Kim Kardashian at MET Gala 2024

Take a deep a dive with us into what American media personality and businesswoman Kim Kardashian wore to the MET Gala 2024.

Photographer: Nick Knight

Stylist: Danielle Levi
Outfit: Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano
Makeup Artist: Mario Dedivanovic
Hairstylist: Chris Appleton using Color Wow and Shark Beauty
Manicurist: Kim Truong using The Gel Bottle
Jewelry: Lorraine Schwartz

It took me some days to write this article but the amount of information I had to dissect and bring to you was so much that I had to work it into different stages.

If there is also a thing that I can tell you is that my mental health fluctuates and I need to take my time and bring myself to a place where I can actually feel like I contribute to this society in a meaningful way, something that I do struggle with a lot because of my perfectionism.

I wanted to dig deep into a designer that means so much to me, however polarizing he can be perceived and however polarizing is the client he dressed for the MET Gala this year.

If you guessed correctly, you should know that I am talking about John Galliano and Kim Kardashian, who I must say, is very respectful of the artists she collaborates with, a huge plus for me and what I do here.

But let’s get into the nitty-gritty aspects of the situation now.

According to the brand’s Instagram, Kim donned a custom Maison Margiela “pale grey thistle-washed boiled cashmere cardigan brushed to achieve a swan’s-down texture worn in a déshabillé gesture and draped over a corset made from an eighteenth century antique brocade fabric rewoven in jacquard silver threads and an ‘exfoliage’ skirt hand-wired in a ‘filigrading’ of silver metal formations of lace, flowers, leaves and sprigs interlinked with silver chain and floral motifs cut from mirror fragments, and bedecked with crystal pendants, pearls and clasped jewellery”.

The silhouette was inspired by the symbiotic love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and her jewellery while the look further reflected on the notion of ‘Unconscious Glamour’ (originated in the brand’s Artisanal Collection Spring-Summer 2017), meaning the evocation of iconography that resonates as glamorous in our collective awareness.
 
The crafting of the skirt took over a thousand hours and the hand-embroidered form was meant to refract the light in the manner of jewelry.

Alexis Roche–who is the brand and celebrity consultant for Dior and John Galliano–wrote on his Instagram a very imaginative story that can put us into the mindset Kim was in while posing on the red carpet:

“Once upon a time, in a world where enchantment and wonder intertwined, there bloomed a secret garden that possessed the power to transcend reality itself. In the depths of the night, as dreams wove their intricate tapestry, Kimberly found herself immersed in a realm of unimaginable beauty. As the first rays of the sun gently embraced the horizon, its warmth stirred her from the reverie, awakening her senses.

Yet, with each new dawn, the bittersweet realization dawned upon her that she must bid farewell to those ethereal dreams and embark on a journey of exhilarating uncertainty. As she tenderly closed the gate of the secret garden, a profound anguish seized the majestic beast who stood as a silent witness to her departure. It was a love that could never find fulfillment, as fate had decreed their paths would never intertwine again.

In a final act of desperate longing, the beast cast a spell, transforming Kimberly’s fragile silk satin dress into an eternal masterpiece of armor. Fashioned from the purest white gold, adorned with shimmering crystals and delicate mirror flowers, it became a symbol of her eternal captivity. Forever trapped within the confines of her enchanting allure, she became a prisoner of her own physical form, forever yearning for a love that could never be.”

In simpler terms, while chatting with Vogue, the fashion mogul imagined having the best night of her entire life with the most magical person while being out and about in a garden. After having overslept, waking up after the best night of her life and needing to run while her dress was falling off because it was “one of those nights”, grabbing her boyfriend’s sweater to make it where she has to be.

Kind of a direct reference to her going to an event and having to make it home by 6:00 AM to get to carpool when real life happens and maybe she’s in the makeup from the night before, with bedhead hair but that’s just how her life goes.

The look was paired with a Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring on her right pinky and transparent shoes without a heel in order not to get it stuck in the metal skirt. She had to tip toe the whole night, trying to balance herself, that’s why sometimes her face looked unnatural in the photos–she also needed the height because she’s not that tall and it would compromise the dress, add the corset to the whole thing, if that wasn’t enough.

