We love a good red-carpet event, and this years Met Gala was brimming with fantastic looks and more importantly, fantastic nails.
On Monday evening, the gala celebrated the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring exhibition. This year it focuses on 50 historically priceless pieces that are too delicate to ever be worn again. With the theme of Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, the exhibition features delicate outfits ranging from the 17th century to the 21st.
The dress code was “The Garden in Time”, inspired by a story by JG Ballard of the same name. Written in 1962, “The Garden in Time” follows a Count and his majestic Countess, who reside in a secluded villa, described as an ethereal paradise that’s surrounded by a bountiful garden. So, it goes without saying that this year’s looks take huge inspiration from nature.
The guest line up was incredible for the 2024 Met Gala and each attendee was inspired to dip into the archives for their looks. The entrance to the gala was decked out in gorgeous flower walls, and the usual red carpet was swapped out for an enchanting cream carpet with soft green edges, to recreate the look of a garden path. The magical decoration really set the tone for the event.
So now you know a little about the theme around the 2024 Met Gala… let’s take a look at the nails.
1. Zendaya
Dune actress and general icon, Zendaya, wore a magnificent dress and matching head piece. Inspired by a 1999 Dior archive, this look was created by John Galliano. The mixture of striking blue and deep forest green is a new and edgier look for the a-list actress. The stunning fit featured multiple embellishments, bunches of fruit, leaves and even a hummingbird. From the colour palette, to the play on texture, this look really nailed the theme.
Her nails were kept short and sleek, complementing her bold burgundy lip colour perfectly. She opted for almond shape nails, adding a feminine touch to this dark, berry brown look. To get this met gala mani, Glitterbels recommend the Hema Free Gel Polish in shade “Squished Berry”.
2. Nicki Minaj
If any outfit is going to brighten up your first day back after the Bank Holiday weekend, its this one. Rap superstar, Nicki Minaj, rocked a yellow Marni mini dress. Covered in 3D metal flowers, each different in size, shape and colour, this was one of the most colourful looks of the evening.
Everything about this look was bold and abstract. Even her iconic bobbed hairstyle was finished off with a bubble braid, continuing the play on shape. She executed the theme perfectly and her outfit was fun and playful, an amazing match for her.
Her nail artist took a more reserved approach, opting for a soft pink manicure. This delicate petal pink shade complemented her look. A subtle shade that didn’t clash or overshine her overall fit. Classic and timeless. To recreate this look, we recommend shade “Just Delicious” from the Glitterbels Hema Free Builder-bel Gel collection.
3. Lil Nas X
We love that Lil Nas X takes risks with his red carpet looks and this year’s Met Gala is no different. The singer and rapper even went as far as to match his hair colour to his suit. The soft white ensemble was created by Luar and featured an asymmetrical look, decked out in sparkling stones from head to toe… and fingertips.
Taking inspiration from his bejewelled outfit, his nail technician created a glass nail look, that was adorned with sparking, silver gems. If sparkling was the objective, Lil Nas X and his team take the prize. To ensure your “Glass” nails are always clear, we recommend the Glitterbels Core Powder in shade “Glass Slippers”.
4. Tyla
For her first ever Met Gala appearance, singer Tyla hit the ball out of the park. Her sand sculpted dress was created by Balmain. This gorgeous outfit makes reference to the “Sands of Time” a play on the theme for the 2024 Met Gala. Tyla mentioned to Vogue editors that she wanted “to do something creative, something completely different for her first Met Gala.”
It's known that many attendees tend to play it safe and sometime completely miss the mark, but Tyla and the team at Balmain captured this year’s theme wonderfully.
One of her few accessories was an hourglass handbag, paired with some minimal jewellery. This lowkey styling only made her nails pop more. Each fingernail was dripping in crystals, making it look like little beads of water were falling from her fingertips. The soft beige pink base was the perfect choice to match her sandy look.
To recreate this look, we recommend Glitterbels Acrylic Powder in shade “Crème Brûlée”.
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid is no stranger to walking the Met Gala carpet and this time she did it in a gorgeous Thom Browne gown. The beautiful, yellow rose appliqués took more the 13,500 hours to create and was made by hand by a team of more than 70 people.
The fabulous skirt and train of the dress was made to look like a suit jacket, a nod to Thom Browne’s usual, yet classic men’s suits. Her nail tech popped off, using the sweeping, 3D floral design for the manicure. We loved this matching look. To create this set we would recommend the Glitterbels 3D Acrylic brush as well as the Glitterbels Acrylic powder in shade “Honey”.
6. Cardi B
We’re not sure how Cardi’s dress links to the theme, but we aren’t that bothered either, because her nails were sickening. The Pop/Hip hop artist took to the carpet in the biggest and most extravagant gown of the evening. The black tule dress covered majority of the floor and Cardi needed 9 extra assistants to move for photos. The gorgeous ensemble was created by Chinese designer Windowsen and was paired with enchanting emerald jewellery.
In typical Cardi B fashion, more is more and the same is said for her nails. The star wore a Russian almond shaped set, filed to perfection to make each side razor sharp, a stunning contrast to the softness of her dress. A simple design was all that was needed, opting for shape and colour play over design intracity. To re-create this look we recommend the shades “Forbidden Forest” and “In the Buff” from the Glitterbels Acrylic Powder Collection.
7. Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor donned an extremely detailed red gown. Adorned with roses and her blonde hair swept up in a vintage updo, this dress screams opulence. With is lush velvet material and strategic draping, created by The Blonds, this romantic look was perfect for the singer-songwriter and actress.
Her nails matched perfectly, her nail tech decided to add even more texture to her overall look, using 3D roses to complement her dress. To achieve this look we recommend using the Glitterbels 3D Acrylic Brush and Acrylic Powder in shade “Red Light District”. For the neutral base, we recommend shade “Pinkerbel Cover”.
8. Ariana Grande
Pop princess and actress, Ariana Grande wore a breath-taking, bespoke corseted dress by Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano. The mother of pearl corset and dove grey skirt, gave of an ethereal look, paired with the fairy-winged makeup this simple look was a different take on the “nature” inspired looks we had seen prior, opting for wind and clouds over flowers and foliage. The singer wore her signature ponytail hairstyle.
Her manicure was simple and classic, the matte French tip is the perfect look for her muted outfit. To recreate this look, we recommend the Glitterbels Unbelievabel Gel in shade “White” and using the Glitterbels Magic Shiner File to matte your topcoat.
9. Sabrina Harrison
Dynamic entrepreneur, Sabrina Harrison, known for her multifaceted achievements across various industries stopped time when she walked the Met Gala carpet yesterday evening. Sporting a gorgeous golden dress, embellished with 100’s of clock faces, really sticking true to the theme. The Dali-esque outfit was created by Chrishabana.
To match her gilded look, she matched her nails to the fit with a stunning gold chrome. Glitterbels has something coming very soon, so you too can glow like a golden goddess… Keep your eyes peeled.
We really loved this year’s theme, and we feel like it was a celebration of fashion, both old and new. Giving us a deeper insight as to why it’s important to look back at some of fashion histories most important pieces. to We know that fashion goes hand in hand with beauty and all that comes with it and so for us to see so many amazing nail designs inspired by the gorgeous costumes and outfits that walked this year’s met carpet, is a fantastic source of inspiration for nail techs around the world.
“Fashion is one of the most emotional artistic forms because of its connection to the body, it is imbued with memory and emotions, and we relate to it very much via our senses. One thing I hope this show will activate is that sensorial appreciation of fashion.” – Andrew Bolton