This year’s highly anticipated Met Gala theme was “Charles James,” based on the British fashion designer who popularized elaborate, highly structured ball gowns in America. The event’s theme inspired vintage looks inspired by the 30s, 40s, and 50s, as well as classic-colored red, black, and metallic nails.
Emmy Rossum’s dress may have been yellow, orchid, and amazingly floral, but celebrity manicurist Katie Jane Hughes gave the actress a simple, solid nail color. Hughes layered Butter London Lady Bird underneath Pillar Box Red to give the otherwise red tips “a hint of orange…which look[ed] gorgeous with Emmy’s skin tone.”
[Images: Instagram @katiejanehughes, @emmyrossum]
Lea Michele’s ensemble for the night was everything gold: dress, heels, clutch, and jewelry. Gina Edwards balanced out the metallic by giving the singer Gelish for shiny, natural-colored nails in a vintage almond shape.
[Images: Instagram @ginae1026]
Lupita Nyong’o strayed away from the long, conservative ball gowns we saw her in at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes and went with something fun – a green, flapper-esque dress! The actress had a hint of purple in her hair, so Deborah Lippmann thought it would be ideal to play up the jewel tones. Lippmann says, “We created a modern effect, layering green underneath iridescent lilac, allowing the nails to change colors as she moved. We matched the fingers to the toes and finished with a super shiny top-coat.”
[Images: Instagram @beyonce, GC Images]
Lily Allen’s nail art did not disappoint. While everyone else played it safe with their manis, Allen sported bows and feminine pink and dark stripes that actually matched the fabric stripes and bow sleeves of her eccentric dress.
[Images: Instagram @lilyallen, FilmMagic]
Cara Delevingne and gang seemed to be the leading ladies of the night, stopping fairly often to snap dozens of comedic photos to properly document the night. While many opted for traditional dresses, Delevingne tried a liberated look – complete with ankle pants, strappy top, and dark nails created using Priti NYC Super Purple Daylily and Sympathy Rose.
[Images: Instagram @stellamccartney]
Reese Witherspoon paid homage to Elle Woods in a hot pink strapless Stella McCartney dress. Her fingertips even matched those of the fashion designer herself – both McCartney and Witherspoon wore Priti NYC Coronation on their nails.
[Image: FilmMagic]
The retro theme played right into Dita Von Teese’s everyday style. In fact, the red and nude half nude design she donned the day before while doing her usual appearances was the same that she wore to Met – and they perfectly matched her Zac Posen gown.
[Images: Instagram @ditavonteese, Getty Images]
Rita Ora hands-down had the glitziest nails of the night. Her talons came to a point with a yellow gold ombre effect at the tip. The look is almost hard to distinguish from her gaudy sequined dress, but we love the boldness!
[Images: Instagram @ritaora, Getty Images]
Everything about Amber Valetta’s ensemble stood out from the voluminous dresses on the red carpet. Valetta wore a black pointed toe, deep V-neck sequin blazer, and cropped pants. To match, celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik gave her a vamped-up gel manicure using L’Oréal Paris Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque Bold Bordeaux.
[Images: Instagram @tombachik, WireImage]