The Best Beauty Looks At The 2022 Met Gala

The second installment of the two-part fundraiser event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute arrived in style this year, and the theme of the night—“Gilded Glamour”—did not disappoint. America’s Gilded Age was a period of post-Civil War economic growth that took place in the late 19th century, and with the Met Gala back in full swing following a cancellation in 2020 and postponement in 2021, it couldn’t be a more fitting theme for the jubilant air of the current moment.

From Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B dripping in gold to Alicia Keys’ cape embellished with 30,000 crystals—no fashion choice was too extravagant to represent the age of excess. And the lavishness didn’t stop at the neck, with beauty looks complimenting and elevating (literally, in the case of up-dos and hats) the theme.

Read on for some of the most memorable beauty looks of the night.

This year’s co-chair, Blake Lively, embodied true royalty with a tiara inspired by Lady Liberty. Simple rose lipstick and peachy cheeks matched the warm pink of her dress and complimented her relaxed blonde locks.

Alicia Keys proved a ponytail is far from casual with her serpentine braid trailing behind her skyline-themed Ralph Lauren dress. A swooping cat eye and subtle color palette balanced out her extravagant outfit.

Another winged eyeliner was sported by Kacey Musgraves. Bottleneck bangs and a swooping up-do elevated the look to meet the sophistication of the Gilded Age.

For a more extreme cat eye, look no further than Megan Thee Stallion. Molten metal shades of eye shadow and her perfectly bronzed cheeks accented her dripping gold dress.

Instead of making the eyeliner the star of the show, Kiki Layne shows us the transformative power of eye shadow with her intricately designed lids, in a bright pink that matches her cheeks and dress.

Another dramatic eye shadow choice was seen on Normani, with a bright green shade that stood out against her all-black outfit, which included a show-stopping hat.

Leave it to Janelle Monae to pull off the no-hair look. It’s all in the details here, with a regal rusty red lip elevating her bejewelled dress. A striped manicure matches her black-and-silver theme.

Details were also not lost on Isabelle Boemeke, whose graphic black eye liner was only outdone by her over-the-top nails, complete with sparkling jewels and hard gold drips.

While there were no shortage of jewels on the red carpet, Naomi Campbell took the theme a step further by bejewelling her face. Subtle pink lips and flawless complexion completed the look.

Emma Chamberlain’s jewels—from the diamond tiara to her sparkling necklace—perfectly framed her face which showcased a soft pink lip, contoured pink cheeks and dreamy warm eyes. The look was topped off with a newly platinum bob.

Another hair style for the books was Kaia Gerber’s voluminous long waves that stretched down to her waist, tamed near her temples by two subtle hair clips. A delicate cat eye and nude cheek made the look classy.

However, few beauty looks were as classy as Maude Apatow’s pinned vintage curls. A deep crimson lip against her plunging neckline and sparkling silver jewelry gave off serious Old Hollywood vibes.

A more contemporary take was Quannah Chasinghorse’s Indigenous-themed look. The Indigenous activist’s figure-eight braid was embellished with feathers and her baby blue eyeshadow complimented the blue of her dress. The look was topped off with intricate Indigenous adornments on her ears, chest and arms.

Hair accessories were also used by Olivia Rodrigo to channel her 1990s vibe. She looked like a fairy princess with playful butterflies accenting her loose waves and sultry purple eyes that matched her gown.

Red carpet co-host Vanessa Hudgens went with a smokey eye and bedazzling earrings, but the real showstopper was her up-do—an intricate bun of Hidden Crown extensions interwoven with shimmering strings.

Another up-do for the books was Camila Cabello’s: a whimsical bun embellished with a delicate floral accessory. Dewy makeup by L’Oreal Paris complimented her fresh look.

There were no shortage of floral looks on the red carpet. Mindy Kaling embraced the spring season by matching her eyeshadow to her lilac gown.