And Just Like That… we’re back for season two! Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and the rest of the gang are officially back on our television screens, as the first two episodes of the new season dropped on 22 June. Episode one kicked things off on a particularly stylish note: the plot centres around some of the characters attending the glitzy “Met Ball” in New York City – a nod to the real-life Met Gala, which is one of the most exclusive (and star-studded) red carpets in the world.
In the episode, Carrie, Charlotte, Seema, and Lisa are all attending the Met Ball and stressing over what they will wear. Carrie is planning on wearing a hot new up-and-coming designer, who happens to be the wife of one of her podcast producers. Lisa is sporting custom Valentino. The theme of the event is “Veiled Beauty” – meaning that guests are encouraged to incorporate a veil into their look in some capacity. Along the way, there’s some entertaining fashion mishaps, of course. Carrie’s custom design goes very wrong, forcing her to find a last-minute backup; Lisa forgets to book a carrier van, forcing her to walk to the Met. (Very Timothée Chalamet of her.) It wouldn’t be the Met Gala without some drama!
In honour of the fashion-filled episode, we’re rating all of the Met looks below – from zero (traumatising) to 5 (it slayed). The question is: which outfit was your favourite?
Carrie’s revived Vivienne Westwood gown
The look: After her tailor gets the flu last minute and her original Met Ball dress is left unfinished, Carrie is left with nothing to wear moments before she’s due on the red carpet. “I can’t just go to my closet and find a perfect dress to wear to something that’s called ‘Veiled Beauty,’” she quips, before remembering that she’s Carrie Bradshaw. “Wait a minute – I might have something.” She then emerges in her iconic white Vivienne Westwood wedding gown, which she wore in the first Sex and the City film when Big left her at the altar. This time, she accentuates it with a new teal cape and pointed shoes.
Execution of theme: For her veil element, Carrie re-wears that famous blue bird feather headpiece that she wore in the first film. It’s one of the most iconic accessories in her wardrobe – and extra fitting she wore it to the Met, when more is always more.
Final rating: 5. It’s a big slay. It takes major guts to re-wear your wedding dress, let alone at a high profile event like the Met (though vintage revivals are trending). Dare we say it looks even better on her the second time around? “And just like that,” Carrie muses on her way to the event, “I repurposed my pain.”
Lisa’s fiery red Valentino dress
The look: Lisa opts for a custom red Valentino ensemble. As she juggles fittings, motherhood duties, and editing her documentary, she finally emerges in the final look: a flowing red gown with an extra-long train, complete with a dramatic feathered headpiece. The kicker? Lisa forgets to book a carrier van to transport her to the event because she’s so busy – meaning she and her husband have to walk to the Met. As her long train flows in the wind behind her, however, it’s a fashion moment so good it literally stops traffic.
Execution of theme: Her feathered Valentino headpiece is a nod to the “Veiled Beauty” theme, though it’s a much more modern interpretation than your classic cathedral-length style. When her husband asks if she can see in front of her while wearing it, Lisa quips, “Who needs to see?”
Final rating: 5. Another big slay. When you attend the Met, you have to create a major fashion moment that will turn heads. “It’s not crazy,” Lisa says of her theatrical look, “It’s Valentino.”
Charlotte’s Gilded Age gown
The look: We don’t know the designer of Charlotte’s Met look, but given she gets fitted for it at the same time and location as Lisa, it might be Valentino as well. Charlotte opts for a hot pink blazer, an extra-tight black corset, and a striped, bustle-style skirt. (Very “Gilded Glamour”, the theme of the 2022 Met Gala.) In the episode, she toys between bringing her husband or her best friend Anthony as her date, but ends up picking her husband – who, in the end, doesn’t even want to go when he finds out they can’t snap a photo with Rihanna. We don’t blame him.
Execution of theme: Charlotte’s top hat comes with a veil attached to it, so her look was on-theme.
Final rating: 2. It’s almost traumatising – but she gets a bonus point for the little hat veil. The problem is there are just too many aesthetics going on here. The skirt reads historical, the corset reads futuristic, the hat reads kitschy. It’s not cohesive. Sorry, Char!
Seema’s champagne hooded gown
The look: Attending as Carrie’s date, Seema thinks she may have to miss the Met Ball to have lunch with a man in her life – but, at the last minute, she decides to go. Men come and go, Met invites don’t! Seema ends up wearing a champagne-colored hooded gown, which is right on trend by the way. As she exits her apartment, she’s surrounded by an entourage of folks who are snapping countless photos of her on the street. Those are good friends right there. #Content!
Execution of theme: While she doesn’t wear a veil per se, her silky hood captures the idea of coverage – as do her fun little opera-style glasses. Still, we’re not sure it’s entirely on theme, if we’re splitting hairs.
Final rating: 3. She looks elegant in the frock; we even love that huge statement necklace. But it doesn’t feel precisely on theme, nor was it the biggest fashion risk that she could have taken that night. This is the Met – not the time to play it safe!
This article was originally published in Vogue US.
