Rihanna wore Valentino & arrived very fashionably late to the 2023 Met Gala

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky arrived last and not-so-fashionably late to this year’s Met Gala, more than 20 minutes after most of the gala livestreams and white-carpet shows ended. When Rihanna does attend the gala, she usually is the last one on the carpet, so she’s just keeping it real.

Rihanna, who is expecting her second child (much like Serena Williams!), wore a customized look by Valentino. It was based on a Valentino-pink gown shown on a Valentino runway – Rihanna got it done in white, with a “hooded” coat made to look like oversized flower blooms. I’m already seeing people criticizing this as “she looks like cake icing,” but I think it’s such a cool look and she really thought about the theme and how best to interpret it. The fingerless gloves! The sunglasses, the sweeping bridal energy… this is very Lagerfeld. Rocky is in Gucci. He didn’t look great. But whatever, this isn’t about him.

While it wasn’t that bad on the livestream or on TV, in photos, the color of actual gala carpet was SO BAD. I’m mad at the off-white carpet specifically because so many women wore white, and they’re just blending in with the carpet. Think of how Rihanna’s dress would have looked even more dazzling on a dark blue or blood red carpet.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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21 Responses to “Rihanna wore Valentino & arrived very fashionably late to the 2023 Met Gala”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    I love it. To me its very on theme and also very Rihanna.

    the white carpet was a bad idea. They had to know a lot of these people were going to show up in white.

    • Well wisher says:

      Agreed. The channel rose, Karl’s specs and finger-less gloves.
      Pity one did not get the actual dress was bespoke.

      Glenn Close nearly made it a tie. Very beautiful and karl.

  2. Southern Fried says:

    She won the night. Fabulous!

    • Tiffany:) says:

      No, i don’t think Rhi won the night. The jacket is stunning and incredibly crafted. The dress underneath is so basic and badly put together, it looks like it came from a mall. If the dress had as much attention to detail and craftsmanship as the jacket, it would have been so much better.

  3. Louise177 says:

    I like Rihanna’s dress but prefer the hood down. I actually like what Rocky is wearing but think he would have looked better in black pants.

    • Imara219 says:

      I had the thoughts on ASAPsook. I thought less baggy pants would look better. I loved Riri dress

    • Snoozer says:

      Rocky is wearing a take on an iconic look Karl wore. There are videos of it. It’s pretty cool when you see the inspiration.

    • JM says:

      I love it hood down too. But hood up it’s giving “McDonald’s Grimace getting married”.

  4. Khadi says:

    I think she looks wonderful. She must be tired, one baby at home and another due soon. Hope she gets lots of help.

  5. Jais says:

    She looks cool and I love how it transforms. So good.

  6. Noki says:

    Do they get told the colour of the carpet? It was quite amazing that Blake Lively managed to match it most years.

  7. mellie says:

    I like it, but I too like it best with the hood down, otherwise she looks bit like one of the flocked Christmas trees….but it’s still very pretty, as is she.

  8. maisie says:

    the carpet was the worst. it looked dirty. there was even a moment when a roach went scurrying across it.

  9. Mar says:

    These 2 can wear whatever the helll they want and it will still look on point. Some people are that good

  10. Nicki says:

    I read that the flowers on the dress are meant to resemble camellias, which were KL’s favorite flower. I think she looked amazing.

    • chinchillaqueen says:

      Yes, white camellias. They were Coco Chanel’s signature flower.

  11. Coco says:

    Didn’t like the look and for the outfit to be over the top it was really boring.

  12. Grant says:

    I don’t like it. A bunch of fabric creating a shapeless mess does not an epic fashion moment make. I also think her hair looks BLAH. She’s had issues styling her hair with her last few red-carpet moments I’ve noticed.

    ASAP looks like he went to his closet, grabbed a handful of items, and threw them all on.

  13. jferber says:

    I loved the playfulness: long eyelashes on the sunglasses. They look great together and very loved up. Love the way he looks at her. She always deserved this. So glad for them both and wish them much joy and happiness always.

  14. Jen says:

    I used to LOVE Rihanna but I gotta say – I started side eyeing her once she hit billionaire status. No one becomes a billionaire without being a giant butthole.

    And her constant lateness is no exception. Two met galas in a row, crazy late – and for these snoozes? No.