The Costume Institute’s annual Met Gala has at all times been a beacon of boundary-pushing model—and it extends above the neck to highly effective impact. For males, make-up is more and more changing into one of the crucial highly effective instruments for daring self-expression. Very like it has in well-liked tradition, it’s gained momentum on the Met Gala pink carpet because the years have progressed.
In 2013, Pharrell Williams leaned into the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” theme with a rimming of kohl liner alongside his waterlines, whereas in 2018, singer Troye Sivan tapped into the celestial spirit of the “Heavenly Our bodies: Trend and the Catholic Creativeness” exhibit and upped the wattage with a golden gaze and shimmering pores and skin.
But it surely was 2019’s “Camp: Notes on Trend” theme that basically impressed attendees to make grand magnificence statements. Hitting the pink carpet with Gucci artistic director Alessandro Michele, co-chair Harry Kinds wore a darkish raven manicure with pops of teal to match his ruffled black shirt, and Jared Leto harnessed the facility of prosthetics to hold an uncanny carbon copy of his personal head as a nod to the Italian style home’s viral fall 2018 runway second. Darren Criss and Marc Jacobs every made standout graphic eyeliner statements, as did Michael Urie, albeit solely on one eye in coordination together with his half-gown, half-suit ensemble. Then in 2022, Lil Nas X’s gaze was punctuated by a set of gilded wing decals that accomplished his aureate ensemble. As his make-up artist Grace Pae put it, “We needed him to radiate.” Mission achieved. Lastly, finally night time’s occasion, Alton Mason was an ethereal imaginative and prescient with swipes of silver pigment on the interior corners, whereas Jordan Roth served up a dreamy dose of ’80s New Romantic with a paled-out complexion, summary washes of shade, and a deep pink lip.
For the 2025 Met Gala, magnificence seems had been Tailor-made for You—which meant we noticed loads of lacquered nails, rouged cheeks, and extra.
Right here, a glance again at the very best males’s make-up moments in Met Gala historical past to modern-day.
