Predicting Fashion Trends for the MET Gala and Betting on the Best Looks

The MET Gala is one of the biggest fashion events of the year, where celebrities and models walk the red carpet in extravagant, unique, and sometimes outrageous looks. With designers and stylists pulling out all the stops, the MET Gala red carpet has become a spectacle of high fashion and boundary-pushing style. As a result, predicting fashion trends at the MET Gala and betting on who will have the best look has become a popular pastime for fashionistas and pop culture enthusiasts.

This article will explore how to forecast what styles will dominate the MET Gala carpet and how to place bets on standout looks.

The Theme

The MET Gala theme sets the tone for the fashion each year, so analyzing the theme is the first step in predicting trends.

The 2024 Met Gala saw celebrities embracing the theme “The Garden of Time” in glamorous style.

• Zendaya made a dramatic entrance in a structural Givenchy gown and Alexander McQueen headpiece, complemented by Bulgari jewels. She later changed into a custom Maison Margiela look with bold shoulders, paired with Louboutin shoes.
• Jennifer Lopez evoked a woodland fairy in a swirling Schiaparelli haute couture gown adorned with Tiffany & Co. jewels. The absence of her husband Ben Affleck proved a talking point.
• Kim Kardashian wore a tight chainmail Margiela ensemble complete with a strange knitted wrap, paired with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.
• Nicole Kidman wore a black and white Balenciaga gown and Harry Winston jewels.
• Emily Ratajkowski sizzled in vintage nude Versace, statement Chopard jewels and Jimmy Choo heels.
• Kendall Jenner went glam in a stunning black Givenchy gown and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.
• Dua Lipa was sultry in a feathered Marc Jacobs dress and Tiffany & Co. jewels.
• Kylie Jenner wore a figure-hugging custom Oscar de la Renta gown with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and Sergio Rossi heels.
• Jennie Kim exuded modern elegance in a custom figure-baring Alaïa dress.

As always, the stars embraced high drama and fantasy with both colorful, whimsical looks and sleek, structural silhouettes. The theme allowed for boundless creativity and some of the most memorable Met Gala looks yet.

Some previous themes have taken fashion observers by surprise.

• Camp Theme (2019) – The over-the-top “camp” theme produced some of the most outrageous fashions ever seen at the Gala. Billy Porter’s Egyptian-inspired entrance carried by shirtless men and Katy Perry’s light-up chandelier dresswent beyond what most predicted.
• Punk Theme (2013) – Many attendees took the punk theme literally, with Madonna wearing a black boy scout uniform, Miley Cyrus in studded Marc Jacobs, and Cara Delevigne in spiked hair. The heavily studded, leather looks were more aggressive than the usual fashion fare.
• Manus x Machina (2016) – The technology-driven theme saw more metallic fabrics and futuristic details than expected. Claire Danes’ glow-in-the-dark organza dressand Karolina Kurkova’s marbled tech gown went in a very avant-garde direction.

Predicting Fashion Trends

Next, assessing current and upcoming fashion trends provides clues on what designers may incorporate. Fashion weeks in the months leading up to the Gala offer a runway preview of new collections. Emerging colors, patterns, and shapes on the catwalks frequently carry over to the red carpet.

Social and political events also influence the fashion landscape. After two years of lockdowns, 2022’s Met Gala featured a return to maximalism and escapism, where the theme was “Gilded Glamour” inspired by New York’s Gilded Age, indicating looks would channel late 19th century elegance with a modern twist. The cultural shifts pointed to bold, ornate clothing rather than minimalist styles.

Betting on Standout Looks

With an understanding of possible trends, attention shifts to guessing which stars will nail the theme. Focusing on style icons known for taking risks helps narrow down contenders for best dressed. Names like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Billy Porter always bring dramatic fashion statements.

Rihanna’s papal couture gown by John Galliano for Maison Margiela in 2018 remains an iconic Met moment. The extravagant robe and bejeweled mitre epitomized high fashion irreverence. In 2019, Lady Gaga stripped down to reveal four outfit changes on the pink carpet, transitioning from a voluminous fuchsia gown to black lingerie and fishnets. Zendaya made waves in a glowing Cinderella gown by Tommy Hilfiger in 2019 and a sculptural LED light-up dress by Law Roach in 2021. Kim Kardashian caused controversy in a fully covered Balenciaga ensemble in 2021, contrasting her naked dress in 2019.

The Met Gala always delivers boundary-pushing style.

Additionally, consider up-and-coming celebrities aiming to make their mark. Relative newcomers typically opt for memorable silhouettes from top designers to generate buzz. The Met Gala’s invitation-only status also means that first-time attendees have extra incentive to ensure their look generates headlines.

It also helps to examine a star’s relationships with certain brands and designers. Celebrities often forge fruitful collaborations with particular houses that design custom looks for important events. For example, Blake Lively has a close partnership with Versace, making the brand a probable source for her Gala gown.

Factor in designers’ overall aesthetics when predicting which stars they may dress. Their signature style should fit seamlessly with the celebrity’s taste and image. A rule-breaker like Janelle Monáe requires a bold designer like Iris van Herpen rather than a more traditional house.

Betting Strategy

When betting on MET Gala style, a payout typically occurs if your picks appear on official best dressed lists. Magazine roundups from Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair represent good betting benchmarks.

Since multiple celebs will be among the night’s top looks, include a range of options in your wagers. Don’t put all money on a single performer—spread bets across 4-5 potential standouts.

To maximize payout potential, you may need to place bets months in advance, before it’s known which celebrities are attending. Make educated guesses on attendees based on past years. However, adjust picks as the event nears and the guest list develops.

Leveraging insider gossip from social media and fashion sites can provide an advantage. Leaked details of custom outfits and stylist collaborations give clearer indications of who to watch for on the carpet.

Staying one step ahead requires identifying up-and-coming trends and the stars and designers most likely to embrace them. While surprises are inevitable, keeping a finger on fashion’s pulse is key to predicting and profiting from the MET Gala’s most unforgettable looks.