Acting Met Gala co-chair for the night alongside her husband Ryan Reynolds, Regina King, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Blake Lively has arrived to the red carpet, embodying the dress code, “Gilded Glamour” and paying homage to the theme of the exhibit, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.”
Opting for a heavily embellished strapless custom Atelier Versace gown, the gold bow bustle around her waist unwrapped to reveal an oxidized green train, which was an homage to the Statue of Liberty which turns colors when it oxidizes.
“I arrived copper and like classic New York City architecture, I patinated,” Lively said on Vogue‘s livestream.
Lively committed to the opulence during her big reveal by swapping out her rose gold opera-length gloves for a pair of green ones to match her skirt. “I think Versace thought I was crazy when I called and pitched this,” Lively said on the livestream.
Her entire look was inspired by N.Y.C. landmarks, including 12 zodiac constellations on the skirt which mimics the ceiling of Grand Central and the bodice which mirrors the architecture from the Empire State Building.
She paired it all with custom jewelry from Lorraine Schwartz, who collaborated with Lively for her partly oxidized copper tiara that symbolizes the Statue of Liberty, featuring approximately 100 carats of nude and bronze-colored diamonds and Paraiba tourmaline gemstones. Her earrings feature 90 carats of diamonds and emeralds.
Her crown’s seven spikes channeled the Statue of Liberty, which has seven spikes to symbolize the seven seas.
“Instead of fashion from the Gilded Age, I wanted to look at architecture,” Lively said on the carpet. “It’s the place I choose to live — it’s the love of my life, other than my family. I really wanted to celebrate the city that’s given me so much.”
Throughout the big reveal Reynolds looked on like the doting husband he is (see his reaction here).
Coming prepared for the white tie event (even more formal than black tie), tonight’s Met Gala celebrates the second installment to last year’s exhibition In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, with In America: An Anthology of Fashion.
