MetGalaChallenge: The Best Instagram Posts

Photo: Courtesy of @sanja_nestorovic_

Today is the First Monday in May, which is when the annual Met Gala usually takes place. This year’s affair, which would have been themed About Time, may have been placed on hiatus, but the absence of fashion’s biggest event of the year didn’t stop fans from channelling its fabulous spirit. The #MetGalaChallenge, started by Vogue and Billy Porter, invited Instagram users to revive some of their favorite red carpet looks of the past at home—and the results certainly did not disappoint. Over the past week, many participants took on the fashion challenge, DIY’ing their own ensembles that are worthy of their very own paparazzi flashbulbs (no easy feat, considering how many stores are closed).

The standouts from the challenge were those who attempted the grandest ensembles of past red carpets. Take Lady Gaga’s show-stopping moment from last year’s camp theme (it included a whopping four different outfit changes, all designed by Brandon Maxwell). User @crescentshay recreated every single one of Gaga’s looks to perfection—she even uploaded a video of herself acting out all of the cheeky poses that Gaga performed on the pink carpet, too. (Her dad made a cameo as one of Gaga’s suited-up umbrella holders.) Going back a year, user @sanja_nestorovic_ channelled 2018’s “Heavenly Bodies” theme by taking on Rihanna’s unforgettable Maison Margiela look, complete with a cardinal hat—all crafted out of black and white newspapers.

Video: Courtesy of @crescentshay

Celebrities even got in on the challenge, too. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon served up his take on Rihanna’s 2015 Guo Pei robe gown. Mindy Kaling recreated Jared Leto’s Gucci look from last year—yes, including a prosthetic head. Instead of a crystal harness, however, Kaling decked herself out in Christmas lights. You could say the look is lit.

Below, more of the most inventive #MetGalaChallenge posts.

Photo: Courtesy of @tomhoudry
Photo: Courtesy of @killahcamz
Photo: Courtesy of @jenniferkirkeby
Photo: Courtesy of @gabbi_mosher
Photo: Courtesy of @thisisbykarina
Photo: Courtesy of @kareenagrace
Photo: Courtesy of @mindykaling
Photo: Courtesy of @fifioff
Photo: Courtesy of @itsjillianclark
Photo: Courtesy of @jakobvegh
Photo: Courtesy of @kalaenouveau
Photo: Courtesy of @racquellebella
Photo: Courtesy of @4billyporter_metgala
Photo: Courtesy of @laurenlessa
Photo: Courtesy of @ryleerichhart
Photo: Courtesy of @adaripp
Photo: Courtesy of @pattielepugh
Photo: Courtesy of @plastiquepussey
Photo: Courtesy of @kat.mcnamara
Photo: Courtesy of @vlada.ruggiero
Photo: Courtesy of @itsjillianclark
Photo: Courtesy of @norah.evelyn
Photo: Courtesy of @everythingelle_