Met Gala 2022 Verdict: 'The men of the Met Gala went the whole nine yards'

Let's be really honest here. The Met Gala is THE fashion moment of the year.

The Gala, which happens on the first Monday of May in New York (when an odd pandemic doesn't force its cancellation or postponement), has become one mammoth celebrity-laden costume party.

And that is actually what I really love about it.

Who doesn't love a cavalcade of indeterminate costumes? (Even though 'gilded glamour' was the actual overriding theme), especially after a few years of blah-and-bland Zoom dressing and wistful wardrobes.

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But the thing that really rocked about the Met was that each and every guest (all personally invited by the Chanel-clad Vogue doyenne, a feathered Anna Wintour) used the night as a way of expressing themselves.

Whether it was Kylie Jenner's questionable bridal outfit (an ode to the late Off-White and Louis Vuitton designer, Virgil Abloh) or Gigi Hadid's red latex catsuit and voluminous Michelin Man cape-jacket.

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What we saw were looks that were distinctly 'owned' by each of their wearers, whether you loved them or loathed them.

But let's address the mega look of the night: the fact Kim Kardashian wore the original dress Marilyn Monroe wore waaaay back in 1962, when she sang "Happy Birthday" to the then-president, John F Kennedy.

Apart from the Jean-Louis designed rhinestone dress being bought by Ripley's Believe it or Not! (believe it or not) for a cool US$5million, Kim K managed to borrow the frock for the night and admitted to having lost – gulp – seven kilograms in order to fit into it.

Kim says she is planning on keeping the blonde locks for a while.

There is a big difference between haute couture fashion and clever costumery and this is where the Met Gala nailed it.

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It is a full-on, fancy-dress party for grown-ups. I loved seeing so many men really go for it – hello, Lenny Kravitz in leather and lace and Jared Leto arrive with a doppelganger.

Whether you looked at some of the extravaganzas and died with adoration or dry-retched, we need more fashion events like this.

Where the true style colours and personal penchants of our favourite celebrities come shining through. And what's a night of fashion without some good old divisive opinions?

My Top Five looks this year:

1. Blake Lively

I loved the magical act of Blake Lively's Versace dress: one minute the train was gold and with a quick flick it turned into blue.

2. Glenn Close

The biggest pop of pink there went to iconic actor Glenn Close who chose a Valentino cape, slicked-back hair and some killer drop earrings.

3. The well-dressed men

All the men need a huge tick of approval for going the whole nine yards, with some of the most tailored looking suits I've seen: thank you, Tom Ford, Baz Luhrmann (looking more like a blonde Elvis by the moment).

Not to mention Elon Musk, who went full white tie and tails and bought an incredibly divine date, his youthful mum, Maye.

4. Kate Moss and daughter Lila Moss

Like mother like daughter, Kate Moss just gets better and better and when accompanied by her girl, Lila Grace, you couldn't get a better looking and dressed double act.

5. Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner's mega voluminous, pleat-detailed black skirt and a sheer cropped sleeveless top was pure fantasy and she nailed it the whole way.