Emily Ratajkowski at MET Gala 2021

Stylist: Emma Jade Morrison
Outfit: custom Vera Wang by Vera Wang
Makeup Artist: Linda Hay using Pat McGrath Labs
Facialist: Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine
Hairstylist: Jennifer Yepez assisted by Jalia Robinson using Hidden Crown Hair and TRESemmé
Manicurist: Mo Qin
Clutch: Tyler Ellis
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Jewelry: Gismondi 1754

I tried to postpone writing about Emily Ratajkowski‘s red carpet appearance at last year’s MET Gala because the amount of work required was definitely a lot. What can I say? That I was so mesmerized by it that I couldn’t wait anymore, so here it is.

Emily looked ravishing in a custom Vera Wang crimson red silk plunging strapless gown with a trumpet silhouette accented by hand sewn macramé lace appliqué and cut-away details. The gown was worn with a crimson red hand cut silk organza floral neck piece.

The dress was a sort of tribute to Vera Wang‘s bridal red collection she did in the 2000s. The predominant colors were crimson, cherry, wine and ruby.

*Vera Wang* Spring 2013 Bridal Collection

Ratajkowski went for a romantic and easy vibe, as if she just picked out the dress, wore it and it fit her perfectly. The big “messy” hair and dreamy makeup reflected that; also, she was surrounded by a glam team of people she trusts and whose work she respects.

The “In Darkness” actress accessorized her ensemble with Gismondi 1754 Cascata diamond earrings, a Tyler Ellis Lee Pouchet clutch in cherry red satin and Stuart Weitzman custom-dyed Bonita platform sandals.

Her makeup looked incredible and pretty much in line with what the model usually does on herself, but this time Emily trusted the expert hands of Linda Hay to paint her face, here is the breakdown (slightly edited for clarity):

SKIN
– Pat McGrath Labs – Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
(probably in the shade Light Medium #12);
– Pat McGrath Labs – Skin Fetish: Concealer (probably in the shade L7);
– Pat McGrath Labs – Skin Fetish Highlighter and Balm Duo in “Golden”;
– Pat McGrath Labs – Skin Fetish: Sublime Skin Highlighter for extra glow;
– Pat McGrath Labs – Skin Fetish: Divine Blush in “Nymphette”;
EYES
– Pat McGrath Labs – Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream Palette using “Secret Eden”, “Bronze Desire”, “Cosmic Bloom”, “Xtreme Plum Noir” & “Skin Nude Xtasy”;
– Pat McGrath Labs – Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in “Black Coffee”;
– Pat McGrath Labs – FetishEYES Mascara in “Black”;

LIPS
– Pat McGrath Labs – Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in “Half Naked”;
– Pat McGrath Labs – MatteTrance Lipstick in “1995”;
– Pat McGrath Labs – Lust: Lip Gloss in “Faux Real”.

Emily‘s hair was meant to be up, though, according to what hairstylist Jennifer Yepez revealed to InStyle: “At the fitting, she put her hair up and it just didn’t look right, so she took it down and that’s how the idea came about. She messaged me saying, ‘Hair will be down’, so we thought we would keep it full and gorgeous and beautiful and effortless, which is very much Emily‘s vibe.”

In an interview for Byrdie, Jepez detailed the full process: “After washing and conditioning her hair and applying plenty of damage-mitigating heat protection spray, Yepez layered in some TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse and began blowdrying with a medium-barreled round brush. […] Once her hair dried, Yepez sectioned off one piece at the nape of the neck and started placing volumizing extensions. […] Yepez used Hidden Crown 22-Inch Hair Extensions in colors #2 and #3, layering them in sections up her head. With the extensions firmly in place, Yepez then ran a flat iron through large sections of her hair to form soft waves. As a finishing touch, Yepez sprayed TRESemmé Dry Texture Spray all over for volume and texture—and secured any rogue flyaways with hairspray spritzed on a flat brush (a toothbrush also works).”