Before every MET Gala, “What is >>insert theme for the year<<?” becomes a popular search term for weeks leading up to the first Monday in May. What did Andrew Bolton mean? (You’ll have to wait for the exhibit.) How will stars interpret the theme? (For me, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry are always camp and I live for it.) This year’s theme, Gilded Glamour, brought all the pomp and circumstance to the red carpet. Sparkling jewels sprinkled on the face and body, bling in the hair, and gold all over were a few of the beauty trends seen during fashion’s big night.
Nevertheless, during this resurgence of elegance and excess, there is a sobering thought—it’s still a pandemic. And no glitz and glamour can outshine that. However, if there was ever a time to live the adage of Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up,” it’s now. When you look good, you feel good. And who doesn’t want to feel good? The industry predicted the Roaring 20s post-pandemic, and while we’re still in it—just like the CDC—fashion is moving on.
Gilded glamour is all about prosperity, excess, more, more, more–but for many of us, our reality is that we are living in a time of less, filled with inflation and uncertainty. How can people add a little excess to their life via hair and makeup without it further affecting their pockets? ELLE spoke to the celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists who created the head-turning red carpet looks you saw last night. Keep reading for their input on gilded glam and ways for you to recreate the red carpet looks in real life.
Hairstylist Tokyo Stylez x Cardi B
“Gilded glamour to me was very interesting because I translated it into pretty with a twist of metal. I don’t know why my mind went there. When doing Cardi’s hair, I flat ironed a lot of small pieces with my Dyson straightener to resemble metal woven into the updo,” she reveals.
Regarding the inspiration for the Bronx beauty’s look, Stylez states, “We were inspired by her gorgeous gold Versace dress that’s covered in gold chains to create this glamorous 90s, voluminous updo.”