Having been cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the Met Gala made a fashionable comeback on Tuesday, Bangkok time, with the theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”. Meant to be a night of celebration for the US, its history and its greatest designers, there were plenty of bold and sparkly looks on the Met red carpet that have had the internet buzzing since, but a few ensembles in particular have made a lasting impression on us with their subtle and rightly empowering meanings. Let’s recap:

Channeling Old Hollywood and more precisely Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly in a breathtaking Oscar de la Renta gown, the Happier Than Ever singer convinced the house of de la Renta to go completely fur-free for good as a condition to her appearing at the Met Gala in that peach tulle train gown. 

Eilish, who is vegan, has voiced her support for animal rights multiple times in the past, posting on her Instagram this time: “Thank you @oscardelarenta for designing this BEAUTIFUL dress and bringing my ideas and vision to life. It was an honor to wear this dress knowing that going forward Oscar de la Renta will be completely fur-free!!!! I am beyond thrilled that @fernandogarciam1205 and @tokibunbun and the entire team heard me on this issue, and have now made a change that makes an impact for the greater good, not only for animals but also for our planet and environment too. I'm honored to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter. I urge all designers to do the same.”

Alex Bolen, the brand’s CEO, told The New York Times that after his conversation with Eilish, he made the decision to stop selling fur and will refuse to work with designers who use fur.

In a custom strapless Christian Dior gown, actor and activist Yara Shahidi embodied through modern fashion Josephine Baker, a significant figure in Black American history. Yara’s gown incorporated detailed beading and was styled with a thin belt, gold tulle veil, elbow-length gloves and a braided cap and diamond choker. The actor was named a Dior global ambassador this year and worked with the French house to combine her dedication to activism and appreciation of fashion. 

American-French entertainer Josephine Baker danced her way through the country before landing in New York City in the 1920s to perform on Broadway. She later moved to France where she began to sing and then later aided the French Resistance during World War II. Shahidi once said in a video filmed for Dior #DiorStandsWithWomen, "What we know to be true is that so many young women aren't given the space to be heard consistently, to feel as though people are genuinely taking the time to understand what they're saying. And so when I go in to fight for what I believe is right, or what I believe is crucial to a certain project, I think there are many times that women—and it's only exacerbated if you are a woman of color—toe the line between being viewed as assertive and driven or aggressive. And it is important and requires constant conversation even for me to know that my being assertive, my being driven, and my being committed is not something to ever be ashamed of."

Paying homage to a powerhouse renegade black American artist through a custom Dior gown was the perfect choice for Shahidi.

Nineteen-year-old Indigenous model and climate activist Quannah Chasinghorse made herself known at the Met Gala in the best way possible. Quannah is from Hän Gwich’in, a tribe found in Alaska and Canada, and Lakota, a tribe found in South Dakota. It was important for her to be able to represent her Indigenous roots and culture at fashion’s biggest night of the year, as Native American culture has been misrepresented in fashion all too often. Working together with designer Peter Dundas, Chasinghorse wore a gold lamé dress with chain accents and a cape meant to give off the illusion of wings. Reflecting her ties to the Navajo tribe as well, Quannah wore her aunt’s turquoise and silver pieces.

The model expresses in an Instagram post: “Words can’t describe my gratitude to those who made it possible for me to attend my first Met Gala. A HUGE special thanks to my auntie @jocelynbillyupshaw , former Miss Navajo Nation, let me borrow her Turquoise jewelry to wear with the dress. It’s extremely special that I was able to showcase beautiful TRUE (native) American “culture”. I did not celebrate American independence (nor will I ever), I celebrated my indigenous bloodlines coursing through my veins as I hold so close and sacred to my heart because over and over again my people fought genocide and WE ARE STILL HERE! The turquoise represents protection, guidance and love. All of which I felt walking the red carpet with the spirit of my ancestors walking with me. Truly is an empowering feeling knowing that my presence brings much needed visibility to indigenous beauty, fashion, art, and our communities, along with many of the things we face as a collective. Thank you everyone for the support and love. It means THE WORLD TO ME!”

Dutch trans makeup guru and beauty vlogger Nikkie de Jager, better known by Youtuber moniker NikkieTutorials, was easily one of the night’s stars with her ethereal turquoise and floral gown and always-on-point makeup. However, what was more important than aesthetics was her homage to black trans icon and activist Marsha P. Johnson. Intersecting fashion, art, and politics beautifully, the dress featured a sash woven to the train that bore the words, “Pay it no mind,” Johnson’s go-to response for those who questioned her gender and way of life.  

“PAY IT NO MIND,” repeats Nikkie on Instagram, “When I got asked to join the Met Gala(!!!!!) I knew I wanted to pay homage to a trans icon who was at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots… Marsha P. Johnson paved the way for so many of us, and I hope I made my community proud tonight. This night has been so incredibly surreal….”

American poet laureate Amanda Gorman made her debut at the Met Gala wearing a custom Vera Wang gown that featured more than 3,000 individually hand-stitched crystals. Earlier this year, the young poet gained instant fame after reading an original poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Her look incorporated a book-shaped clutch that read “Give Us Your Tired”, a nod to the poem that appears on the Statue of Liberty.

Gorman told Vogue Livestream, “I wanted the energy and the spirit of my outfit to be about America welcoming the world. My duty as a poet is to try to use words to heal, to question, to interrogate.” In addition to her stellar accolades, the Harvard alum recently announced a three-year partnership with Estée Lauder as not only their brand ambassador but also their first Global Changemaker to lead discussions on the meaning of self-expression within the beauty industry. Gorman will also be responsible for curating the brand’s new initiative, Writing Change, which strives to advance literacy among women, for equality and accessibility for social change.

The Umbrella Academy star came out as transgender earlier this year and amidst all the sparkles at the Met Gala, Elliot Page made his debut wearing an oversized black Balenciaga suit with chunky sneakers and a hidden queer message. Pinned to his chest was a green rose, symbolic of a green colored flower Oscar Wilde had famously been pictured in. The prolific Irish poet and playwright was persecuted for his sexuality in the late nineteenth century, and the green carnation eventually became a symbol of queerness. Although Elliot’s green flower was a rose, the overall effect was unmistakable if you’ve seen Wilde’s iconic portrait with the green carnation. Combined with Elliot’s recent journey, it was a message of solidarity in a world that hasn’t yet eradicated extreme discrimination and even violence towards the LGBTQ+ community.