Hidden Nods to the Gilded Glamour Met Gala Red Carpet Theme

This year’s Met Gala was memorable, to say the least. From glamorous newlywed ring debuts to ornate, all-gold ensembles and detachable dresses, heads were spinning at the event’s red carpet. The broad 2022 theme of “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” left a lot of room for creative interpretation, allowing celebrity guests and designers alike the opportunity to make a statement.

As always, we got a wonderful peek into fashion’s most elite night of star-powered glamour. While some attendees are being praised for wholeheartedly embracing “Gilded Glamour,” others opted for more subtle nods of acknowledgment toward this year’s theme — and you might not have noticed them all at first glance. Watching the Met Gala red carpet livestream can be excitingly overwhelming, after all, so you might have overlooked the smaller, sneakier details that are actually incredibly thoughtful and contribute to great American storytelling.

From Hillary Clinton’s embroidered homage to Riz Ahmed’s spotlight on immigrant workers and their untold, unglamorous version of the Gilded Age, the most meaningful stories woven throughout were often hidden and so faint, they were barely even visible to the naked eye. We’re breaking down the details in order to truly appreciate the thought that went into making some of these looks — including jewelry, gown embellishments, and even makeup.

Ahead, our favorite hidden nods to “Gilded Glamour.”