Regina King made her Met Gala debut in 2019, and her looks have been among the most memorable in the event's history. There's a reason she's been coined a red carpet legend [1] — just look at her ethereal appearance at last year's Oscars ceremony in Louis Vuitton. Or, revisit her regal moment [2] at the 2021 Costume Designers Guild Awards in a vibrant orange Christopher John Rogers gown. No matter which red carpet moment you study, you'll understand why fashion-lovers look forward to seeing her at every major award show. King delivers a certain style gravitas to the red carpet, so naturally, she's set a new standard in the two years that she's attended fashion's biggest night.
This year will of course be no different, as King is expected to join Blake Lively [3], Ryan Reynolds [4], and Lin-Manuel Miranda [5] as a Met Gala cochair. Set for May 2 (traditionally the event takes place on the first Monday in May), the theme is "Gilded Glamour," [6] presenting an invitation for the star-studded crowd to capture the zeitgeist of the Gilded Age of the late 19th century in their looks. The theme has been hotly debated [7] on Twitter, with many expressing their frustration at the industry's attempt to glorify a time of rampant inequality. We wouldn't be surprised if King elevated the theme in a meaningful way. She's previously leveraged these high-profile events to send a social message. At the 2020 Emmy Awards, she changed from a Schiaparelli gown into a T-shirt imprinted with Breonna Taylor's face [8] styled underneath a pink Schiaparelli suit — reminding everyone that "the cops still haven't been held accountable."
King dresses with intention, expressing her point of view while experimenting with fashion-forward silhouettes. As we wait to find out how she interprets this year's theme, let's appreciate her previous Met Gala looks.
Regina King at the 2019 Met Gala
King stunned in an Oscar de la Renta gown, inspired by actress and "Hallelujah" star Nina Mae McKinney. The rose-gold one-shoulder design is made in lamé covered with vermicelli sequins and features a dramatic pleated sleeve descending into a train, creating a contrast with the dress. The garment is made even more lustrous with embroidery from top to bottom, drenched in ombré warm and rose gold. Now this is how you do camp, which was the theme at the 2019 Met Gala.
Regina King at the 2021 Met Gala
King embraced suited-up glamour with the help of Michael Kors, styling a strapless dark-blue and yellow pinstripe dress with a matching cape that's lined with gold sequins. The button-front frock features a thigh-high slit in the middle. She completed the look with a gold bangle and matching stiletto heels. She chose an American household name to make her appearance, dressing on-theme for the event that sought to celebrate American fashion designers.