If you’re like me, you have a completely normal and not crazy obsession with the Met Gala! It’s a time when the rules of fashion can be pushed to their limits, and where artists of all mediums can let their creativity wander. One theme, hundreds of people, each with an individual look. From there, I managed to narrow them down to my 15 favorite looks. Without further ado, here are 15 people who were 100% winners at the 2021 Met Gala with the theme of American Independence.
1. Lili Reinhart
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She looks like a princess 🥺🥺 Her dress is covered with the state flower of each state of the union! And the fact that she’s wearing a Christian Siriano dress makes me happy 💖 Lili, hands down, won this year’s Met Gala!
2. Tessa Thompson
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When you think of America, chances are that at some point cowboys stuck in your head! Tessa took those wild westerns in a whole new direction, and we’re doing better for it.
3. Olivia Rodrigo
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It’s no secret that Olivia has been making waves on and off the red carpet this year. I would literally sell my soul for this outfit!
4. Cara Delevingne
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Cara carries a message you can’t argue with…
5. Lil Nas X
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Lil Nas X is an absolute king and this Met Gala he decided to show it off! No matter the look, it absolutely stole the show 🖤
6. Chloe and Hallie Bailey
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First off, I know this list says 15 people, but let’s go ahead and count the twins as a set 😁 Especially twins as fabulous as Chloe & Hallie! They absolutely owned the Gala this season.
7. Gabrielle Union
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A 2021 best-dressed gala list wouldn’t be complete without this absolutely stunning look from Gabrielle Union!
8. Emily Blunt
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Emily Blunt rocked one of my personal favorites this year by paying tribute to the one and only Hedy Lamarr! She absolutely nailed the theme of American independence, as Hedy Lamarr’s story is one of old Hollywood and perseverance. Hedy was trapped in her own skin, never being credited for all the good she did for the world. After all, Hedy is the reason we have Wifi, GPS and Bluetooth!
9. Precious Lee
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This outfit is gorgeous. Her inspiration came from the importance of braids and braiding in African and African American culture. Besides being so breathtaking, she has such an amazing portrayal of what it means to have American independence. A concept our ancestors had to fight for, and many died before they ever saw it. A major bonus is that she was able to go to her first Met Gala, on her birthday, and look just as good! I don’t know about you, but I know I wish I wielded so much power on my birthday.
10. Nikkie de Jäger
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Another beautiful woman with a beautiful tribute! Nikkie de Jager, or as we may know her, Nikkie Tutorials, paid tribute to Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha is the perfect face of this year’s gala theme. She fought hard for independence for LGBTQ+ people all her life.
11. Barbie Ferreira
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Beloved Euphoria star stole the show with her wonderful nod to Old Hollywood burlesque! Her and the outfit are ✨superb✨
12. Amanda Gorman
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After this past presidential inauguration, Amanda Gorman is the very essence of American independence. She is a beautiful, talented, creative and intelligent young woman, and she was definitely among those who won the Met Gala. Although her outfit isn’t as wild as some of the other people in attendance, you can definitely tell she’s taking on a look from Lady Librity! Especially when you can see that the book she’s holding says “Give us your tiredness”.
13. Caroline Maloney
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What better way to celebrate American independence than to vote YES to ratify the ERA! ? After all, women’s rights are human rights! Carolyn Maloney succeeded in this mission!
14. Lewis Hamilton
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I don’t think this list could have been completed without the presence of Lewis Hamilton. He took the theme to heart this year and worked with a panel of three up-and-coming black designers to give their voices a chance to shine. Needless to say they did not disappoint! Him, his outfit and the attention to detail is absolutely amazing.
15. Iman
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Even though she’s the latest, Iman certainly isn’t with this jaw-dropping Gala look! There wasn’t a news show or fashion magazine that wasn’t talking about this amazing outfit for days after the gala was over! Her jaw-dropping outfit was based on America’s Golden Age.
Last takeaways
Although I’m sad that this year’s Met Gala is over, I can’t wait for the theme for the next one! If you know me, you know that I hope to get into the film industry, and a small part of that dream is to finally be able to attend the Met Gala! The time, energy, effort and stories put behind each of these looks are amazing. There were so many choices to choose from that I couldn’t have shown you all of the best ones. However, I am completely biased in saying that anything that references Hedy Lamarr is automatically a winner in my book! As sad as it is that we have to wait an entire year to see The Met again, luckily it’s officially awards season, and there are still plenty of amazing looks to come!
