
<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> For this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Benefit, better known as the Met Gala, attendees were instructed to wear red carpet outfits that fit in with the exhibit theme of “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” resulting in gowns in shades of red, white and blue, by many American designers.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-1024x680.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52505" width="673" height="446" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-300x199.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-768x510.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340170524-2048x1361.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13:  Anna Wintour departs The Mark Hotel for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Along with American-style outfits, this year’s guestlist reflected the USA theme: inaugural poet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/01/20/amanda-gormans-inauguration-poem-was-partly-inspired-by-the-capitol-riots/?sh=3bed25fc4c5b">Amanda Gorman</a>&nbsp;served as a co-chair of the gala while Vice President Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter, model&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/01/28/kamala-harris-stepdaughter-just-landed-a-massive-modeling-contract/">Ella Emhoff</a>, scored an exclusive invite after both women went viral online over their appearances at President Joe Biden’s inauguration.</p>



<p>The first Met Gala held since 2019, the event required attendees to present proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test, which pushed rapper Nicki Minaj to announce she would not be attending.</p>



<p>The Met Gala raises millions each year for the Met’s Costume Institute, which opened in 2014 and holds the museum’s fashion collection, and marks the beginning of the wing’s annual fashion exhibit.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52507" width="669" height="446" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340173730-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams depart 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 Cindy Ord/MG21/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52506" width="653" height="435" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340171917-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Megan Thee Stallion departs 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 Jamie McCarthy/MG21/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-1024x766.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52504" width="662" height="495" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-300x224.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-768x574.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-1536x1149.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340169395-2048x1532.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Maisie Williams departs The Mark Hotel for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52503" width="701" height="467" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168770-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Ella Emhoff 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 John Shearer/WireImage)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-717x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52502" width="497" height="710" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-717x1024.jpg 717w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-210x300.jpg 210w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-768x1097.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-1076x1536.jpg 1076w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-1434x2048.jpg 1434w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340168658-scaled.jpg 1793w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Leon Bridges  departs The Mark Hotel for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52501" width="618" height="412" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340167487-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Co-chair, Billie Eilish 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 John Shearer/WireImage)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52500" width="738" height="492" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340163398-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Lil Nas X 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 John Shearer/WireImage)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52499" width="664" height="443" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340162789-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: Co-chair Timothée Chalamet 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 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52498" width="609" height="913" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1340131525-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 609px) 100vw, 609px" /><figcaption>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; SEPTEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Carolyn B. Maloney attends the 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 )</figcaption></figure></div>



<p><strong><em>By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


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Met Gala: Ella Emhoff, Amanda Gorman And Lil Nas X Pay Tribute To ‘In America’ Theme (Photos)