CELEBRITIES

Holy haute couture: Divine designs grace Met Gala

Jocelyn Noveck
Associated Press

New York -- Divine designs floated up the red carpet at Monday’s religion-themed Met Gala in shimmering golds, reds and fuchsia, in crowns and in crosses, and even a pair of giant wings.

Rihanna attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala wearing a Maison Margiela by John Galliano mini dress bathed in pearls and crystals, completed by ornate robe and beaded papal headgear.

One lesson of the night: If anyone can make a mitre modern, it’s Rihanna. The Grammy-winning artist — never one to shy away from a grand entrance — arrived dripping in pearls and crystals in a Maison Margiela by John Galliano minidress, ornate robe and beaded papal headgear.

The annual fundraising fete in New York brings out Hollywood’s elite for an evening of fashion and charity and to celebrate the spring exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute — this year, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”

Along with Rihanna, who reigned supreme, other standouts included supermodel Gigi Hadid in a one-shouldered, beaded Versace gown seemingly inspired by stained-glass windows (or butterflies), and Zendaya, a fierce Versace warrior princess in armor-like layers and delicate chain mail fabric, inspired by Joan of Arc.

Nicki Minaj arrives for the 2018 Met Gala on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Katy Perry rose to the occasion of the night’s theme challenge with larger-than-life feathered angel wings, metallic boots and dress by Versace. After wowing on the red carpet, the pop star was forced to turn sideways to squeeze the 6-foot stunners through the gala entryway.

Kim Kardashian attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala on Monday in New York City.

If Perry looked to the heavens for inspiration, Nicki Minaj seemed to peer in the other direction with a sequined Oscar de La Renta gown in vibrant shades of red and maroon. The temptation-inspired look came complete with billowing sleeves, a plunging neckline and a beaded headpiece.

Stars also channeled the theme with shimmering gold fabrics, and, of course, crosses. Jennifer Lopez, who picked a colorful Balmain number with a feathered train and sky-high slit, had a bejeweled cross emblazoned on her chest. “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman wore an ivory cape featuring crosses in gold beadwork. And Kim Kardashian West — walking the carpet sans her husband, Kanye West, who is under fire for recent controversial tweets — wore her cross on a shimmering gold Versace dress.

Madonna at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala Monday night in New York City.

Other Kardashian family members represented at the Met Gala included matriarch Kris Jenner in a high-collared, feathery concoction and Kylie Jenner in a long, strapless black gown featuring a torso cut-out.

Madonna rocked an all-black Jean Paul Gaultier frock with a crown made of crosses.

“Religion and spirituality has informed my work for my entire career, and fashion also, and combining the two is the perfect marriage,” said the pop star. “And then we bring in Jean Paul and it’s the perfect three-way!”

As always, there was a sea of spectacular trains, like Diane Kruger’s sky-blue Prabal Gurung number.

Cardi B and Jeremy Scott arrive for the 2018 Met Gala on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute.

Bella Hadid held court as a gothic priestess as her gold-embroidered headpiece-train fanned out over a simple black corset and skirt by Chrome Hearts Official. The dramatic look was topped off with a structured, embossed leather jacket, emblazoned with a gold cross.

Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, wears a beaded off-white Chanel gown and a cross necklace.

Rita Ora’s massive train trailed behind as photographers frantically snapped pictures of her elaborate, spiked headdress. Even Kendall Jenner’s pants had a train. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star kept it simple in a white angel-inspired, off- the-shoulder look from Off-White, and wide-legged slacks with fabric streaming from the hems.

Janelle Monae walked the carpet with designer Marc Jacobs, who crafted her striking black and white-striped custom skirt suit. She paired it with a crystal headscarf and wide-brimmed hat by Stephen Jones.

“I’m very religious about anything that makes the world a more beautiful place,” Jacobs said.

Cardi B showed off her baby bump in a pearl-drenched gown and headdress by Jeremy Scott while Blake Lively urged photographers to “calm down” in a stately, burgundy embroidered gown by Versace.

This year’s co-chairs also included Vogue’s Anna Wintour, Amal Clooney and Donatella Versace.

Amal Clooney attends the "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" Costume Institute Gala 2018 on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, N.Y.

Clooney arrived early in a striking silver corseted top, navy slacks and a cascading metallic, rose-patterned skirt. The ensemble, from designer Richard Quinn, gave a crinkling sound as she made her way up the Met’s famous steps.

Though the barrister arrived with movie star husband George Clooney, the Academy Award winner knew his place. “I’m the flower on the side,” he joked to reporters.

Actress Gabrielle Union attends the Met Gala on Monday in New York City.

Wintour arrived in a beaded off-white Chanel gown and a cross necklace alongside her daughter, Bee Shaffer. The highly influential Vogue editor, the gala’s longtime head, was asked if this was her last Met gala; there have been unconfirmed rumors she is leaving her post. “I hope not,” she replied, before heading into the soiree.

It was cocktail hour at the Met Gala, the most glittery and exclusive event on the New York social calendar, and celebrity guests were thronging around the imposing Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sipping drinks and munching on canapes. Pretty much everyone in the room was famous, some hugely so, but one guest seemed to be getting a little more attention than most: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York.

“Cardinal, have you met Huma?” someone asked, leading him over to Huma Abedin, the longtime Hillary Clinton aide. Others waited their turn to speak to him. It seemed fitting, on a night when all the stars were trying to channel the theme of Catholicism, that the real-life cardinal in attendance was a star among stars.

Cara Delevingne at Monday's Met Gala in New York City

Dolan was effusive about the exhibit making its debut that evening, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” He was particularly enamored with the stunning pieces — 42 of them — on display from the Sistine Chapel sacristy at the Vatican, many never seen outside Rome or in public at all, including jewel-encrusted tiaras and intricately embroidered papal cloaks, known as copes. “Those pectoral crosses, those copes, are you kidding me?” he said admiringly. A waiter came by with tiny mini-grilled cheese sandwiches. “You got any tomato soup with that?” Dolan joked.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez arrive for the 2018 Met Gala on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.