Met Gala 2018 Jewelry: Crosses, Crowns, and Fantastical Headdresses

The Met Gala has its detractors. Apparently, it’s not the most enjoyable celebrity event of the year—and it’s allegedly been invaded by table-gobbling corporate sponsors such as H&M, which have all but edged out New York City’s socialites and big spenders.

But it’s still New York’s splashiest celebrity fashion event and is always a huge treat for fashion voyeurs. The industry’s most established designers—Jeremy Scott, Zac Posen, Stella McCartney, Donatella Versace, etc.—walk its 360-degree carpet with their celebrity belles (and gents), clad in original creations that interpret an annual theme, as chosen by Vogue editor and Met Gala svengali Anna Wintour.

Sometimes the artistry is breathtaking—as was the case this year with the incredible Versace dress Blake Lively wore, which took the Italian atelier 600 hours to create. And sometimes…well, the event is famous for fashion missteps, which can be equally entertaining.

Last night’s Met Gala toasted the Catholic-themed Costume Institute exhibit, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” with a “Sunday’s Best” red carpet theme.

Interpretations were roundly fun and fantastical: Rihanna dressed up like a sexy pope in a Maison Margiela minidress and headpiece (see below); Greta Gerwig channeled an elegant Friar Tuck in a massive sweep of black silk from The Row; Jared Leto affected a bejeweled Jesus in gilded Gucci; Sarah Jessica Parker wore a nativity scene on her head; and Katy Perry affixed a pair of enormous angel wings to her back. As one does.

Nearly every celebrity donned a headpiece of some kind: Olivia Munn was clad in a Crusades-inspired chainmail headpiece; Cardi B wore a jeweled custom headdress from Jeremy Scott (see top photo); Solange and Lily Collins wore stripped-down halos; Mindy Kaling rocked a blinged-out crown; and Madonna, who surprised guests with a performance at the event, wore a gold crown that looked like a true antiquity.

Jewelry played a major role in many of the ensembles. Crosses and talismanic necklaces abounded—Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Katie Lee, and Katharine McPhee, among others, wore them. But there were plenty of secular statement necklaces, mega-rings, and oversize, gem-laden earrings, too.

Here are a few of our favorite standout jewelry looks from the evening.

Kate Upton wearing a Zac Posen gown and Stephen Russell earrings and crown (image via: @whoworewhat_daily)

Hailee Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung and Tasaki necklaces and crown (image via: @avenger_bornto_lovehailee)

Lily Aldridge in custom Ralph Lauren and necklaces from Bvlgari High Jewelry (image via: @eonlinelatino)

Lily Collins in Cartier jewelry (image via: @whoworewhat_daily)

Amber Heard in vintage drop earrings from Beladora and studs from Jennifer Meyer—and a crown bought off eBay, allegedly

Rihanna channeling the pope in Maison Margiela and Cartier jewelry (image via: @metgalaofficial)

Miley Cyrus in Stella McCartney and jewelry from Sydney Evan and Gabriel New York (Image via: @mileycyrus)

Mary J. Blige in custom Versace and L’Dezen by Payal Shah earrings (image via: @megustachannel)

Cara Delevingne in Dior Haute Couture gown and headdress—and Noudar white diamond two-finger ring (detailed above) and hand bracelet (images of Delevingne: via @portalcotiedie)

Gisele Bundchen in Sabba earrings (image via: @fd_gallery)

Zoe Kravitz in a Saint Laurent gown and Jacob & Co. earrings (image via: @thestoneset)

Jared Leto in head-to-toe Gucci, including jewelry and crown (image via: @blogbellalmeida)

Lynda Carter wore a Zac Posen dress with Star of David pendants by Alex Soldier and a real crown engraved with Hebrew writing and the Star of David (image via: @revistaellas)

Lili Reinhart with Cole Sprouse in Djula rings (detailed above) and platinum-and-diamond earrings by Featherstone Fine Jewelry with South Sea Tahitian pearls (image of Reinhart and Sprouse via: @gossiproomoff)