The Reason Everyone Wore Red to This Year's Met Gala

Updated on May 2, 2017 at 12:40 PM

For the stars who wanted to follow the Met Gala theme, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between, there were several ways to go about it. Rihanna and Tracee Ellis Ross both wore full-on Comme des Garcons looks, while some celebrities just incorporated red into their outfits. Why that color? One of the key themes in Kawakubo's work is the use of scarlet, specifically pertinent in her Fall 1988 collection. The move to a brighter tone came at a time when she designed mostly in black, leading Kawakubo to declare that "Red is the new black."

Whether they're on the red carpet or runway, it's the red looks that shock and awe. That's probably why we're so obsessed with Rihanna's Met Gala dress. It might not be sexy or wearable in the conventional sense, but it pushed the boundary of style on the biggest night in fashion. Add in the fact the design was red, and you've truly witnessed peak Comme des Garcons. Scroll to see why the ladies who rocked the powerful hue on the carpet were the boldest stars of the night.

Rihanna

Wearing a Comme des Garcons look and jewels by Rihanna x Chopard, Le Vian, and Dvani.

Zendaya

Wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress and Forevermark jewels.

Katy Perry

Wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano, Lorraine Schwartz jewels, and red Tabi boots.

Thandie Newton

Wearing a Monse dress covered in Swarovski crystals with custom Stuart Weitzman heels and Fred Leighton and Jennifer Fisher jewels.

Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh

Pharrell Williams wearing a leather jacket and Comme des Garcons jeans and Helen in a Comme des Garcons look.

Taylor Hill

Wearing a Carolina Herrera dress with David Yurman jewels.

Rita Ora

Wearing a custom Marchesa dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

Rose Byrne

Wearing a Ralph Lauren gown with an Edie Parker clutch, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, and Dauphin jewels.

Doutzen Kroes

Wearing Brock Collection.

Emma Roberts

Wearing a Jonathan Saunders for DVF dress and Monique Péan jewels.

Lena Dunham

Wearing custom Elizabeth Kennedy.

Nicki Minaj

Wearing a sustainable H&M look with jewels by Hearts on Fire, Mattia Cielo, Dvani, Le Vian, L’dezen by Payal Shah, and Lydia Courteille.

Joan Smalls

Wearing a Topshop dress with Stuart Weitzman shoes and Anita Ko jewels.

Lily Aldridge

Wearing a Ralph Lauren dress, Balenciaga boots, and Bulgari jewels.

Ashley Graham

Wearing H&M.

Miranda Kerr

Wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress and Cartier jewels.

Natasha Poly

Wearing a red cutout gown.