Rihanna in Commes des Garcons at the Met Gala: fabulous or crazy?

The Met Gala 2017

The theme of the 2017 Met Gala was Rei Kawakubo and Comme Des Garcons. I honestly believed that most people would interpret the theme as “deconstructed” and there would be a lot of sack-like dresses. I was pleasantly surprised to see many people attempting the sort of larger-than-life structured, sculptural pieces which Rei Kawakubo is known for. That being said, very few people actually got to wear Comme Des Garcons. Rihanna was obviously one of those people. Rihanna wore this absolutely amazing dress/piece of art by Commes Des Garcon and she was one of the later arrivals. People were primed to see Rihanna and she delivered.

This is what I love: Rihanna consistently shows that she cares. She cares about fashion. She cares about the theme of the Met Gala. She cares about style impacts. She does her research. And she delivers, time after time. This is awesome.

The Met Gala 2017

The Met Gala 2017

The Met Gala 2017

Pharrell Williams & his wife Helen also got to wear Comme Des Garcons. Pharrell was last night’s co-chair and I heard a rumor that Kawakubo personally selected these looks for both Pharrell and Helen Lasichanh. If that’s the case… I can’t hate on this too hard. I mean, Helen is arguably the most on-theme person there. Even though Helen looks like a red Gumby.

Tracee Ellis Ross also chose to wore Comme Des Garcons. I love her and I love this.

Photos courtesy of WENN and Getty.

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106 Responses to “Rihanna in Commes des Garcons at the Met Gala: fabulous or crazy?”

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  1. Stella says:

    No. Just no to all of them.

    • Wurstbonbon says:

      Yes. Just yes to your comment.

    • Mia4s says:

      Disagree. Sure if this was the Oscars this would be the worst dressed section absolutely. But this is a COSTUME gala. And if you know the designer they’re honouring? These are the women who are 100% on point. Most of the rest? Boring!!

      • Nicole says:

        Exactly these are all on theme and they nailed it. THIS is the point of the Gala. Rihanna always shows up on theme. She actually got best dressed on the carpet yesterday

      • LadyMTL says:

        +10000. This is a costume gala to honor Rei Kawakubo / CDG and everyone here nailed it. This isn’t a prom or the Oscars or an event where you’re expected to wear the same-old same-old. It’s not meant to be mainstream or even all that wearable in real life.

        Heck, I love Tracee Ellis Ross’ look so much that I want it in my own closet, lol.

      • Luca76 says:

        Yes exactly it’s a costume ball at one of the most famous museums in the world. It’s not an awards show. And no one is supposed to look normal. They are supposed to be in costumes wearing artwork.

      • WeAreAllMadeOfStars says:

        Thank you. One person who actually gets it and what this is all about. I hate that this has become so mainstream that it gets picked up on gossip blogs and then judged by people that don’t have a clue what it’s supposed to be about. Bleeech to the whole thing.

      • Char says:

        They are incredibly amazing for commiting to the theme and deliver. We shouldn’t even talk about everybody else who deliberatly ignored the theme and decided to just go pretty and sexy instead.

      • Sarah says:

        My issue with Rihanna’s “costume” is that it is so busy, the eye has nowhere to go. I can’t make sense of it, so it gives me a headache. I somehow don’t think that was the intention. Maybe a little less would have still kept it interesting, but viewable.

      • Prairiegirl says:

        A million time this.

        Q: You know what the Met Gala shows, year after year?

        A: Which celebrities actually know something about, and pay attention to, fashion and which ones wear what their stylist tells them to.

      • Lucytunes says:

        Carolyn Kennedy even came in a CDG! It was a mix of both Helen and Rihanna. She’s literally American royalty and was unafraid of looking “off brand”. She understands the point of it all. Everyone else is a drag and are ruining a really fun fashion/ART event.

      • Lightpurple says:

        @Lucytunes, Yes! Ambassador Kennedy looked fantastic and there is a story behind her look. She and Kawakubo have been friends for a very long time and Kawakubo custom-made the dress for the former Ambassador to Japan to wear last night.

