Here’s How Capes and Trails Took Over the 2022 Met Gala

Find out how these eye-catching and regal aesthetics had their moment at the fashion’s world’s biggest night this time around.

Aanchal Kataria

06 May 2022

Beautifully lending themselves to the theme of this year’s Met Gala, ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion’, this extension of last year’s theme with an unpinning of ‘Gilded Glamour’, capes and trails of every type imaginable lit up the red carpet. While capes are often associated with superheroes and trails with royalty, these silhouettes were chosen by many a celebrity this time around to exude the richness and power of American fashion. With a special focus on inclusivity this year by Andrew Bolton, Head Curator of the Museum of Modern Art’s Costume Institute. In an exclusive interview with Vogue, he stated that the main idea behind Met Gala 2022 was to celebrate the work of individual tailors, dressmakers, and designers. “What’s exciting for me is that some of the names will be very familiar to students of fashion, like Charles James, Halston, and Oscar de la Renta, but a lot of the other names really have been forgotten, overlooked, or relegated into the footnotes of fashion history. So, one of the main intentions of the exhibition is to spotlight the talents and contributions of these individuals, and many of them are women,” he said. So, here are some highlights from the 2022 Met Ball that showcase the finery of capes and trails in all their glory and add to the cause of inclusivity with elan.

Blake Lively in Versace

Hostess with the mostest, Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds were the official co-hosts of the Gala this year. And Blake certainly did not disappoint in her Atelier Versace masterpiece inspired by New York City. While her lustrous rose gold and pale turquoise gown with an extravagant bow and trail took inspiration from Manhattan's intricate architecture, her crown was an ode to the Statue of Liberty.

Lizzo in Thom Browne

Lizzo walked onto the red carpet in a baroque, hand-embroidered ensemble by Thom Browne, complete with an 18K gold flute worth $55,000, with which she played bits of the opening flute solo of French composer Claude Debussy’s symphonic poem for orchestra—Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.

Kendall Jenner in Prada

Kendall Jenner brought a sense of grandeur to the event with her two-piece Prada ensemble. Her voluminous skirt with a stunning trail was paired with a sheer top, which added a touch of contemporary to the look, along with the bleached eyebrows of course.

Alicia Keys in Ralph Lauren

Another celeb who took inspiration from New York City was singer and songwriter Alicia Keys. Her sparling black and silver Ralph Lauren gown with a black cape featured the stellar Manhattan skyline. Even her hairdo, a sleek braid accompanied by disc-like hair accessories, was beautifully structured and added to the creative vibe of the look.

Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci

Turner-Smith wowed in a dazzling crystal chain bra paired with a fringed miniskirt, with a pale pink, pleated chiffon trail. This Gucci ensemble showcased her legs perfectly. Dripping with crystals, she even used some to draw attention to her pretty eyes.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Christopher John Rogers

Consciously choosing to wear a black and white, off-shoulder gown by the celebrated designer Christopher John Rogers, Sarah Jessica Parker brought to fore the immense contributions of Black designers in the history of America and its fashion industry. She paid homage to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who was the first Black female fashion designer in the White House, with her minimalistic gown with a beautiful trail, that was quite refreshing amid all the glitz and sparkle.

Tessa Thompson in Carolina Herrera

Harnessing the power of pale pink and reminiscent of candyfloss, actor Tessa Thompson sashayed effortlessly in her Carolina Herrera creation with a magnificent 200m train. Her overall look was immaculately brought together with her crimson make-up and knee-high, satin boots.

Rosalía in Givenchy

Gabrielle Union-Wade in Versace

Both Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía and American actor Gabrielle Union-Wade had soft and plush feathered trains, which blended well with their silver and white combination ensembles. While Gabrielle Union-Wade wore a shiny silver Versace dress with a pop of colour by the means of a red floral detail at the waist, Rosalía donned a Givenchy, off-shoulder number with diaphanous sleeves and brought in some serious swag with a pair of opaque black sunglasses.

Taylor Hill in London-based designer Sohee Park

American model Taylor Hill wore a beautiful, deep blue gown by upcoming, London-based designer Sohee Park, which fit extremely well with the theme of this year’s Gala—inclusivity. The look, called the Fall 2022 gown, had exquisite flowers embroidered onto its long train, making it nothing short of iconic.

Gigi Hadid in Versace

Taking the oversized aesthetic to another level, queen of runways, Gigi Hadid opted for a rich red, corseted jumpsuit with a voluminous, puffy coat with a trail. She complemented the Versace outfit with a matching, equally bold lip and a graphic, bun that surely brought in some extra futuristic edge to the ensemble.