The acclaimed designer died in Paris, aged 59, from COVID-19 in April, and on Tuesday night (05.10.21), Paris Fashion Week drew to a close with a spectacular showcase in homage to the AZ Factory founder.
The likes of Raf Simons, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rick Owens, and Stella McCartney created one-off looks for the event at Le Carreau Du Temple.
And among the star-studded audience was the 58-year-old ‘Ghost’ star and her 30-year-old actress daughter, who were dressed in Stella McCartney.
Gallery: Statements, masks and style: The most unique Met Gala of all time (BANG Showbiz)
Strike a pose!
The Met Gala made it’s triumphant return in 2021, after being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Costume Institute Benefit – which is held as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City – sees stars step out in the world’s most expensive and lavish outfits. This year’s theme was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, but the ongoing coronavirus crisis loomed large on the carpet. These are biggest red carpet statements from the Met Gala…
Iman
Iman wanted to send a “hopeful” message with her lavish outfit. The 66-year-old supermodel – the widow of David Bowie – arrived in a huge gold feathered headpiece by Harris Reed, which was complemented by a matching hoop skirt cage layered over a strapless gold jumpsuit and matching chandelier earrings, bracelets and rings, and the Somalian beauty loved the “ray of light” the outfit offered during such a “dark” time amid the coronavirus pandemic. She told Vogue: “He approached me, and then he sent me this drawing, which … I fell over. “I thought it was beautiful because it really felt hopeful, a ray of light after all the darkness we felt. So, I thought this was a perfect outfit for it.”
Lil Nas X
The rapper made his Met Gala debut and he was never going to disappoint. The ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ hitmaker wore a Donatella Versace ensemble that was three outfits in one; the red carpet equivalent of a Matryoshka doll. His first choice was an ornate cape covered in intricate gold beading which was shed to reveal a golden suit of armor, which definitely had shades of Michael Jackson’s metal stage outfits. The striking gold was then ditched to show Lil Nas wearing a bodysuit covered in crystals and Versace’s signature house print.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were the king and queen of the Met Gala, with the R&B icon – who missed the 2019 event – wowing in Balenciaga couture from Nicolas Ghesquiere’s fall 2021 collection. The 32-year-old rapper, who wore a multi-colored quilted blanket-style outfit, planted a kiss on the 33-year-old Fenty founder’s cheek on the carpet.
Emma Raducanu
When you’ve just become the hottest tennis player in the world, it’s only right that you receive an invite to the hottest party in town. Fresh from her historic US Open win, British tennis superstar Emma Raducanu stepped out at the Met Gala in a black and white Chanel ensemble comprised of a flowing midi skirt with a matching robe, and a crop top. Emma finished off the look with a pearl-encrusted belt, large Tiffany & Co diamond earrings and patent black boots. A winner in the fashion stakes too!
Kim Kardashian West
Kim Kardashian West made the most striking entrance to the Met Gala. The global superstar arrived covered head-to-toe in a black outfit which covered her entire face as well as her body. She walked alongside Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia, who worked with the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ star’s estranged husband Kanye West on the look, which covered her entire face and body. Was it a statement on coronavirus? A message about female oppression? Kim needs to tell us!
Dan Levy
The ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star wore a Loewe costume depicting two men kissing inspired by the late LGBTQIA+ activist and multimedia artist David Wojnarovicz’s art based on a homophobic cartoon. Dan, 38, explained what the inspiration behind the attention-grabbing look was on Instagram, posting: “What I’ve so long admired about the Costume Institute is its commitment to educate and inspire people through fashion. “I was fortunate enough to also get to work with @jonathan.anderson and the incredible team of designers and craftspeople at @loewe on a look that meant something to all of us … We wanted to celebrate queer love and visibility – acknowledging how hard artists like Wojnarovicz had to fight, while also presenting the imagery in a way that offered a hopeful message. Tonight, we’re celebrating the resilience, the love, and the joy of the community while honoring a crucial American voice that was taken from us too soon.”
Billie Eilish
The ‘bad guy’ singer – who acted as a co-chair at this year’s event – fulfilled her dream of wearing a “proper ballgown” to the Met Gala, when she stepped out in a frothy blush Oscar de la Renta gown, which was inspired by the tulle dress the late Marilyn Monroe wore to the 1951 Academy Awards. British Vogue style director Dena Giannini, who styled the 19-year-old pop star for the event, said: “Billie had planned to go to the Met Gala for the first time before the pandemic happened. “She had always dreamed of wearing a proper ballgown – particularly something corseted, thanks to her love of Barbies growing up.”
Simone Biles
The 24-year-old gymnast arrived at the Met Gala in a dress that weighed 88lbs. Making her debut at the event, Simone donned a custom AREA x Athleta look designed by Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk, which featured a night sky-inspired bodysuit and a mini dress under a skirt embellished with thousands of Swarovski crystals and needed several people to help her move up the steps at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And though Simone admitted the dress was “heavy”, she felt “beautiful” as she walked the red carpet. She told Vogue: “How do I feel in the dress? It’s definitely heavy, but I feel beautiful, strong, and empowered.”
Pete Davidson
The comedian was flying the flag for the guys at the Met Gala, but admitted he was most “excited” about how “easy it is to pee” in his outfit. The ‘Saturday Night Live’ star walked the red carpet in a black slip dress and white blazer and admitted there was a practical reason why he chose the gown. Speaking to GQ magazine during his fittings with designer Thom Browne, he said: “I’m excited for how easy it is to pee. You can literally just lift it up… This is very nice. I’m very loose. Everything is swinging around.”
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
Reunited couple Bennifer showed they are still taking COVID-19 seriously on the red carpet when the shared a kiss through masks. J.Lo, 52, wore a daring monochromatic brown ensemble, courtesy of Ralph Lauren, which included a plunging neckline, feathered detailing, a very sexy thigh-high slit, and a coordinating cowgirl hat. Ben, 49, opted for a classic black tuxedo which would have made James Bond proud.
11/11 SLIDES
It marked AZ Factory’s first-ever Paris Fashion Week show and featured a sustainable fleece material created from organic cotton and seaweed.
The former Lanvin creative director – who launched AZ in 2019 – had worked on the collection prior to his death.
On the role of a fashion designer, Alber said in 2015: “We designers, we started as couturiers, asking: ‘What do women want? What do women need? What can I do for a woman to make her life better and easier? How can I make a woman more beautiful?’”
And this was confirmed to be the case by Hollywood actress Meryl Streep, who once said: “Alber’s dresses for Lanvin are the only ones that when I wear them, I feel like myself, or even a better version of her.”
During his storied career, Alber created red carpet looks of A-listers such as Beyonce, Michelle Obama, and Kim Kardashian West.
Paying tribute to the designer following the sad news of his death, Kim said: “Alber dressed me for my first Vogue cover and gifted me with the cover dress to hold on to that memory forever.”
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