A look back at the Irish style on show at last year’s Met Gala

The so-called “biggest party in fashion”, the event marks the opening of the annual costume exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Last year’s theme celebrated the second volume of the two-part American fashion exhibition, gilded glamour honoured the unsung heroes of US design and invited guests to take inspiration from the unprecedented prosperity of the era.

Organised by Anna Wintour as a fundraising event for the museum’s costume institute, all eyes were on the red carpet as attendees made their entrance and though many looks impressed, we were mainly focused on the Irish contingent – who made their presence known at the glamorous affair. 

From Paul Mescal and his much-talked-about ‘tache to Jessie Buckley, who coincidentally also rocked some new facial hair at the event, there were plenty of standout moments that put Ireland on the map. Here are some of our favourites. 

Paul Mescal 

A cultural reset! Paul Mescal, Phoebe Bridgers and Daisy Edgar-Jones at the #MetGala2022 pic.twitter.com/6C2RjSYQfy

— IMAGE Media (@image_magazine) May 3, 2022

We’ve all seen that photo of him wearing Kildare GAA shorts at Coachella by now, so though the new moustache isn’t necessarily a surprise, it still takes some getting used to. Pictured alongside ex-beau American singer, Phoebe Bridgers and his Normal People co-star, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Mescal donned an all-black ensemble for the occasion. Chic, put together, and unmistakably Irish. That’s not to say he seemed out of place or anything, just that it wouldn’t be hard to figure out what secondary school he went to, or who he brought to the debs. 

Nicola Coughlan 

Galway girl Nicola Coughlan also made her Met Gala debut this year, arriving at the event in a feathery pink and black gown custom designed by Richard Quinn, complemented by exquisite jewellery from Swarovski. According to Vogue, the breathtaking gown was inspired by the fabrications of lavish 19th-century style with its silhouette, exposed cups and use of duchess sating. It all sounds very Bridgerton, which is incidentally one of the reasons that Quinn and his team were so excited to work with Coughlan in the first place. “She’s the epitome of gilded glamour, especially since recently starring as the iconic Lady Whistledown,” he commented. 

Jessie Buckley 

Co Kerry was well-represented on the red carpet thanks to Oscar-nominated actress Jessie Buckley, who teamed a pinstripe Schiaparelli suit (and matching tie) with a broad-brimmed hat… and drawn-on pencil moustache. What inspired her fantastical look? “We followed the gilded glamour theme with hints and hues of gold over the eyelids and temples and then a graphic moustache…because why not?”, the actress’ makeup artist Florrie White told MAC Cosmetics. Bravo!

Sarah Jessica Parker

While SJP herself is not Irish, there is a strong Irish connection there – she and husband, Michael Broderick, have an idyllic holiday home in Kilcar, Co Donegal. Not only that, but she also wore a hat designed by Irish haute couture milliner, Philip Treacy, to this year’s Met Gala too. Originally from Galway himself, Treacy studied design at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin before moving to London to complete an MA in fashion design at the Royal College of Art in London. A mainstay on both the Irish and international fashion scenes, he’s achieved worldwide recognition for his designs which have been worn by everyone from Lady Gaga to Madonna, Beyoncé, Grace Jones, the Beckhams and now SJP too. 

Camilla Cabello 

Again, Camilla Cabello herself isn’t Irish, but her hairstylist is and Dublin-born Andrew Fitzsimons – stylist to the Kardashians, Jenners and Hadids and the creator of his own incredible self-titled hair range (available at Boots) – is responsible for the singer’s dreamy floral topknot. Designed using his own hair range and detailed with additional flowers from her upcycled Prabal Gurung gown, Cabello’s up-do is giving us serious hair envy. The good news is that Andrew actually gave us a step-by-step guide as to how he created the look so you can attempt the same at home… just, you know, with cheaper, non-designer flowers instead.