Lady Gaga takes on 'Camp' at Met Gala in gowns, underwear

NEW YORK -- Pop superstar Lady Gaga made a grand entrance at New York's annual Met Gala on Monday (US time), wearing a voluminous bright pink dress that she shed on the red carpet to reveal three other outfits layered underneath, including a bra and underwear, her interpretation of the evening's theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion."

The invitation-only event, famed for its A-list celebrities and haute couture gowns, is a benefit for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and also marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit.

Gaga shed her blazing pink Brandon Maxwell gown on the red carpet to reveal a strapless black gown by the designer. Next came a figure-hugging hot pink gown. Her final reveal before a makeup touch-up on the carpet was a black bra, panties and sky-high platform boots.

"Roar" singer Katy Perry came dressed as a chandelier, even wearing one on her head. "I like to be of the light and obviously be the light, she said about her 40-pound costume by Moschino.

Anna Wintour, the American Vogue editor-in-chief who hosts fashion's biggest night each year, was one of the first up the red-carpet-turned-pink for the evening wearing a shimmering Chanel gown topped by a cape of pink feathers that was tipped in black, a nod to the night's mascot, a flamingo.

Camp, a theme that embraces humor, exaggeration and liberal interpretation, was inspired by writer Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp.'" Trends on the pink carpet included gold lame and sequins, feathers, neon, and oversized sleeves, skirts and trains.

Performer Billy Porter, dressed in head-to-toe gold, summoned ancient Egypt when he was carried into the gala on a litter by six shirtless men.

The night's fashion also referenced camp icons including a glittery high-collared cape by designer Christian Siriano intended to pay tribute to the late Vegas showman Liberace. Singer Celine Dion wore a feathered headpiece and full-length fringe by Oscar de la Renta that was reminiscent of a Cher costume.

Kris Jenner, mother and manager of reality stars Kim and Khloe Kardashian, told reporters on the red carpet she was channeling singer David Bowie in a coat with wings made of tulle over a blue Tommy Hilfiger jumpsuit. 

The frontman of British brand One Direction and gala co-host Harry Styles arrived wearing a black Gucci ensemble with mesh detail on the top and painted black fingernails.

Tennis star Serena Williams stayed true to her brand, pairing Nike sneakers with a custom neon yellow dress from Italian fashion house Versace.

Others with the sought-after invitation to dinner for 550 included NFL star quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez and comedian Chris Rock, and the billionaire CEO of Amazon.com Jeff Bezos. 

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Celebrities embrace avant-garde challenge at 2017 Met Gala

NEW YORK -- On a night when celebrities can let loose on their fashion choices, pop princesses and Hollywood actress took it up a notch in the avant-garde department at New York's Met Gala.

The 2017 Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute ball was themed "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between," an homage to highly structured creations of the Japanese designer and her avant-garde label.

Pop singer Katy Perry, a co-chair of the ball, lived up to the theme's challenge with a custom Maison Margiela "Artisanal" ensemble by John Galliano, an imperial red tulle dress and a veil embroidered with the word "Witness."

Eric Wilson, fashion news director at InStyle, described this year's theme as "extremely challenging" compared to years past and agreed that Perry's outfit was courageously on point.

"I think she's without a doubt the hit of the night so far," Wilson said. "It's very brave to wear something that disguises who you are so much on the red carpet."

Rihanna was no slouch either, embodying Kawakubo’s penchant for dramatic silhouettes in a custom Comme des Garçons floral dress with cutouts and oversized ruffles. The singer earned the most mentions on social media, said Kellan Terry, an analyst at the social media monitoring company Brandwatch.

"Happy" singer Pharrell Williams in jeans and leather jacket, and star couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen in matching silver helped fashion maven and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour host the annual fundraising gala, which is sometimes referred to as "the Oscars of the East Coast."

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian went against the theme, sporting a white dress by Vivienne Westwood with no clutch, no jewelry and no Kanye West, her fashion-loving husband. Sister Kendall Jenner dared to be bare, wearing a sheer slip that left little to the imagination, both in front and back.

Donning a beige Ralph Lauren trench coat gown paired with big silver hoop earrings, actress Priyanka Chopra dropped jaws and turned heads. Tennis star Serena Williams also served up drama with a baby bump under her green Atelier Versace dress.

Actress Zoe Kravitz went with a strapless pink and black Oscar de la Renta gown with an off-the-shoulder train, receiving much praise on social media, where the hashtag #MetGala was top trending.