      • Oriane says:

        Yup! And Rihanna’s one of the few on earth who can pull off a sculptural CdG and still look like themselves. She has the stage presence of a great opera singer.

        And Tracee Ellis Ross’ dress is lovely.

        But I’m sure Helen Lasichanh feels somewhat hard done by: the one year her husband is co-host, she’s guaranteed a spot on the red carpet and a dress by the honoured designer and… red gumby. Where are her hands? What if she wanted a glass of water?

      • Carmen says:

        The only time it’s appropriate to wear costumes is on Halloween.

      • InclusiveSnark says:

        Mm…there is art and there is fashion. The only “hit” was Tracee Ross. Avante Garde – its style, not a ridiculous mess like Rhianna’s “thing”. Don’t get me started on Pharrell’s wife- her arms are sewn in? What the holy No.

      • teacakes says:

        Hear, hear!

    • Matomeda says:

      Super bizarre and not in a cool, fashiony way

    • Bridget says:

      It’s supposed to be interesting. Fashion as art.

    • Lukie says:

      The designer being honored created them so, you may say no, but the designer being honored picked and chose them to wear HER creations.

      …which, incidentally fit the actual theme.

      So, yes just YES.

      • emilybyrd says:

        I wish I could’ve seen Helen’s face when she saw what she looked like after trying on her CDG outfit! She doesn’t look that enthusiastic, and with the careful way Pharrell is posing next to her, he looks like he’s the attendant hired to steer her carefully around obstacles!

    • MB says:

      Agreed. Do not like.

    • Carmen says:

      I’ll give all three props for sticking to the theme. But the problem is that Kawakubo’s designs are basically unwearable. They’re art, but they aren’t fashion. Outside of a costume party, you can’t wear them anywhere.

  2. Lenn says:

    Rihanna and Tracee were my favorites. You get alot of points for working the theme, is my opinion. I thought Reese Witherspoon looked great as well.

    • Megan says:

      Mine, too. At this event and on every red carpet they walk. Both love fashion, take risks and can wear the hell out of pretty much anything.

      My husband has an insane crush on Tracee, and who can blame him?

  3. stkarolina says:

    Would’ve loved the dress with just the ruffles and a more simple base. The protruding leg cage thing is a bit too extra (not in a good way) for me

    • Esmom says:

      Yes, I think it’s really cool except for that piece, which looks like some sort of mistake.

    • Ravensdaughter says:

      I think that the Met Gala lends itself to crazy. Isn’t avant garde encouraged?
      Let Rihanna be Rihanna!

      • Sarah says:

        I like crazy, but this was too busy. The eye/brain struggles to even make sense of it, so gives up. A little less would still be interesting, but a bit easier on the eye.

  4. scar says:

    I think its the ugliest thing ever. Just tell the truth, more often than not this chick wears the fuggest shit

    • Tiffany says:

      But with her face, she can get away with it. Rhianna is absolutely stunning.

    • pbn says:

      She’s one of the few who respected the theme. Rihanna is fashion , she wears thing that other couldn’t, because it’s not only about the clothes but the confidence, the attitude. She’s the ultimate fashion icon.

  5. Rae says:

    Um can Helen actually move her arms in that thing? Or is it like a straightjacket? It looks like a red lumpy straightjacket.

    • Pandy says:

      It looks like she’s ready to be a goal post. Or the guinea pig for attack dog training. It’s silly. But then again, I think the whole Met Gala is silly. And for a costume charity.

  6. Babs says:

    I love Rihanna’s and Tracee’s dresses and styling. Helen looks like a Teletubbie and Pharell’s outfit is fug.

  7. LAloopsta says:

    Only Rhianna – and maybe Bjork – could of pylled this one off. Best look of the night IMO

  8. A says:

    not my favourite look but hey at least she tried.

  9. teacakes says:

    Rihanna looks STUNNING. If you’re going to go to a party for Rei Kawakubo, that’s the way you do it – and do it in style.

    I love Tracee Ellis Ross’ outfit too – unusual enough to be absolutely unmistakable as a Kawakubo creation, but also workable outside of a fashion show.

