Normani in Christian Siriano

Let's start with something less boring, though. Normani was very cute about how good Christian was to work with -- she said, "I can be a challenge," but that he was awesome about listening to her and being willing to break the rules and such -- and she seemed very pleased with how this turned out. It IS a very modern abs-y version of something I could see a Gilded Age widow wearing. (Oh and in fact I just looked at his IG, and he cited 1875 Modernized, so yes.)

Props to her for pulling off the sideways hat.

Caroline Wozniacki in Christian Siriano

This is from his runway show, but I guess... the cloak... has a vibe?

Alexa Chung in Christian Siriano

This does not scream that era to me, nor gilded in general, but it's glam and she looks fantastic.

Shawn Mendes in Tommy Hilfiger

This is dashing and preppy as hell and I'm all about it.

He looks handsome without the overcoat, but honestly, I thought that's what sold it.

Molly Sims in Monique Lhuillier

This feels like heavily watered-down Bertha Russell.

Tessa Thompson in Carolina Herrera

The design house cited the corset as being the link to the Gilded Age, but they worked off this dress as the basis. So, custom, but... halfway. I don't think it works. It's overwhelming her. She seems lost in it, and some of that is down to the makeup.

But, it gave good stairs.

Renee Elise Goldsberry in Carolina Herrera

This is lovely. We're getting into the "would work for any occasion" portion, where nobody necessarily needs to have worn it to the Met specifically.

Ciara in Michael Kors

I mean, Ciara would wear that any day of the week, just because. (I am so tired of aggressive legs-out poses.) She talked a little about the women of the Gilded Age moving fashion forward and being modern, and tried to make a loose connection, and I appreciate it, but let's be honest: She probably just liked it and felt hot in it. Which is fair.

Sidebar: I think she is the most beautiful human alive?

Sigourney Weaver in Michael Kors

And this would as easily slide into the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which... the twain here should not meet.

Sara Sampaio in Michael Kors

But really, Kors is just doing what he does.

Addison Rae in Michael Kors

This apparently took 350 hours of hand embroidery. It is gorgeous and it is gilded, and... one way to look at this is: It's hard to blame anyone for wearing off-theme stuff that they just love, if they are never sure when the hell they'll ever get to do this again. In the end, it's you who wants not to forget the night, and you want that to be for good reasons.

For a second I thought she was carrying a pink boa, and then I realized this would ALSO have worked with a pink boa.

Eiza Gonzalez in Michael Kors

I can buy her as a 1900s nightclub act, at least.

Julianne Moore in Tom Ford

This is based on a 1962 Jackie Kennedy dress, and... I mean, shrug.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Deb always looks like she did her hair with a dinglehopper, and I kind of love her for it. She has a chair at Drinks With Broads, methinks. They look great and classic -- Hugh is on-theme just because Anna asked for white tie, I think -- but overall I feel like Tom needs to calm down and lean into the fun a bit more. That Jackie Kennedy dress is snoozeville to me.

At the Met Gala, Tom Ford Said He Doesn't Do Themes

Mmmkay.