Met Gala 2021 guests dazzle on the red carpet

The Met Gala is back, and the attendees didn't miss a beat, showing up dressed to turn heads.

The event — postponed for two years because of the coronavirus pandemic — is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute, and this year is celebrating the upcoming exhibit "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." With the theme "American Independence," there was lots of red, white, and blue on display Monday night at the museum, along with a smattering of stars and stripes and other looks loosely based on the U.S.A.

Amanda Gorman, a gala co-chair, wore a stunning blue frock inspired by the Statue of Liberty:

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Amanda Gorman.

(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Jennifer Lopez embraced her inner cowgirl for this western look:

Jennifer Lopez.

(Image credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Lupita Nyong'o wore a denim ensemble, embracing the all-American fabric:

Lupito Nyong'o

(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Shawn Mendes celebrated his independence from shirts:

Shawn Mendes.

(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) used her dress to make a statement on the rich (it's "tax them"):

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Aurora James.

(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

That's Kim Kardashian underneath there:

Kim Kardashian.

(Image credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Frank Ocean's plus-one was a robot baby:

Frank Ocean and his robot baby.

(Image credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Lil Nas X exercised his freedom of choice by wearing three different outfits:

Lil Nas X at the 2021 Met Gala.

(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Lil Nas X.

(Image credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Lil Nas X.

(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.