    I know a lot of people rag on Kawakubo’s designs and she certainly isn’t red-carpet friendly at the best of times, but I’ve found quite a few of her pieces are beautifully constructed and very wearable irl. Comme des Garçons wouldn’t have lasted thirty years if they couldn’t do that.

    • OSTONE says:

      I agree. Rihanna committed to the theme and nailed it. It’s the MET gala y’all, not the day time Emmys! The dress attire was avant-garde. It’s a costume, so of course she nailed it.

    • detritus says:

      She nailed it, as ways. It’s Commes Des Garçons, that’s what it looks like,g and architectural and above all else, not main stream.
      She looks straight from a fashion week runway

    • Nicole says:

      YES I feel like people don’t get that this is the Met Gala. You’re supposed to push the envelope a lot! No boring silhouettes! The out of the box creative mind Rihanna has was made for fashion events like this

  10. nataliek says:

    i’m so over everything rihanna ever does.

  11. pbn says:

    Rihanna is the greatest fashion icon of all time.

  12. Lyla says:

    I know most people don’t get Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons, but i applaud the attendees who took a risk with avant-garde fashion and went with the theme. It’s the Met Ball not prom, not the oscars, not your typical red carpet, it’s the time to go all out. Why bother having a theme if everyone just wants to dress in a typical pretty red carpet dresss?

    • Maria F. says:

      I totally agree. It was definitely a difficult theme this year, but I would have hoped that the designers, who after all are creative people, would have tried to put their own spin on the theme. That used to be the most interesting part of this red carpet, to see how varied an interpretation can be.

      This year was such a snooze. Sure some guests dress a bit more dramatic than on a regular red carpet, but there is no coherence.

    • LAK says:

      I thought all the older women and fashion women dressed very well and or had a good take on the theme.

      All the insta-models and reality stars looked dreadful. They stayed in their usual T and A style which was boring for this occassion.

      Of the men, i thought Jaden Smith and Buz Lurman were fabulous.

    • I Choose Me says:

      Agree. And Rihanna freaking owns this look, like she does every single thing she wears.

  13. Word says:

    My eyes!!…it burns!!! .
    …..

    ..
    …arrrrgh!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Scal says:

    On theme and so on point. Every year I want to shake the people that call certain looks ugly or weird. That’s the point! There’s a theme to follow!

    I’m still bitter about the year of punk rock at the met. This is not the time for a boring evening gown

  15. nat says:

    Fabulously crazy

  16. Ayra. says:

    I feel like, if every year, people actually respected the theme like the women in these posts, the Met Gala would be much more interesting, especially on the red carpet. I might not understand fashion but I’m here x100 for Rih, Helen and Tracee.
    I mean, what is the point of them giving a theme every year, when only a handful of people respect it?

  17. Kiki says:

    This is why Rihanna is a way better supermodel than Gigi and Bella Hadid. I may not like Rihanna’s singing techniques but the she slays with the fashion choices. I give her props for that.

    BTW what the funk is Lupita N’yongo is wearing?

  18. Eleonor says:

    I they were the only persons respecting the theme of the ball, all the other guests went for a fancy gown.

    • Prairiegirl says:

      EXACTLY!! The theme scofflaws also took out of circulation a lot of lovely dresses that could be worn at any other red carpet event.

  19. Lightpurple says:

    Honor the theme! Rihanna looks great and she seems to be having fun with it. Tracee looks fantastic. Helen gets points for trying but that red blanket is doing weird things around her crotch.

  20. Elizabeth says:

    Red Gumby? Or red loveseat?

  21. mellie says:

    Good on them for dressing the theme of the ball, but man, that stuff is not flattering at all. It’s amazing to me what some think is beautiful and flattering and consider ‘fashion’ because I look at these things and think ‘ugh’. You have to be built like a brick $hithouse to even come close to carrying this stuff off and even then it is difficult.

