As a seasoned Met Gala attendee who has made several trips up the iconic Met stairs, Nicole Kidman lived up to her elegant reputation by reviving a 1950s vintage gown for her return to the gala this year.
I love how she subtly interpreted this year’s theme, opting for a bespoke black-and-white Balenciaga gown instead of the more popular whimsical floral motif. Some, however, weren’t impressed by her ostensibly typical black-and-white look, which they assumed deviated from the evening’s “The Garden of Time” dress code.
As they ascend the Met Gala stairs wearing matching black-and-white ensembles, Nicole Kidman appears like a princess being assisted by her prince charming husband, Keith Urban (Credit: Michael Stewart / INSTARimages)
The Inspiration Behind Kidman’s Met Gala Dress
This year’s exhibit theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s “The Garden of Time” short story, pays tribute to the delicate nature of the historic garments stored in the museum’s glass cases. It focuses on fleeting beauty and how clothes may be given new life.
Choosing to embrace the theme’s profound meaning rather than its literal garden interpretation, the star of ‘Being the Ricardos’ brought Cristobal Balenciaga’s 1951 evening ballgown back to life. I appreciate the nod to Balenciaga’s archives and his Spanish origins, as the gown was originally inspired by the flouncy, frilled outfits worn by flamenco dancers in his native country.
And if I’m being honest, I believe this is an accurate interpretation of the gala’s theme. Kidman’s outfit aptly represents the theme’s allusion to transient beauty and resurging fashion.
Nicole Kidman pays homage to the exhibit theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” in a black-and-white gown, custom-designed by Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia (Credit: Michael Stewart / INSTARimages)
In a quick interview with Vogue, Kidman said of her dress, “The Met Gala’s ‘The Garden of Time’ theme is so beautiful, I think I just fell in love with the idea of kissing a Balenciaga couture gown awake.”
Earlier this year, the AFI Life Achievement Awardee also mentioned discovering a photo of late model Dorian Leigh in the original Balenciaga outfit, captured by Richard Avedon for Harper’s Bazaar in 1951. “The black and white gown was immortalized by the great Avedon in a photo we discovered. I was planning to work with Richard Avedon, but due to timing, sadly never got the chance.”
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She also shared with La La Anthony on the red carpet how she approached Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia to recreate the gown.
“I asked Demna if he was willing to reinterpret it. So he reinterpreted it in the vein of the sleeping beauties and the gowns, bringing them back to life. So I consider this to be a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ brought back to life. It’s an honor to be able to bring it back to life.”
Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala 2024 Balenciaga gown is a recreation of Cristobal Balenciaga’s 1951 flamenco-inspired gown (Credit: DNphotography / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
The Intricate Details of Kidman’s Flamenco Gown
The flamenco-inspired gown features an ivory-white silk satin bustier top with a strapless sweetheart neckline, giving the sophisticated black-and-white design a sultry touch.
I love how the white bodice trails down her back into a half skirt, partially covering the voluminous black ballgown skirt, which is made up of layers of hand-frayed black organza ruffles.
Considering the meticulous details of Kidman’s Balenciaga gown, I wasn’t surprised that it took Balenciaga’s artisans 1200 hours to make.
Nicole Kidman’s black-and-white Met Gala gown features a white satin bustier top, cascading down her back and partially overlaying a black organza ruffle skirt (Credit: Michael Stewart / INSTARimages)
According to Vogue, 150 meters of silk organza were used to create 3000 feathers over 800 hours; each feather was cut, folded, pleated, and hand-frayed. The original design of two pieces was combined into one garment for an additional 400 hours of work.
“The gown creates a natural full circle moment of time—it’s a celebration of Richard’s work that will live on, but also, an acknowledgment of Balenciaga’s artistic vision that continues to seamlessly blend the illusion of past, present, and future,” Kidman told Vogue.
“Ensuring that just like Sleeping Beauty, no dress is truly ever left asleep, I am honored to be wearing Balenciaga’s creation this evening,” she added.
A reinterpretation of the 1951 Balenciaga gown, Nicole’s dress reportedly took a total of 1200 hours to make, from the satin bustier to the intricate silk organza feather skirt (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
The Equally Elegant Accessories
I don’t think accessories are necessary for a gown this gorgeous. But to enhance the elegance, stylist Jason Bolden accessorized the look with Harry Winston jewelry. I’m glad they ditched the necklace, bringing all the attention to her exquisite gown.
Her ears were adorned with a pair of Cluster Diamond Earrings weighing about 15 carats. Set in platinum, they feature six pear- and four marquise-cut diamonds arranged in a 3D cluster to capture light from all angles.
The Big Little Lies actress had on the Secret Combination Platinum and Diamond Bracelet on her wrist, designed with delicate ribbons of diamonds. It is part of the Secrets by Harry Winston collection honoring the heritage of the American jeweler, also known in the jewelry world as the King of Diamonds.
Nicole Kidman elegantly styles her Balenciaga gown with white opera gloves and jewelry by Harry Winston, including the Cluster Diamond Earrings and the Secret Combination Platinum and Diamond Bracelet (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages)
She was definitely in heels, but I’m not exactly sure what shoes she wore with the gown. I imagined her wearing white pumps or sandals underneath since I felt they would go well with the black-and-white combination.
Not to add, I thought they would complement her white opera gloves perfectly.
The Complementary Hair and Makeup
I like how Adir Abergel styled Nicole’s blonde hair in an effortless blowout to keep the focus on her gown. Her golden tresses flowed past her shoulders, with asymmetric waves giving a modern twist “to the vintage volume of the ‘50s.” To create “height at the crown and face,” he parted her tresses in the middle and surrounded her face with clip-in extensions from Hidden Crown.
Gucci Westman, meanwhile, gave the actress “a 2024 Grace Kelly to complement her ‘reawakened’ archival dress.”
Nicole’s complexion looked balanced and luminous, thanks to Westman Atelier’s Complexion Drops in Atelier N, Vital Skin Foundation in Atelier I, and Vital Pressed Skincare Powder in Translucent.
Nicole Kidman keeps her glam simple, wearing a blown-out wavy hairstyle reminiscent of the 1950s and 2024 Grace Kelly-inspired makeup (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages)
Westman then highlighted her striking features with the Face Trace Contour in Biscuit and created a natural rosy blush with the Baby Cheeks Blush in Popper and Liquid Super Loaded in Peau de Rosé.
Drawing attention to her blue eyes, she used the new Eye Pods Eyeshadow, the Eye Love You Pencil in Khôl Noir, the Eye Want You Mascara in Clean Black, and the Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black from Too Faced.
A swipe of the Lip Suede Les Nudes Palette and Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm in Chou Chou rounded out her stunning glam.
Keith Urban’s Classic Met Gala Look
In keeping with his wife, Keith Urban wore a traditional black-and-white tuxedo suit, most likely by Balenciaga. He paired a single-breasted black jacket with a white shirt, bowtie, and black straight-leg trousers.
Although it blended with his jacket, Urban paid tribute to the gala theme by wearing a single black rose on the left side of the coat. A pair of black dress shoes completed the look.
Keith Urban complements his wife in a black-and-white tuxedo suit with a black rose as a nod to the evening’s theme (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages)