had challenges. We have challenges. We need to move ahead overcoming the challenges,” he said. He also said there will be no pressure on the forex reserves due to the mega event, but the event will help earn some foreign currency as many foreigners will be attending it.

With her spray-on outfit at the Coperni fashion show in Paris, Bella Hadid almost completely crashed the internet. The supermodel turned heads during Paris Fashion Week on September 30 at the Coperni fashion show when she strutted down the runway. When Hadid arrived at the centre of the stage, three technicians painted a layer of white latex on her, as she stood tall and still, according to an NBC New York report. Read: How to find right perfume, body spray for you The 25-year-old extended her arms one by one as they applied the coat of paint, watching as their labour gradually morphed into a mid-length dress with a high-rise slit. Hadid then sashayed down the runway, showcasing her new custom-made outfit when the piece of art was finished. Fabrican, a sprayable fabric created in 2003 that hardens into clothing, was used to create the dress. The inventor Manel Torres apparently conceived a fabric that would “magically have the look of clothing and fit the body like a second skin”. Years of study and testing led to the creation of Fabrican, a fabric that can be sprayed from an aerosol can. On TikTok, Hadid’s runway performance has already gone viral, NBC New York says. Some users have also drawn comparisons between it and the iconic Alexander McQueen Spring 1999 fashion presentation, in which Shalom Harlow spun while two robots sprayed her white garment with yellow and black paint. Read Rain, art and winter wonderlands at Paris Fashion Week Following the performance in the Coperni fashion show during Paris Fashion Week 2022, Bella Hadid posted many close-up photos of the design on her Instagram, generating tons of positive feedback from followers and other fashionistas.     

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Acting President Shahidullah Azim has said industry-academia collaboration is imperative to meet the future challenges of the apparel industry, especially in the context of fast fashion and disruptive technologies. Partnerships between the industry and academia would be instrumental in producing a qualified and competent workforce for the industry, he added. The BGMEA acting president was speaking at the programme "Towards a Meaningful Industry-Academia Partnership: A Talk on RMG sector's impact on Bangladesh's Rapid Growth and Future Prospects" organised by the Department of Marketing and International Business of the North South University (NSU) Wednesday. Read: RMG export growth to be affected by fuel price hike: BGMEA President The business dynamics in the fashion industry is changing rapidly where the use of technologies is increasing to meet the changing demand of consumers for diversified fashionable products. "The industry-academia linkage is important because our growth depends on our ability to move to diversified products which require complex skills. The job market has to be ready with the required skills to meet contemporary production techniques, product sophistication and fashion trends," Shahidullah said. "From the BGMEA we have also taken several initiatives and one such initiative is the internship programme which will start soon. We would love to collaborate with NSU to involve young talents and let them calibrate their capabilities with the needs and pace of the industry." Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, dean of the School of Business and Economics, Professor ABM Rashedul Hassan, treasurer, Mohammad Tayeenul Hoque, chairman of the Department of Marketing and International Business, Ishrat Jahan Synthia, senior lecturer at Department of Marketing and International Business, of NSU were also present.

