Following the 2015 Met Gala’s generous amount of fashion inspiration, we at SPICE are looking to follow the red carpet’s lead and lend a few key details to our wardrobe in time for festival season.
And why not? With all the best dressers out for Anna Wintour’s big event – Solange, Rihanna and Beyonce all showing up in unforgettable looks (see them here) – we’d do well to work in their red carpet style for fun in the fields this Summer.
Here’s 10 ways the Met Gala should influence your festival looks, plus the pieces to shop below;
1. Have a Hefty Headpiece
The most noted accessory of the 2015 Met Gala came thanks to Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker, who headed to the event in regal-looking headgear, consisting of crowns and draped embellishes.
While Ms Jessica Parker’s was a little OTT, thanks to famed milliner, Philip Treacy, there’s no denying it made her look – and, with the right one crowning your outfit, your festival gear might also leave onlookers revelling in your headpiece’s shadow;
Try this one by Dolce & Gabbana – yours for £1,850 here.
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Love Rocks’ golden, draping headpiece, £28 here.
2. Flash the Flesh
Take a leaf out of Beyonce, JLo, Naomi Campbell or Kim K’s book, by stepping out with a certain amount of skin on show – that’s a little or a lot, depending on your level of bravery.
Sure, Bey went in with her body covered only by tiny beads, but when you’re rocking out to your favourite artist in the Summer heat, you’ll be thankful for following her lead. Plus, just look at how cute Ms Dunn looked in her cut-out gown…
Go for similar vibes in any of these items;
Warehouse’s crochet dress is mirrors the feel of the Burberry creation Jourdan Dunn was spied in and can be yours for £70 here.
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Miguelina’s crochet shorts, £135 here, will help show off your booty, Bey-style…
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…There’s these ’70s-style, flared trousers for just £15 in the sale here.
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This black, fringed crochet dress from River Island will also do the job with justice, for £50 here.
3. Try On Some Tat
And, while you’re showing off your skin, why not follow the style of British ‘It’ girl, model Cara Delevingne, who stepped out to the Met covered in temporary tattoos?
Best saved for festivals (we think), the tatted-up look certainly turned heads and Team SPICE suggests you turn your body into a canvas for your field-bound rave, via the use of any of these;
Egyptian-inspired transfers, £6.50 here.
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Nars’ temporary tats, £15 here.
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Gold metallic tats, just £5 here.
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Decorative transfers by Orelia London, £8 here.
4. Quirky Clutches
Hot on the heels of the headpiece, the clutch came out ready to define Met Gala guests’ looks – at least, that of those who really went in on the theme when getting dressed.
Showing their playful side and adding a quirky clutch in the vein of the night’s ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ dress code, Jessica Alba wore a Kenzo Tiger paw box clutch, while Chrissy Teigen rocked one in the shape of a fan.
When festival-going, sure, you’ll need to think practically about your handbag, but then who cares about the space you’ll need for carrying your money, phone and spare toilet paper, when you’ll be making clear you know how to have fun with your fashion?
Try any of these;
This Festival of Death-inspired clutch by Charlotte Olympia is killer, and so on-theme for festival-going. Yours for £1,055 here.
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This Lulu Guinness lips clutch will take your outfit over the top of best-dressed lists, and in staple black, will go with everything else you own. £245, here.
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Why not completely left, with a dinosaur clutch from THEWHITEPEPPER, just £40, here.
5. Tassled Touches
Let the tasselled lobes of Sienna Miller and the details of Selena Gomez’s dress, among others, inspire your own outfit for festival season, where the texture remains pretty key in declaring “That’s right, I’m going to a festival.”
With the detail used to bring elegant Asian vibes at the Met Gala to work its ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ theme, we at SPICE recommend framing the face with a set of tasselled earrings, or going full-on tassel-y for maximum effect when shaking your stuff in front of whomever’s stage you find yourself this Summer;
This cuff-style earring by Ileana Makri, £3,075 here, will have your ears burning, on account of all the talk about how chic you look going on.
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This Dries Van Noten tassel-effect ribbon dress, £545 here, is a must if you’re hoping to stand out fieldside, and can be paired with a leather jacket, sandals or boots even, for “I don’t give AF” dressing that others will admire.
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Try this uber cool pair of shorts, whose tasselled sides update the festival-ready staple: denim cut-offs. We at SPICE will be spied in these (£745 here) for sure.
6. Flex Feathers
On similar vibes to tassels, feathers will bring joy with a dash of ‘fancy’ to your festival look – just see Naomi Campbell and Kim K’s Met Gala ensemble for good example.
To work yours, go bold in a colourful creation or subtle via accessories – either works to take your wardrobe from “aight” to limelight.
These gold-plated Isabel Marant creations will make a subtle statement while ruffling the feathers of onlookers, and can be yours from £160, here.
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Topshop’s soft marabou bag, £30 here, will look fly hanging from your shoulder wherever you’re headed.
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Why not avoid rocking feathers literally, by donning them via print? We love this bomber jacket by Clover Canyon, £240 here.
7. High Necked Numbers
Take inspiration from the Met Gala’s 2015 theme of ‘China: Through the Looking Glass,’ by wearing a high-necked piece this Summer, a la Liya Kebede and young model, Kendall Jenner.
Team SPICE are loving these options and will layer them over shorts or a sheer maxi skirt for super stylish results;
This high-necked, mesh piece by Balenciaga will nail Kendall’s Met style, £1215 here.
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For a look that lies on the casual side, this retro, half sleeve top is our fave and will add a ’70s feel to your festival look, for £24 here.
8. Lips, Done Louder
Key to most celebs’ Met Gala look was a bold pout – crimson for the most part, as spied on the faces of Janelle Monae, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and more, as a nod to the night’s China-inspired theme, though pinks also played a part.
With Sarah Jessica Parker’s hat designed by millinery talent, Philip Treacy, we’re also looking to him for our festival lip colour – the designer having recently launched a range with MAC cosmetics, to introduce three must-wear shades, called “Cardinal,” “No Faux Pas,” and “Hollywood Cerise.”
Find yours online from £15.50, here.
9. Belt Up
With the 2015 Met Gala bringing stars out in Chinese-influenced looks, a staple on the red carpet was the cinched-in waist, with midriffs pulled together with wide, obi-style belts.
Favourites included those of actresses Sienna Miller and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and you can rock yours festival-style by nipping in the waist of an over-sized shirt-dress, or deeply-plunged jumpsuit.
We at SPICE are loving this leather, tied-up version, £20 here.
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Warehouse’s eyelet belt, £22 here.
10. Keep Fleeky in a Cape
Lastly, inspired by Rihanna’s show-stopping fur cape and Janelle Monae’s latest monochrome look, we’ll be going alternative with our festival fashion, and donning a cape for major “we brought the drama” wardrobe vibes.
Rock yours with shorts for a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t sort of skin-flaunting.
This printed cape by East African label Tirivamwe is our ultimate festival find – yours for £75, here.
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Paul & Joe’s suede, embroidered piece – £610 here – nods to the season’s ’70s trend effortlessly, while also carrying the fringed detail we talked about above.
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Ituen Basi’s fun, textured cape – £200 here – will keep ’em talking, too.
Did the 2015 Met Gala serve as inspiration for your Summer festival dressing too? Don’t forget to show us your ensembles online, by tagging us @SPICETVAFRICA.
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