  22. Prettykrazee says:

    This is a themed Costume Gala honoring Reí Kawakubo! Not your typical red carpet event. They can get dressed up in a boring gown anytime. If you have a chance to be different, wear something avant-garde why wouldn’t you? Because most of these ladies don’t know or care about fashion. To them it’s just another night to wear a sheer dress and pout for the camera.
    These ladies look fabulous. There’s a reason everyone waits to see Rihanna at this event. She knows has to interpret the theme. When I saw her and Tracee I actually cheered. Out loud! Because THIS is how you dress for the MET Gala honoring Kawakubo.

  23. Lizzie says:

    Tracee looks amazing. She makes that bonkers dress look totally wearable and normal. She is best dressed in all categories – dress, styling, adhereane to theme and confidence.

  24. chaine says:

    Rihanna looks crazy and amazing in the dress, but I could do without the strange legs-in-bondage that is going on with those shoes.

    I am guessing Helen would be in deep trouble if she fell over in that top-heavy, no arms contraption.

    I don’t get the love for Tracee’s dress. Yes, the color is nice, but otherwise it looks like a lopsided raincoat to me.

  25. HK9 says:

    My girl Rihanna never disappoints. I love Tracee’s outfit too.

  26. QQ says:

    Every single one of these looks is art, NUTTY, but amazing, intricate, fun and MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ME, All the wearers are truly carrying and delighting in their fashion! IM so Into it , all of it, Rih rih, Tracy, Helen and Pharrell, also The Fact #whereisRihanna was trending is a testament to who the chair of this thing oughta be!

    • senna says:

      I think Tracee’s coat-dress is the thing I most want in my closet immediately. It’s so beautiful. She killed it! Rihanna was undoubtedly the star of the night. I’m a little sad Helen got the gumby dress – I know it’s important the un-body-con looks were represented, but there are so many more interesting ones in the collections, IMHO.

      I’m not a huge fan of Nicole Kidman but I seriously missed her this year- remember her lunar phases cape dress from last year? And she already did the Versace parrot thing much weirder AND better on a regular red carpet than Beigey Blake.

  27. Anilehcim says:

    Loooooove Rihanna and her fashion risks. This woman looks amazing in everything and can pull anything off. I also have to admit that I love her just a tiny bit more because she refuses to closely associate with the Kardashians.

    Tracee is gorgeous!

    Helen Lasichanh’s ensemble looks like that red creature, Gossamer, that chased around Bugs Bunny in one of the Looney Toons cartoons.

    • I Choose Me says:

      Helen Lasichanh’s ensemble looks like that red creature, Gossamer, that chased around Bugs Bunny in one of the Looney Toons cartoons.

      Yas! Although the lolz and upvotes for this comment.

  28. Lucy says:

    Incredible. On theme and on point. Tracee’s is probably the most wearable one, but Rih’s is just…trascendental. She could (and should, imo) give courses about this. I’m being completely serious, even if it sounds like I’m joking.

    • QQ says:

      YES YES Im with you on this, Can you imagine her archives when she’s an old lady?!?! UGH

    • Erica_V says:

      The real person who deserves the credit though is Mel her stylist. I love Rih but I don’t know how much input she actually has. I think she’s knows to just trust in Mel.

  29. Gene123 says:

    I love how insane these looks are. RiRi has the right attitude to wear the dress. So it looks flawless and almost normal on her. Tracees dress is the most wearable. Like she could get away with it on other red carpets and the color of it is flawless. I LOVE JEWEL TONES ON THE RED CARPET. Helens is fascinating and I just want to stare at it but the dress is completely wearing her and she looks super uncomfortable. However, if I had just had triplets, I would look that exhausted too. She’s on theme more than 99.9% of the attendees and I love it

  30. mazzie says:

    Love all these looks, especially Ross and Rihanna. They were on point. I am so over the red carpetty safe, prom-princess look crossed with wannabe Lana Turner.

  31. MellyMel says:

    The only ones really on theme! Thank you!!

  32. Bridget says:

    I genuinely don’t get it. The theme is avante garden fashion. The designers were basically told “come up with something interesting” and most of them fell flat. Bad.

    I love that the women who wore Garcon were all interesting, but still – why were none of the hosts except Pharrell and Helen wearing it?

