Lena Waithe in Carolina Herrera

This was, I think, sincerely iconic -- simple, brilliant, and beautiful. (I will also link to Heather's contemporaneous take on it, which I think was very good.)

Evan Rachel Wood in Altuzarra

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Michael Kors

And this was glorious. Karla Welch, on her Instagram at the time, said this was inspired by the color of some priestly vetements (a lot of people were inspired by vetements).

Katy Perry

I'm just not sure what this is referencing??????????? What is she?!?!?!?!!!! (I am joking. This is very on the nose.)

Zendaya in Versace

This was UNFORGETTABLY amazing. SO good; arguably one of the best Met Gala looks of the modern era.

Shailene Woodley in Ralph Lauren

I'm just going to reprint what I wrote at the time: "I kinda feel bad for Shailene. And also for Ralph Lauren. Because this...is...really not good in comparison. It feels like a sad designer imposter. I don't think this would have worked even in a vacuum — why does it seem to be made of plastic?!? — but in comparison...I mean. I'm sorry, Shailene."

Lili Reinhart in H&M

And also for Lili: "This is also sort of....Sexy Renaissance Foot Soldier, like she MAYBE used to live in the background of a noteworthy Biblical painting that involves a lot of people pulling swords on each other and an aggravated-looking selection of apostles. (Hello, I took several art history classes, but that was 20 years ago.)  

Olivia Munn in H&M

This -- also H&M! -- was excellent, though.

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren

Ralph REALLY bounced back for Priyanka, though. This was swoonsville.

Amal (in Richard Quinn) and George Clooney

Hey, it's our erstwhile intern! This was good on Amal -- roses, of course, play a large role in Catholic iconography, and I am a bit surprised more people didn't go for that.

Naomi Watts in Michael Kors

This lil' cape situation -- very reminscent of various iterations of priestly garments -- popped up a lot. This is VERY GOOD.

Sarah Jessica Parker (in D&G) and Andy Cohen

This was exactly what I wanted from people, at this Met Gala, and at them all: Tiny fancy buildings on heads.

Doutzen Kroes

"Mmmkay, but imagine if the Virgin Mary needed a SUITSUIT COVER-UP????"

Yara Shahidi in Chanel

I love her, but this was a flop -- I blame Chanel, though. (And maybe whoever thought the fascinator would add something?)

Liu Wen

HOW IS SHE SO GOOD AT THIS?

Issa Rae in Michael Kors

I believe this and the previous gown are both Michael Kors and Michael pulled it together this year.

Greta Gerwig in The Row

But I confess that my faves from this Met Gala are the ones where people looked VERY COSTUMEY. Like here, Greta Gerwig is a very very rich woman who has pledged herself to the Church.

Maya Hawke

And this was like WHAT IF THE REFORMATION...WERE SEXY?!?!

Lena Dunham

And here, I'm just going to reprint what Heather wrote: "This looks like a young Elizabeth Tudor, brimming with a jealous rage and plotting ways to push Robert Dudley's wife down the stairs. (Which someone eventually maybe actually DID.) The Hannah Horvath take on Elizabeth I would be a fairly entertaining SNL sketch."  ACCURATE.

Jourdan Dunn in DVF

Sure! (This theme lent itself to SO many capes.)

Kate Bosworth in Oscar de la Renta

And this is just full-on bridal, but I must admit that I love it on her.

Katharine McPhee in Georges Chakra

"I'm thinking, like, this is a low-key salute to Madonna."

Madonna in Jean Paul Gaultier

"I, Madonna, am ALSO a low-key salute to Madonna." (She apparently perform "Like a Virgin" and "Like a Prayer" inside, which is as it should be, and also something I would have died to see.)

Jennifer Lopez in Balmain

I really did think we'd see more of this. (Both the giant crosses AND the Balmain)

Taylor Hill

"I did not have TIME, okay? I GOT THIS AT AHHS."

Tessa Thompson in Thom Browne

"Wait, WHAT'S the theme? Oh. Hmm. Okay! Just throw a priest's collar on me!"

Ming Xi

This is DREAMY.

Selena Gomez in Coach

This is a nightmare. I hope Coach takes this downtime to re-examine their choices.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Ralph Lauren

I think the star of this is that amazing, delicate hairpiece halo. It's so good.

