Met Gala Best Dressed 2024

A blog by London Fashion Illustrator Elyse Blackshaw

The Met Gala, controversial in its sheer excessiveness and wealth yet an utterly fabulous explosion of artistic talent, from curation to red carpet looks. Flamboyant, conceptual fashion all in one place with a stunning backdrop, the Met Gala is a fashion illustrators dream.

Fashion Illustrations, the morning after the Met Gala 2024

It begins every year on the first Monday in May at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York at 6pm. This means for London based illustrators, we are waiting up until 11pm to start drawing! I must admit I only made it until 1am with only a warm up drawing and 2 of my favourite looks. I am yet to catch up, but here is what I capture in my Met Gala live coverage.

I began with a warm up of Philip Treacy's Spring 2000 rose headpiece inspired by Steven Meisel's photograph for Vogue Magazine May 2024. Using Clairefontaine paper, I mapped out the outlines in white acrylic to sketch the portrait. For the face, looking at the model Elizabeth Debicki in the image, I used a 005 fine liner for the outlines and mixed media for colour.

As one of the official 2024 Met Gala hosts, actor Gwendoline Christie brought theatrical couture to the red carpet in a custom creation designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela. Being the star of the show in Margiela's spring 2024 couture collection, it was no surprise Gwendonline would be back bringing a sense of drama to Galliano's new creation. Her romantic gaze created by the iconic MUA Path McGrath, blood orange, silk velvet silhouette and sheer tulle black opera coat against the hazy backdrop was a dream to observe and a pleasure to illustrate!

Another Met Gala co-host, Zendaya also stunned in John Galliano for Maison Margiela. As a fashion illustrator, I am always looking for the right pose to capture. As Zendaya worked for the press, the A-List star looks over the shoulder with smouldering eyes as the ocean blue wave crashed over the back. I am yet to illustrate the surprise second red carpet look, a never-worn vintage Givenchy couture gown from its spring/summer 1996 collection.

There were some emerging designers on the red carpet this year, so I will make a special effort to represent the new fashion talent that can get overlooked. With so many looks to capture, I can't draw quick enough! I have also been wondering what the Met Gala would be liked if it was set in London, with Fashion East and Central Saint Martins designers being as playful and conceptual as ever... The Tate Gala? The V&A Gala? Let's make it happen...

Up Next - I am back answering some frequently asked questions: How do you manage creative play and business?