  33. justme says:

    Here’s what I don’t get about this kind of fashion. The great fashion designers of the past, the Chanel, Schiaparelli, Vionnet, Balenciaga, Dior, etc. all made incredibly expensive but also incredibly beautiful and creative clothes that made the wearer look better – and which could be worn – that is one could go to dinner, dance etc. That idea is lost – these dresses make everyone, even someone as beautiful as Rihanna, look either a bit silly or completely crazy. And how could poor Rihanna sit down in that thing? She looks like a walking deconstructivist sculpture. Oh well – I needn’t worry – nobody will ever want to put me in clothes like this! 🙂

    • Bridget says:

      You’re trying to compare apples and washing machines there. What Rei Kawubo does is to essentially push the boundaries of the notions of beauty. You’re trying to find a comparison between the avant garde, high concept art, and more conventional fashion that is more about detail and construct. And even then, those dresses you’re romanticizing definitely weren’t about comfort (think about those extremely nipped in waists in the classic Dior silhouette).

      • justme says:

        I didn’t say they were comfortable – but they were beautiful AND artistic. And you could walk and sit and do things other than simply stand in them. Women were quite used to wearing clothes which were not supremely comfortable, but they did want to look good. They didn’t want to look like Gumby. (Or like a little teapot as poor Caroline Kennedy’s dress made her look.) I guess I simply don’t see the point of avant-garde fashion. It simply seems to exist to make its wearers look ridiculous. And it didn’t exist in the era of great couturiers – who were artists. But fashion has always been and should be an applied art – what is the point of clothing that really can’t be worn for any purpose whatsoever? Part of the ART in fashion is making art that truly is wearable. If you look at a Renaissance portrait of a 16th century Queen, her clothing is not comfortable and it is highly elaborate, but it could be worn and served a purpose of showing off wealth and power. These dresses don’t seem to me to serve any purpose at all. But just my opinion.

      • teacakes says:

        @justme – Rei Kawakubo’s design philosophy has always been ‘screw beauty, there are more interesting things to be than beautiful’.

        And her design empire has lasted nearly 35 years precisely because she DOES make clothes that are wearable while also being unusual – for exactly the kind of woman who doesn’t think her primary function in life is to appear conventionally attractive to other people, or ‘look good’ by ridiculous and oppressive standards.

        You ask what purpose these dresses serve, if they can’t signal wealth – well, sometimes fashion is a form of self-expression. And sometimes what my self really wants to express is ‘I am not dressing myself for your approval, kindly eff off’. That’s not a 16th-century sentiment, but it is one expressed by a LOT of 21st century women, and is it really hard to see why?

      • justme says:

        @teacakes I didn’t mean that the only purpose of these kind of clothes was to express wealth. I said that wealth and power were what the sort of elaborate drsses worn by say Elizabeth I were for. These dresses make their wearers look silly. BUt they are happy I guess and think they are being daring and saying eff you. That is a 21st century thing apparently. Not an attitude that I particularly admire most of the time. But they are harmless.

  34. Tania says:

    It was a celebration of Comme des Garcons and these people all brought it. It’s a celebration of art and structure. It is beautiful in its own way. This was the Met gala, not the Emmy’s.

  35. Lucy2 says:

    While I wouldn’t say I like it, Rihanna just gets the whole thing, year after year, and has the presence to make it work. It’s fun and exciting to see what she will do.
    Tracee looks great!
    Giggling a little at Pharell’s high waters.

  36. Mika says:

    Someone please tell me that it’s just the makeup and Rihanna hasn’t started f–king with her sweet face?!

  37. Amelie says:

    Meh, I can see why most celebs chose not to wear designs from Kawakubo who I’d never heard of before the Met decided to make him the honoree. They all look super uncomfortable and unpractical. How would you sit or even walk in most of those designs? I get his look is avant-garde and right up Lady Gaga’s alley (in fact she would have pulled off one of the designs spectacularly since this looks like her kind of outfit) and he’s pushing the boundaries of fashion, but his designs aren’t the kind of designs you’d wear anywhere in your real life. To the Met Costume Gala… and that’s about it!

