Met Gala 2019: how the men slayed the red carpet with their outfits

With a theme of Camp: Notes on Fashion, the women played it safe while the men showed us what extravagance really means

Billy Porter arrives at the 2019 Met Gala 'Camp: Notes on Fashion', carried on a golden litter. EPA

Once arrived, Billy Porter wore a gold sequined cat suit with golden feathered 'wings.' Reuters

Harry Styles wore high waisted black trousers and a sheer black shirt, with cravat to the Met Gala. Reuters

Alessandro Michele of Gucci wore a pink ruffled satin top and trousers, and even wore hair extensions for the night. Reuters

Actor Cole Sprouse wore a boldly embroidered shirt and contrasting sleeveless jacket for the event. AFP

While Gigi Hadid looked ethereal in silvery white, it was designer Michael Kors in a flared tuxedo and top hat that stole the show. EPA

Rapper Anderson Paak arrived in a brocade jacket and pink trousers. The half moon glasses and felted hat was a nice touch. EPA

As the President of Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth knows a thing or two about being theatrical. EPA

US screenwriter Ryan Murphy (left) arrived in a shimmering high collared cape that was an intriguing blend of Emperor Ming and My Little Mermaid. EPA

While costume designer Catherine Martin wore sequins and hot pink feathers, it was the Australian director Baz Luhrmann, in his double breasted, embellished, tan suit that nailed the theme. EPA

Fittingly for the CEO and President of Gucci, Marco Bizzarri donned a purple suit, picked out with silver beading. Petra Collins meanwhile, wore Gucci SS19. AFP

Australian singer and dancer Keiynan Lonsdale arrived in a gown made of butterflies, finished with a hot pink wig. EPA

Actress Lena Waithe and fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond wore matching looks to the event, fittingly stitched with the lyrics to a Diana Ross song. AFP

While Singer Jennifer Lopez looked ridiculous in 'look at me' silver, we should all take time to savour the delicate shade of lilac of Alex Rodriguez tuxedo. AFP

Presenter Michael Urie looked fabulous in a pastiche half gown/half tuxedo look, proving that fashion is never about taking oneself too seriously. AFP

Josephine Skriver was dressed like a modern day Little Bo Peep, while her (unnamed) companion outshone her in artfully mismatched florals. AFP

Yes, Ciara looked fabulous in emerald green and huge hair, but full marks go to designer Peter Dundas in his embellished "Elvis, the Vegas years" suit and matching shirt, perfectly complimented by the vertical black and gold stripes of their (unidentified) companion. AFP

Odell Beckham Jr nailed the sense of play by donning a sleeveless jacket and shirt (complete with bow tie), paired with a kilt, perfectly finished with platform boots and mismatched socks. AFP

Lewis Hamilton embraced the 1990's boy band look with shimmering suit and headband. Note the serious jewels he is wearing. Reuters

Wearing be-jewelled, floor lengt crimson, Jared Leto arrived carrying his own head. Reuters

Having met at the Met Gala a few years ago, it was nice to see the newlyweds Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in attendance. Jonas looked amazing in crisp white - and matching shawl - grounded with glittery boots. Sadly, his bride missed the mark completely. Reuters

Fashion designer Richard Quinn looked astonishing in full florals (including platform boots) and jeweled chin strap, while model Lily Aldridge looked elegant but predictable. Reuters

While the world was going crazy for Zendaya's light up Cinderella gown, somehow everyone overlooked that Law Roach wore a lavender hooded coat, with magenta cravat. EPA

Actor Ezra Miller arrived on the red carpet wearing a jeweled corset and surrealist make up. EPA

Looking like a modern day Oscar Wilde, Benedict Cumberbatch strode the red carpet in head to toe white, and carrying a cane. His wife, Sophie Hunter wore palest lilac. EPA

Ezra Miller's outfit was so theatrical it deserves a second mention. Here he arrives at the event in a silver cape and carrying a mask, as if attending a masquerade ball. Reuters

New York's annual Met Gala is one of the highlights of the fashion calendar, and last night's fiesta was no exception. With a theme of Camp: Notes on Fashion the evening was open for endless interpretation and unspeakable glamour.

Disappointingly, however, the women favoured the blindingly obvious. Kim Kardashian West looked like an overstuffed sausage (was her dress actually just Sellotape?), while Jennifer Lopez posed and pouted like an wanna-be influencer. Too many wore play-it safe dresses, read pretty but predictable, and often showing lamentable amounts of skin. In fact only a few stood out for their bold choices. Step forward Katy Perry, who earned our undying respect for dressing as a chandelier (complete with lightbulbs), and Cardi B, who is just living her best life in untold yardage of tulle.

For the real costume drama however, it was left to the boys to embrace the theatricality of the theme, and thankfully, they just ran with the endless possibilities. Alessandro Michele of Gucci wore head to toe raspberry ruffled satin, while actor Jared Leto carried his own head like a post apocalypse handbag.

Actor Billy Porter managed to upstage even his own Oscar's gown, arriving to the Met carried shoulder high on a golden litter, teaching us all a thing or two about how to make an entrance. It was a fabulous spectacle, exactly as it should have been.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you our favourite outfits of the night.