Jeremy Scott and Cardi B

Cardi is ALSO good at the Met. A LOT of people went very Costume Drama for this, and I appreciate it.

Sarah Paulson in Prada

This is not my FAVORITE thing that Lady Paulson has ever worn.

Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

"We're the witches you tried and failed to burn."

Katherine Langford in Prada

I'd forgotton about this, and I LOVE IT.

Claire Danes in Marni

I love that someone pulled out the Marni. It feels very Claire.

Shawn Mendes and Hailey Baldwin

Remember this PR-manufactured relationship??

Amanda Seyfried in Prada

This feels very Vanessa-Redgrave-in-Camelot to me, which is -- for the record -- a massive compliment.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Having seen season two of Fleabag now, it feels SO VERY RIGHT that PWB wore a dress with a print from The Joy of Sex on it to a Catholic Church-themed gala.

Emilia Clarke in D&G

I suspect her make-up is intentionally cherubic BUT I'm not sure it totally works.

Kerry Washington in Ralph Lauren

Metallics, always a safe bet.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

It was, and remains, a pleasant surprise to see her in a color.

Lana Del Rey in Gucci

Maybs a bit on the nose, Lana.

Frances McDormand

I guess if you're going to the Met Gala, GO TO THE MET GALA. (This was the year she won the Oscar for...I've already forgotten.)

Bella Hadid in Gareth Pugh x Chrome Hearts

Bella can really kind of carry off Wicked Queen.

Sza in Versace

And she looks so perfectly angelic. She also gave a very charming interview where she admitted that she kept accidentally poking people with her headpiece. I'm sure she wasn't alone.

Mindy Kaling

I hope Mindy wears this crown around the house.

Anne Hathaway in Valentino

This was also EXCELLENT. This was actually a very good Met Gala carpet.

Anya Taylor-Joy in D&G

This is ALSO great.

Lily Collins in Givenchy

Even this is pretty cool.

Hailee Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung

And I loved Hailee's Weird Angel. (This feels very inspired by the Baz Luhrmann Romeo and Juliet to me.)

Janelle Monae in Marc Jacobs

Janelle Monae WOULD make a tremendous Flying Nun.

Gabrielle Union

She looks fab, but this might have been better for like Cannes?

Cara Delevingne in Dior

"This is about....umm....the Inquisition?"

Juliette Binoche

Truly, her whole head looks like a painting.

Ariana Grande and Vera Wang

This was good on Ariana, and I enjoy how pleased Vera seems to be with her handiwork.

Cynthia Erivo in Valentino

I'm not totally sure HOW thematic this is -- a lot of higher ups in the church got to wear this color? Sure! (I only know that from The Borgias). 

Solange in Iris van Herpen

This was SO cool.

Paris Jackson in Stella McCartney

As I said at the time, this looks like a costume from a VERY expensive but historically inaccurate STARZ series. That's not bad, actually?

Alek Wek in H&M

This was quite luxe.

Jasmin Sanders

"I'll show you luxe!"

Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent

Meanwhile, this is just a tablerunner and a piece of ribbon.

Salma Hayek

"I decided to dress as a wall tapestry!"

Blake Lively in Versace

Oh, yes, I stuck some iconic ones back here at the end of this slideshow! I wanted to spread them out. This was superb.

Gigi Hadid in Versace

And this is one of the best things she's ever worn.

Diane Kruger

I shall allow it.

Nicki Minaj

The woman brought a guy dressed as the Pope as her date to the Grammys one year. She already did this.

ScarJo and ColJo

Ah, yes. This was Marchesa, and truly we were in the midst of the Weinstein Shitshow when she wore this. It was basically the first major Marchesa worn after the news about Harvey was confirmed by the NYT. As I said at the time: This dress isn't good enough to go out on a limb for. 

Emily Ratajkowski

On brand. (But kinda good?)

Kim Kardashian in Mugler

I'm sorry, but I think Kimberly actually looks GREAT in this.

Lily Alridge in Ralph Lauren

This is so slouchy and cool, and the jewelry is epic.

Mary J Blige

I have no hateration here

Rihanna in Maison Margiela

Don't worry. I would NEVER have forgotten Rihanna.

The 2018 Met Gala Got All Catholic On Us

Get ready for a LOT of blinged out crosses.