Fashion’s most iconic night of the year has returned, and this time the dress code was ‘A Garden of Time’, inspired by a short story of the same title written by JG Ballard in 1962.

With this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit titled ‘Sleeping beauties: Reawakening Fashion’, the exhibition is a celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile it can’t ever be worn again. It combines historically significant pieces from their archive with contemporary pieces focused on sustainability and regenerative forms of production.

With this year’s ‘A Garden of Time’ dress code we expected a reinterpretation of the idea of renaissance and new beginning along with an appreciation for origin. Think enchanting, fantasy, whimsical and on the other end of the spectrum, gothic and supernatural.

Stay tuned as we explore Odd Muse’s best dressed and our own take on the ‘Garden of Time’ theme.

1) Zendaya 

Zendaya's long-awaited return to the red carpet was nothing short of sensational, as she collaborated with the renowned stylist Law Roach to unveil not one, not two, but three jaw-dropping looks. Her initial appearance boasted a captivating creation by Maison Margiela Artisanal, drawing inspiration from a timeless 1999 Dior design by John Galliano. Later in the evening, Zendaya graced the steps once again, this time adorned in a striking 1996 gown from John Galliano's iconic Givenchy era, showcasing a seamless blend of fashion history and contemporary elegance.

2) Gigi Hadid

This year Gigi Hadid wore a Thom Browne masterpiece, a white off the shoulder gown covered in 3D yellow roses. The inspiration? Thom Browne wanted Gigi’s look to embody the fragility and immense work of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its curator, Andrew Bolton.

3) Tyla 

Tyla wowed in a sand sculpture curated by Balmain as a nod to the sands of time. The inspiration stemmed from Balmain’s creative director's desire to redefine boundaries and transform a transient material into an everlasting masterpiece. Perhaps one of the most iconic looks we’ve ever seen.

4) Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain returned as the Met Gala presenter, with a dark twist on this year's theme. Wearing Jean Paul Gautlier, the team wanted to capture ‘fragility’ and ‘decomposition’, pulling various references from archives. The inspiration was a mocha coloured lace corset from the spring 2003 couture show. The silhouette has been modernised by adding volume, layers and texture, combining several textiles. In response to the Garden of Time dress code, Emma’s dress alludes to brambles and an apocalyptic garden.

5) Taylor Russell

Taylor Russell graced the Met steps in her Met Gala debut wearing Loewe. Her corset was 3D moulded to fit her body, and printed with a wood pattern previously used by Loewe in the Spring 2023 collection. Loewe’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson, explained that the look is supposed to blur the line between the natural and the unnatural.

6) Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner stunned in one of McQueen’s autumn/winter 1999 looks for Givenchy Haute Couture, an archived ‘sleeping beauty’ of 25 years. She used this year's theme to explore her love of vintage, interpreting it as “beauty that’s been slept on”.

Shop our 'Garden Of Time' picks

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