Lupita nyong'o Met Gala
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Lupita Nyong’o attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images For The Met Museum/Vogue)

At the 2021 Met Gala we’ve seen many interpretations of the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”. From Jennifer Lopez’s Ralph Lauren gown and Billie Eilish’s homage to Marilyn Monroe. But is there anything more iconic than denim? Lupita Nyong’o appeared on the cream-colored carpet this evening in Versace Jeans Couture, an ode to the backbone of American apparel.

Styled by Micaela Erlanger, the gown featured a blue beaded bodice overlaid with layers of billowing denim. Jewelry was simple yet stunning with teardrop earrings and a diamond necklace from De Beers Jewellers.

For her makeup, the Black Panther actress wore a sweeping blue eyeshadow look by Nick Barose. According to the makeup artist’s Instagram, he was inspired by a 90s ThierryPerez illustration.

While the term ‘denim’ was ultimately coined in French city of Nîmes, the blue cotton fabric of the 1800s shaped the culture of the working-class in America. Most notably by German-American denim founder, Levi Strauss.

Lupita nyong'o Met Gala
Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o arrives for the 2021 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Lupita nyong'o Met Gala
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Lupita Nyong’o attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/MG21/Getty Images)

Nyong’o is often the unspoken hero of the red carpet. The actress appeared at the Met Gala in 2019 wearing Versace for the night’s “Notes on Camp”. The extravagant column gown was layered with metallic hand-beaded stars and ruffles of rainbow tulle. She also walked the Oscars red carpet in 2018 in Versace.

The 38-year-old was thrust into stardom thanks to her roles in the Star Wars franchise before she appeared in huge Hollywood blockbusters including, Get Out, Us and Black Panther. She is slated to make her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022.

Panoramic footage: Getty Images Video