Blake Lively established herself as the reigning queen of nailing the Met Gala theme, as she climbed the Met staircase in a jaw-dropping, colour-changing creation that took inspiration from iconic American architecture.
As this year's co-chair alongside husband Ryan Reynolds, Regina King, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lively came dressed to impress, and wowed in a gown she co-designed with Atelier Versace.
Lively arrived earlier in the night, looking radiant in a copper-hued gown, festooned with a dazzling train and a dramatic bow on one side. The ensemble featured a figure-hugging gown covered in sparkling geometric embellishments in shades of copper, red, bronze and teal green.
She accessorised with shimmering copper-hued gloves, a sparkling tiara and statement dangling earrings in pale pink and green shades.
However, once Lively began to climb the 13ft-high Met Gala staircase, her gown underwent a jaw-dropping transformation.
Aided by a team of stylists and assistants, Lively's copper bow was unfurled to reveal a flowing teal-green train that spilled down the red carpet-lined steps of the museum. Her copper gloves were slipped off to reveal green ones to match, as the crowds cheered on he ingenious switch.
Speaking to The Cut, the star explained the inspiration behind her show-stopping gown. "Instead of looking to fashion to influence the dress, I looked to New York City architecture and the classic buildings", she told reporters.
She explained that embroidered onto her green train was the constellations from Grand Central Station, the sequinned gown was inspired by the opulence of the Empire State Building, the draping of the green train was a nod to the Statue of Liberty.
The star's intricate crown with its seven tiers was also inspired by Lady Liberty, as the statue has "seven rays, representing the sun's rays and then also the seven seas and continents, which represents welcomeness, inclusivity, liberty, freedom", she told the magazine.
As a final nod to the statue, which has 25 windows, jeweller Lorraine Schwartz, who designed the tiara and jewellery, added 25 gems at the bottom of the crown.
