The Met Gala of motors: if the looks of the stars were cars
- 23/05/2023
- Margherita Rho e Elena Quadro
Automotive and fashion, often go hand in hand. Design, materials, colours and innovative technologies are a common lexicon for both worlds. Mixed together with technique, talent and harmony, these elements are able to give rise to legendary finished products, which remain imprinted in the cultural imagination for generations (in some cases forever in history) and whose style they define. There are also many celebrities-the first ones to wear the creations of fashion designers fresh off the catwalk - who have a fierce passion for cars. Have you ever taken a look at the garage of Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, Nicki Minaj or Paris Hilton? We have tried to make sense of the lines that intertwine and unite these two extraordinary and complex universes. Taking inspiration from the annual gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York - also known as the fashion biggest night, a veritable display of the stars' most original looks - and from the vast historical automotive repertoire, we selected the best fashion -automotive combos. What a nice ride.Gulf Porsche 917K Le Mans 1970 - Blake Lively in Atelier Versace, Met Gala 2022 
Set forever in car culture by Steve McQueen in the film Le 24 Heures du Mans, a documentary about one of the most famous races ever (the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours), the Gulf Porsche 917K is a true legend in the world of motor racing. The celebrated racing livery recalls, in tone, a unique garment in the history of the Met Gala. The one worn in 2022, for the theme "In America: An Anthology of Fashion", by Blake Lively: a costume - dress by Atelier Versace that was transformed and changed colour in the middle of the red carpet, going from copper to turquoise. Standing ovation for both pieces of history.1994 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 2 “Giallo Ginestra” - Rihanna in Gou Pei, Met Gala 2015 
One certainly cannot forget the yellow, empress-like cape dress in which Rihanna conquered the flashes at the Met Gala in 2015. And consequently also the weirdest part of the internet: that meme was circulating at one point, where instead of the long embroidered train, the pop star 'wore' an omelette. In reality, the precious gown is Chinese couture (as the theme, 'China, Through The Looking Glass', intended), the woman who made it (Guo Pei), took two years to make it, and the shade has entered fashion history. And yes, it is the same 'Giallo Ginestra' as the 1994 Lancia Delta - HF Integrale Evo 2.Lamborghini Pink Fuchsia Aventador SVJ di Nicki Minaj - Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell, Met Gala 2019 
At the 2019 Met Gala, themed 'Camp: Notes on Fashion', it was Lady Gaga who stole the show. The pop star, outdoing herself, made an entrance (actually a performance), wearing four different looks: a transformable creation made by designer and long-time friend, Brandon Maxwell. A play on layers and colours - black and fuchsia - that recalls the design, tones and advanced material technology of the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, made especially for Nicki Minaj and used by the rapper in the We Go Up video.Volkswagen Typ 1 Love Bug “Maggiolino” - Karolina Kurková in Viktor & Rolf, Met Gala 2005 
In 2005, Karolina Kurková wore a white dress by Viktor & Rolf. That year, the theme of the Met Gala was 'The House of Chanel' and the supermodel celebrated the French brand with a simple message written on her skirt: 'I love you'. With its round shape and loving interior, there is no car in the world more romantic than the Beetle. But above all, than this version of the Volkswagen Typ 1-number one among German saloons-that, in the wind, screams: 'I love you'.“Flamed” Mercedes 300 SL di Von Dutch - Sarah Jessica Parker in Philip Treacy, Met Gala 2015 
The theme of the 2015 Met Gala, 'China, Through The Looking Glass', did not faze Sarah Jessica Parker, a frontrunner at the event. To accompany her simple but very elegant silk gown - designed by herself for H&M - she wore a headdress decorated with very light flames, perceived as a true gesture of appreciation towards Chinese culture, and not cultural appropriation - risk taken by many celebrities featured that evening. The design and colours are reminiscent of one of the most iconic custom cars in history: Von Dutch's Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing, a piece that, unlike Sarah's accessory, received hundreds of negative reviews from the costume - making community in 1955.Ferrari 360 Modena - Lupita Nyong’o in Versace, Met Gala 2021 
This combo is as celebratory as it is topical: the Ferrari 360 Modena, twenty years ago, was in full production, just as denim on denim was in full fashion, in total Y2K style and especially back in fashion today. The unmistakable and intense Ferrari blue, together with the gentle and sinuous shapes of the 360, creates the perfect match with the outfit chosen by Lupita Nyong'o for the Met Gala 2021, whose theme was "In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion".Bac Mono Marine Edition - Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga, Met Gala 2021 
Less traditional was the interpretation of the American theme by Kim Kardashian, who appeared in the most controversial total black in the history of the Met Gala. Strange and debated not only in concept, but also in form and materials, the outfit remains firmly etched in everyone's minds today as an alienating and extra - ordinary phenomenon. Here, a similar emotion might arise at the sight of a Bac Mono, perhaps an all - black Marine Edition: high - performance, extreme, essential, all - encompassing.Fiat Panda 4x4 - Frank Ocean in Prada, Met Gala 2019 
Simple and casual, Frank Ocean's look at the 2019 Met Gala was described by critics, among other comments, as a 'gawker look'. And it's true that, between Cardi B's gigantic and sumptuous burgundy dress, Zendaya's lamp-lamp dress or Rihanna's precious gem minidress, it seemed to go off-topic at the time.As we know, however, the truth is that Frank was one of the few who really understood and elaborated on Camp - that year's theme - contextualising it in the right way: in a space of glitz, ostentation and spotlights like the Met Gala, the most effective way to stand out is to be classic, timeless, almost boring, but above all comfortable. Exactly like a pandino in the midst of all these extraordinary cars.