Kim Kardashian shut down the Met Gala red carpet Monday in one of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic dresses, a gold-beaded body hugger Monroe wore when she sexily sang happy birthday to President John F. Kennedy 60 years ago. Kardashian had to lose 16 pounds to fit into the dress, designed by Jean Louis and purchased in 2016 by the Ripley’s Believe or Not! museum in Orlando, Florida, for a whopping $4.81 million. “It was such a challenge,” she said. “I was determined to fit it.” The dress originally cost $12,000. It was so tight Monroe had to be sewn into it when she purred “Happy birthday, Mr. president” on May 19, 1962, at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser. She died three months later. It has been known as the “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress ever since. Kardashian, with boyfriend Pete Davidson at her side, paired the dress with Cartier white gold drop diamond earrings and a furry white jacket she kept strategically low to cover her backside. Her hair was platinum and pulled tightly into a bun. But she only wore the fragile original dress for her walk up the Grand Staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, changing into a replica after that, according to Vogue. Earlier, Blake Lively smiled for the cameras in a grand Atelier Versace gown, with husband Ryan Reynolds in brown velvet, Billie Eilish went with an upcycled green lace-trim dress from Gucci and Cynthia Erivo wore sheer white Louis Vuitton with a matching head piece as the Met Gala returned to its berth on the first Monday in May after years of pandemic upheaval. The celebration of American design was themed to gilded glamour, sprouting classic black tailed tuxedoes for many of the men and lots of dresses in black and white for the women. Others paid literal homage to New York City, home base for the Gilded Age, and still more shimmered in metallic golds and silver. “Black and white are THE colors for the evening,” said Holly Katz, a stylist and host of the Fashion Crimes podcast. Lively, one of the evening’s co-hosts, wore a bronze and rose gold look that transformed into a shimmery layer of baby blue as a large bow was pulled. Her look drew inspiration from the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the blue ceiling of Grand Central Station. “Instead of looking to fashion to influence the dress, I looked to New York City architecture,” Lively said. Cardi B, accompanied by Donatella Versace, was an over-the-top golden goddess in a dress of mesh and chains, a fitting birthday for the designer. Gigi Hadid was more redefined cat woman than golden girl. She wore a tight-as-skin, blood red Latex catsuit with a corseted bodice and huge, heavy quilted coat from Versace. She walked gingerly up the steps. Lizzo, meanwhile, got the crowd cheering when she played her gold flute for fans watching the parade of fashion outside. She wore a black dress under a stunning gold-embroidered black coat, all by Thom Browne. Camila Cabello worked a huge white gown with a midriff top, from Prabal Gurung, while Jordan Roth, the theater producer, provided a reveal of his own, removing a black, egg-like shell to a matching bulbous suit, all by Thom Browne. Janelle Monáe offered a royal wave in a black and white bedazzled helmet piece and slinky gown with head piece. “Amazing. I’m proud to be American. I’m proud to be wearing Ralph Lauren. This is gilded glamour from the future,” Monáe told The Associated Press. New York Mayor Eric Adams put politics front and center in a tux emblazoned with “End Gun Violence” on the back. Former presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton was in a Bordeaux-colored gown designed by Joseph Altuzarra with the names of historic women sewn into the hem and neckline. They include Abigail Adams, Shirley Chisolm and Madeleine Albright. Clinton’s last Met Gala was a while ago. “I told Anna I would come every 20 years,” she said. Vogue livestream co-host Vanessa Hudgens made her way up the steps in a vaguely Victorian black sheer lace gown with a long train by Moschino. She was joined by La La Anthony, her fellow Vogue host who wore a deep red look with cut out shoulders from LaQuan Smith. “I’m practically naked,” Hudgens joked. Anthony said: “Those stairs are intimidating.” And if the Met Gala’s return feels like one of those what, already moments, it is. It’s been just under eight months since the last gala, an annual fundraiser that raises eight-figure sums for the Met’s Costume Institute. More than $16.4 million was raised last year. The starry event is the institute’s primary budget feeder. This year’s gala coincides with the opening of the second part of a two-part exhibit at the Costume Institute focused on American fashion and style. The evening’s dress code was gilded glamour and white tie, a la the Gilded Age, that tumultuous period between the Civil War and the turn of the 20th century known for its robber barons, drama and grandeur. Some of the stars included extra touches. Gabrielle Union said the red jewels in her hair to go with her silver Versace dress represented the blood shed by people of color during the Gilded Age. The dress included a large red flower embellishment at the waist. Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who has run the gala since 1995, wore feathery Chanel and a jeweled tiara that has been in her family since 1910. She continues as one of the night’s honorary co-chairs, along with designer Tom Ford and Instagram’s Adam Mosseri. The other official co-chairs for 2022 are Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Eilish wore a custom Gucci corset look of ivory and duchesse satin with green lace and a padded bustle. Erivo’s look came with a large train as she held hands with Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore custom Christopher John Rogers, a white and black striped Cinderella ballgown with a towering pink and black feather head piece by Philip Treacy. Parker’s dress was inspired by the work of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, the first Black female fashion designer in the White House, a confidante of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Alicia Keys’ Ralph Lauren dress was inspired by her native New York City, with a cape evoking the New York City skyline outlined in small hand-placed crystals. Her husband, Swizz Beatz, also a native New Yorker, donned a New York sports jacket. Keys said her dress was meant to “represent an empire state of mind and a city of gods here tonight.” Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, showed up with his mother, Maye Musk a former model adorned in Chopard pearls and other jewels. Her son went with a classic tux with tails. Ariana DeBose was resplendent in golden Moschino by Jeremy Scott. “This guy turned me into a fashion Oscar,” she said. And the gala included a marriage proposal. Former state Assembly candidate Bobby Digi Olisa got down on one knee to pop the question to a stunned Laurie Cumbo, the city’s commissioner of cultural affairs. What’s a Met Gala without more than one Kardashian, or six. The entire family showed up, including Kylie Jenner in a white ballgown with a matching hat and big sister Kourtney Kardashian in deconstructed Thom Browne to go with beaux Travis Barker’s Thom Browne suit. Kendall Jenner was in black Prada as she played “devil and angel” with Kylie. Sister Khloe Kardashian was in gold Moschino and matriarch Kris Jenner wore canary yellow from Oscar de la Renta, an ode to Jackie Kennedy Onassis — her hair in a ’60s flip. Megan Thee Stallion was also a golden goddess. Her Moschino shiner had wings at the shoulders. Quannah Chasinghorse wore a beaded blue strapless gown created in partnership with Indigenous designer Lenise Omeasoo. Sans husband Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber walked in an elegant Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello slip dress with a feather-trimmed coat in white. Katy Perry, usually a showstopper as a cheeseburger and other wacky looks over the years, donned understated Oscar de la Renta this time around. Teyana Taylor wasn’t quite on theme but her dramatic Iris Van Herpen gown certainly made a statement, said Claire Sulmers, a fashion writer and pop culture observer who writes The State of Fashion column on Meta’s publishing platform Bulletin. It was a breathtaking purple worn with a metal, cage-like piece around her head and face. “The drama and metallic adornment certainly made her one of the best dressed of the night,” Sulmers said. While many wore European brands, the American vibe remained, said Rachel Tashjian, fashion news director for Harper’s Bazaar. “Many of the best looks were the most straightforward ones. Kate Moss in a velvet Le Smoking Tuxedo gown, Hailey Bieber in slinky ice-colored silk and marabou feathers, for example. They were both in Saint Laurent, which is of course not an American brand, but the simplicity and directness of their beauty and allure was extraordinarily, well, patriotic,” she said. Todd Snyder, the New York-based designer, appreciated many of the night’s interpretations on the white tie dress code. “Seeing how people pushed beyond the expected interpretation was refreshing this year. I loved Austin Butler in custom Prada swapping the classic bow tie for a silk scarf over a cropped tux jacket. Ryan Reynolds and Rege Jean Page reminded us of the elegance of velvet in a tux. While the era from the outside was opulent, Riz Ahmed’s statement of wearing a workwear inspired outfit to represent the immigrant workers that kept the Gilded Age going is a statement that must not be forgotten.” Also read: Inside the Met Gala: Glitter, glamour and 275,000 pink roses