Wilson said an added plus to Kravitz's dress is that it "looks comfortable."

"Some of these pieces are gorgeous on the red carpet," Wilson said. "But I'm assuming that a lot of these celebrities are going to be changing once they get through that door and sit down to dinner."

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LOOK: Beyonce in stunning see-through grown

NEW YORK - Bold and colorful designs prevailed on the red carpet at the Met Gala on Monday, where celebrities showed off their frocks for one of the biggest nights in fashion.

Madonna, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour were among the big names attending the annual ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which debuts its new exhibition "China Through the Looking Glass".

The exhibit, which runs from May 7 to Aug. 16, looks at the influence of Chinese art, imagery and culture across the ages on Western fashion.

Some paid tribute to the display. Singer Rihanna wore a long fur-trimmed, embroidered yellow cape by Chinese designer Guo Pei that swept out behind her as she walked up the steps of the Costume Institute gala.

Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence wore a black dress with a floral top while "Sex and the City" actress Sarah Jessica Parker accessorised her one-shoulder black dress with a red-flamed headpiece with long tassels.

Singer Beyonce chose a see-through gem-encrusted figure-hugging gown while Lady Gaga opted for a kimono-style black and white dress with voluminous sleeves and embellished with feathers.

Actresses Li Bingbing, Gong Li and model Liu Wen were among the Chinese celebrities attending the ball.

"I don't think this is a party, this is all about art," Liu said. "This year, there is a special focus on Chinese (art) so I feel very special, I just enjoy it."

"China Through The Looking Glass" features more than 100 dresses, gowns and accessories, showing how Western designers have been influenced by all things Chinese, such as the embroided costumes of Imperial China and Shanghai in the 1920s. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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US first lady opens Anna Wintour costume center

NEW YORK -- First Lady Michelle Obama paid glowing tribute Monday to Vogue fashion legend Anna Wintour, as she cut the ribbon on New York's $40-million renovated costume center named in her honor.

Wearing a stunning, green floral dress by the Indian-born Naeem Khan, Obama inaugurated the Anna Wintour Costume Center at a celebrity-studded ceremony at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"The truth is I'm here today because of Anna. I'm here because I have such respect and admiration for this woman, who I am proud to call my friend," Obama said.

The first lady, beloved by the American fashion world for her elegance, said the center would be a source of learning and inspiration for young people interested in the fashion industry.

Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker joined designers Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney and Oscar de la Renta at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Monday night marked the glittering Met ball, or Costume Institute Gala Benefit, hosted by Wintour. It is one of the biggest events in the society calendar for the international jet set.

Although Obama is not expected to attend, some of the biggest stars in fashion, sports and Hollywood are expected to tread the red carpet at the charity event.

The Costume Institute has undergone a two-year renovation and been re-named after Wintour, the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue and artistic director for publisher Conde Nast.

Wintour has been a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum since 1999 and in her role as benefit chair and fundraiser she has raised around $125 million for its Costume Institute.

The director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas Campbell said the Anna Wintour Costume Center was designed "to accommodate and inspire the next generation."

Historic costume, contemporary fashion

Its inaugural exhibition features another British export to the United States, groundbreaking couturier Charles James, whose work goes on view from Thursday until August 10.

In addition to two exhibition galleries, the center includes conservation facilities, collection storage and a library.

"The new space allows us to rethink our approach to the display of historic costume and contemporary fashion," said Harold Koda, curator in charge.

The Charles James exhibition features 65 of the designer's most notable designs from the 1920s until his death in 1978.

"Charles James considered himself an artist, and approached fashion with a sculptor's eye and a scientist's logic," said Campbell. "The Met is the ideal place to explore the rich complexity of his innovative work."

The main gallery shows off to dramatic effect 15 gorgeous James evening gowns, including the "Butterfly" and "Swan" that date back to the late 1940s and early 1950s.

The dresses float on platforms, lit up under spotlights in the near-dark exhibition hall while animations, text, x-rays, and vintage images explain how each gown was intricately constructed.

James moved to New York in 1940 and is considered one of the greatest haute couture designers in the United Sates.

"Technology will allow us to look at what the eye can't see in fashion -- structure, construction, undergarments, motion, silhouette, and sound-like the rustle of the bustle or the creak of a crinoline," said Andrew Bolton, curator in the Institute.

The Institute has more than 35,000 costumes and accessories in its collection and its library is home to more than 30,000 rare books and periodicals, files, prints, drawings and photographs.

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