US socialite Kim Kardashian arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York. – The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Gala’s 2022 theme is “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The 2022 Met Gala is back at full capacity and the many, many stars that ascended the staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night stepped up their looks to match the extravagant dress code: Gilded Glamour. The white tie invite was a nod to the Gilded Age, the time from 1870 to 1890 when wealth prospered.

This year’s event, which raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, kicks off the second installment of September’s “A Lexicon of Fashion” exhibit with the new display, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.”

The first Monday in May is always the most important day of the year for fashion fans because of how over-the-top and glam the stars go — and this year was no different. See the most head-turning, high-fashion, stop-and-stare creations that graced the carpet.

Blake Lively

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Blake Lively attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

The co-chair of the night had the ultimate dress reveal, when she unraveled the bow on her Atelier Versace gown to reveal a long statement train that turned her gold design into a green gown, a nod to the Statue of Liberty which turns colors when it oxides. 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 crown’s seven spikes channeled the Statue of Liberty, which has seven spikes to symbolize the seven seas. And she topped it all off with earrings featuring 90 carats of diamonds and emeralds.

Kim Kardashian

US socialite Kim Kardashian arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York. – The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Gala’s 2022 theme is “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Kim fully committed to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 Swarovski-covered shimmering Jean Louis dress (the one she wore to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy) by losing 16 pounds in three weeks. “I tried it on and it didn’t fit me. So I looked at them, and I said, ‘Give me like 3 weeks.’” She lost the weight even though “it was such a challenge. It was like a role. I was determined to fit it!”

Sarah Jessica Parker

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: (Exclusive Coverage) Sarah Jessica Parker arrives at The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )

Sarah Jessica Parker tapped Christopher John Rogers to help create her Met Gala look, which was inspired by the designer Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who made many of Mary Todd Lincoln’s dresses. “I actually found a dress by a seamstress, an extraordinary woman who’s been a close friend and confidant of Mary Todd Lincoln, her name was Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley,” Parker told Vogue on the carpet. “She designed all of Mrs. Lincoln’s clothes. She’d been born into slavery and got her way out of slavery and had an enormously accomplished and inspiring and extraordinary life so this dress I thought was really exquisite and pretty much fit the period of time of which Andrew Bolton had focused this exhibit.”

She topped it off the black, gray and white off-the-shoulder long-sleeve ballgown with a feathery pink-accented headpiece by Philip Treacy and jewels from Fred Leighton.

Janelle Monáe

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Janelle Monáe attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The superstar singer collaborated with Ralph Lauren on her shimmering halter gown with striped beaded bodice and matching headpiece. “We did Gilded Glamour from the future,” Monáe said on the carpet of working with Ralph Lauren. “I feel like I’m in a movie right now.” She accessorized with jewels from Nikos Koulis and ring from Delfina Delettrez.

Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: (L-R) Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

The duo stepped out in Gucci looks, with Turner-Smith baring a bit more skin in a crystal chain bra with fringe mini skirt in the front and chiffon long skirt in the back, plus Gucci High Jewelry. While Jackson kept things traditional in his tailcoat, evening shirt, vest, pinstripe pants and bowtie.

Hailey Bieber

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: (Exclusive Coverage) Hailey Bieber arrives at The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )

The model said inspiration for her ivory silk Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello halter gown with ostrich feather cape came from “an old Jerry Hall YSL reference.”

“I loved that reference and I’m super happy how it came out,” Bieber told Vogue on the carpet of a similar look Hall modeled in the brand’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2002 runway show. Bieber paired the look with Wolford tights and Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings, ring and seven different bracelets.

Gigi Hadid

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Gigi Hadid attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Gigi Hadid teamed her skintight jumpsuit featuring corset-style bodice with a voluminous puffer robe-like coat, which she paired with a ruby red Chopard statement necklace.

Lenny Kravitz

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Lenny Kravitz attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

Leave it to Lenny to bring his rocker roots to the Met Gala, in his Chrome Hearts getup featuring a sheer lace long-sleeve top with black cape, worn with high-waisted leather pants and his go-to boots by Modern Vice.

Sebastian Stan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Sebastian Stan attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The actor doubled down in the hottest hue of the season (hot pink!) with his neon Valentino ensemble featuring an oversize jacket, matching pants and sneakers.

Glenn Close

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Glenn Close attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

Another star who embraced Valentino’s hot pink hue is Glenn Close, who walked the carpet with the brand’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, wearing his designs featuring a pink blouse, matching pants, embroidered cape with matching pink earrings, gloves and clutch.

Megan Thee Stallion

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Megan Thee Stallion attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Gleaming in gold, the rapper shined in her gilded Moschino by Jeremy Scott gown, featuring sheer side cutouts, feather-accented shoulders and sequin, glass and crystal embellishments, paired with Stuart Weitzman heels.

Lizzo

Singer Lizzo arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York. – The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Gala’s 2022 theme is “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The baroque-like design on Lizzo’s Thom Browne coat brought “Gilded Glamour,” while her flute playing brought some fun to the carpet.

Olivia Rodrigo

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: (Exclusive Coverage) Olivia Rodrigo arrives at The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )

The singer kept color-coordinated with her purple Versace high-shine dress with draped off-the-shoulder design and thigh-high slit, worn with purple platforms and matching gloves. She added some custom Jennifer Behr x Betsey Johnson butterfly hair accessories (inspired by Johnson’s archival pieces from her 1997 Spring/Summer show), plus pieces from De Beers Jewellers (including a butterfly ring) to top off the look

Gemma Chan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Gemma Chan attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Decked out in Louis Vuitton, Chan teamed her cropped scalloped-trimmed jacket with an embellished skirt featuring strong hip detailing.

Shalom Harlow

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Shalom Harlow attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The supermodel’s strapless ruched top and evening skirt was adorned with a large red bow that cascaded into a long two-piece train. Being the pro she is, Shalom knew all the right moves to strike as she got some help fixing the bow, which totaled six yards of fabric.