On Youtube, a commentator made a point that I think is worth reporting regarding the sweater she’s wearing: “The pilled cardigan is a reference to Margiela‘s Fall 1997 collection and is a symbolic representation of how fabrics and materials age through time. Considering that the dress code and general theme of the Met Gala 2024 was the “Garden of Time” the look is a smart allusion.

In my opinion when you have to explain a costume it means that there’s more than meets the eye. I think it’s far more interesting to discover new meanings than to satisfy yourself with something so self explanatory, flat and in your face that there’s nothing more to add, no layers to peel, no hidden understanding and no search that leads to knowledge and comprehension.”

I absolutely agree with this statement.

For added context I would love to leave you with this incredible piece of knowledge that fashion journalist and author Alexander Fury eloquently wrote about the origin of the technique used for this dress and the references Galliano never forgets to embed in his work.

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Needless to say that the makeup was very natural and airy to reflect the feelings they were trying to convey and Kardashian‘s friend and MUA Mario Dedivanovic used his own Makeup by Mario products to paint her face while the skin prep was courtesy of Kim‘s line SKKN.

Here is the list, according to Dedivanovic and the skincare brand:

– SurrealSkin™ Foundation in ‘14 O’
– SurrealSkin™ Awakening Concealer in ‘320’
– Master Blade® Brow Pencil in ‘Classic Brunette’
– Master Pigment Pro® Pencil in ‘The Perfect Brown’
– Master Mattes® Eyeshadow Palette: The Neutrals

– SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® in ‘Light Medium’
– Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in ‘Perfect Pink’
– Soft Pop Powder Blush in ‘Poppy Pink’ and ‘Mellow Mauve’

– Master Secret Glow®
– SoftSculpt® Bronzer in ‘Light Medium’
– Ultra Suede® Sculpting Lip Pencil in ‘Smokey Pink’
– Ultra Suede® Lipstick in ‘Sam’

Face prep with SKKN:
⁃ Toner – to help plump and smooth the skin
– Face Cream + Oil Drops – for Kim’s signature glow
– Eye Cream – for rested-looking eyes

As we mentioned above, the hair was styled by Chris Appleton to reflect the idea of someone who has just woken up but didn’t have time to get ready, hence why the messy and slightly frizzy waves.

Appleton used Color Wow products and Shark Beauty tools to achieve the desired result and here is what you need to know (all details are courtesy of the pro and the brands involved):

“Prep the hair with Color Wow Money Mist Leave In Conditioner and Dream Coat Curly to ensure a glossy, frizz-free look. Then, use the Curl-Defining Diffuser attachment on the new Shark Beauty FlexStyle Sparkle in Black Diamond with high heat and low air settings. Use Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray to add volume and movement to the hair. Use the Oval Brush attachment to smooth bangs and frame the face. Next use the two 1.25” Auto-Wrap Curlers attachment throughout the hair, followed by a quick pass with a small barrel curling iron on a few pieces for added dimension. Spray with hairspray to hold the style. Braid into a loose braid and pin off to the side.”

Let’s conclude this article with her classic, elongated nails created by manicurist Kim Truong and a little how-to.

Truong used The Gel Bottle DesignEx Pro tips in a long stiletto shape, creating a custom shape by rounding off the tip for a softer look. Kim opted for a semi sheer sleek, long nail style using The Gel Bottle in ‘Precious‘ which the pro cured using The Gel Bottle Light The Way nail lamp.
Then, she applied another coat of The Gel Bottle in ‘Marshamallow‘ and cured again.

The brand suggests applying both coats of the polish thinly for a sheer and soft effect, sealing the deal with Extreme Shine Topcoat.

According to the nail artist, Kim and her stylist Danielle Levi wanted her long nail style to feel feline and sexy and it not only enhanced the elegance of her hands but also added an extra touch of sophistication to her entire ensemble.

Levi makes sure that Kim‘s style keeps on being on everyone’s mood board while also keeping everyone guessing what her next move might be. Kim is one of those people who don’t care about the comfort but about the vision and when this is the premise, your possibilities are endless.

Levi knows that when the Skims founder has something in mind there is no stopping her and that her connections run so deep that she’ll eventually find a way and I can honestly say that I admire that about Kim, it’s very far from her beginnings as a non conventional hustler, because in those days the fashion circle was way more elitist than today but she nevertheless persevered and conquered.