    That being said, Tracee’s deconstructed blue cloak thing is cool. But all the other designs–NO.

    • jetlagged says:

      Rei Kawakubu has been designing cutting edge fashion (some even term it anti-fashion) since the 1970’s. How many other designers out there have stayed true to their vision, and stayed in business, for four decades? Most of the designers that are considered avant garde today have been heavily influenced by Kawakubo and HER work for Comme des Garcons.

      Of all the looks, I loved Tracee’s the most.

    • teacakes says:

      I’d say it’s fairly obvious you haven’t heard of Rei Kawakubo before, since the designer in question isn’t a “him”, it’s a “HER”.

      And HER designs have been worn by women in real life for the last thirty years, in various combinations. Unless you think the way an outfit is styled and presented on the runway is the only way it can possibly be worn? Or that designers don’t produce any clothes other than the handful that get photographed on a red carpet/fashion show.

      • Amelie says:

        I said in my original post I’d never heard of her and wasn’t interested enough to look her up. Still doesn’t change my opinion of her avant-garde stuff that she is a woman versus a man. Still don’t like it.

      • mellie says:

        How in the world has this lady stayed in business over 30 years…who buys her fashions? I looked up her “every day” items and I still don’t get it. Maybe European clientele? I don’t know, but yuk and I like fashion, I really do!

  38. jugil1 says:

    I liked that this group dressed on theme. Rhianna’s look is totally on point for the entire theme (make up, dress, hair, etc). Also, I loved Pharrell’s & Tracy’s outfits. I’d rather see someone take the theme seriously & dress accordingly than show up in a plain cocktail dress like they’re too important to bother!

  39. Merlin'sWife says:

    The expression on the face of the lady behind Rihanna :D:D:’D

  40. TJ says:

    They ALL look awesome! Way to pull it off!!

  41. lobbit says:

    As others have noted, these women were among a handful of attendees that were actually on theme. Kawakubo /Comme Des Garcon is all about structure – it’s not supposed to be “pretty.”

  42. Keaton says:

    STUNNING! I think it’s f–king ART! I love that she respected the theme and took a risk. I also think half the reason she pulled it off is her demeanor and presence. To me she’s the full package She shows how the individual matters as much as the clothing.

  43. OTHER RENEE says:

    There has to be a way to be avant garde without looking like a clown. Of these three only Tracy succeeds. The other two look absurd. Call me uneducated re fashion if you like. But I think those two outfits would work very well … in a circus!

  44. bitchyarchitect says:

    These women slayed. Personally I am sick to death of the boring as f*ck game show hostess/beauty pageant style that you typically see on the red carpet. Nothing bores me more than a “pretty dress”.

  45. Elisa the I. says:

    I love Rihanna and she is stunningly beautiful and has the bad-ass attitude to pull off almost any outfit. I had to laugh at this dress, though. It looks like someone dropped slices of salami and sausage on her and they got stuck on her dress. Also, her bangs looks sticky. Not good.

    • Bitchy says:

      I thought it looked as if she got attacked by a butterfly swarm while trying to get out of her clothes.

  46. AG-UK says:

    Love Tracee she looks fantastic Rhianna too but Tracee seems like a fun person.

  47. Bitchy says:

    Rihanna takes care of her style, yes. But does she also care about her music with as much effort as she puts into style?

  48. Naddie says:

    At the first time I glanced, I disliked, but she just didn’t photograph well in the top pic. Her dress and make up are fun and amazing. Oh, I’m talking about Rihanna.

  49. Rb says:

    Although it may not be “pretty” to most, I absolutely LOVE that these ladies took the risk and got creative and honored the theme. I’m so sick of this sultry starlets and their slinky, BORING dresses. Bring the fun! Rihanna was definitely my favorite!

  50. Otaku Fairy says:

    Fabulous AND crazy.

  51. deevia says:

    Hmm a lot of comments of “I don’t get this” because you are only exposed to the European/American ideals of fashion (most often the watered down versions of it). Japanese fashion and street style is unique on its own and this theme is more the runway versions of it. These clothes WILL be deconstructed and used as pieces to match with different everyday styles.