Blake Lively’s gown at the Met Gala this week stunned onlookers, but most people probably missed one secret detail from her outfit.
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The actress revealed on Instagram Friday that the studded clutch designed to complement her dress, which reportedly took over 600 hours to make, featured a cross with four letters, each representing the members of her family.
Take your family to work day… A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on May 10, 2018 at 10:11pm PDT
The letters on the cross were B and R, for Blake and her husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as J and I, for their daughters James and Ines.
The 30-year-old also shared a photo of her with Jimmy Fallon on the Met Gala red carpet in which the “Tonight Show” host is lifting up her long gown over his own suit. Lively joked that she was “pissed” he’d worn the same outfit as her.
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In another photo from the night, actress Salma Hayek and French businessman Francois Henri Pinault are seen carrying Lively’s train for her.
Blake Lively's appearance at the Met Gala was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the evening, as she arrived adorned in a stunning Versace gown that allegedly took more than 600 hours to create.
Lively’s look was certainly a feast for the eyes. However, her ensemble featured a touching detail that many people likely failed to notice at first glance.
The actress, best known for her starring role in Gossip Girl, carried a custom bejeweled clutch bag designed by Judith Leiber that paid tribute to her family in a very subtle way.
Take your family to work day... A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on May 10, 2018 at 10:11pm PDT
One side of the “Seamless Sacred Heart” clutch was embellished with the initials of Lively’s family, in addition to the “Reynolds” family surname.
The “B” and “R” referred to the first names of Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, while the “J” and “I” signified their two young children James and Ines.
Deadpool actor Reynolds didn’t accompany his wife to the Met Gala this year, which led some naysayers to speculate about the state of their marriage.
However, the decoration of Lively’s clutch has made it clear that their suppositions are unfounded.
In an Instagram post shared by the 30-year-old a few hours ago, Lively can be seen displaying the clutch on her lap while wearing the Versace dress.
“Take your family to work day…”, she wrote in the caption.
Many of Lively’s followers have expressed their delight over the sweet tribute to her family.
Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies
+ show all Met Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies
1/50 Rihanna went all in on the Catholicism theme wearing custom Maison Margiela AFP/Getty
2/50 Madonna poses alongside Jean Paul Gaultier, the designer of her gothic Met Gala gown AFP/Getty Images
3/50 Supermodel Bella Hadid wears a glossy latex corset by Chrome Hearts Official x Gareth Pugh, topped with a sculptural cape Getty
4/50 Katy Perry incorporated the theme with oversized wings, a Versace chainmail dress and thigh high boots Getty
5/50 Black Panther's Chadwick Bosemanan wears an all-white Versace outfit with religiously inspired embellishments, gold shoes, and a cape Getty Images
6/50 Priyanka Chopra wears Ralph Lauren Getty
7/50 Solange Knowles opted for a structural black Iris van Herpen dress and a halo headpiece with a black du-rag
8/50 Lily Collins wears a black Givenchy gown and coordinating gothic makeup Getty
9/50 Kate Bosworth wears an ethereal Oscar de la Renta gown topped with a mantilla veil Getty
10/50 Vogue editor Anna Wintour wears a custom Chanel gown featuring a halter neck and intricate beading Getty
11/50 Frances McDormand wearing a Versace gown and Philip Treacy headpiece, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and Anne Hathaway sporting a Valentino Couture red ballgown AFP/Getty
12/50 Ariana Grande poses alongside Vera Wang, the designer of the singer's debut Met Gala gown Rex Features
13/50 Nicki Minaj wears a red Oscar de la Renta gown and bejeweled headpiece PA
14/50 Blake Lively wears Versace to the Met Gala PA
15/50 Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen wear Dolce & Gabbana Getty
16/50 Kim Kardashian stunned in a liquid gold Versace dress with cross embroidery Reuters
17/50 Jennifer Lopez wears a bejewelled Balmain gown with cross detailing while Alex Rodriguez opted for a polished black suit PA
18/50 Tracee Ellis Ross wears a bright pink gown with a matching jacket by Michael Kors Rex Features
19/50 Amal Clooney wears a Richard Quinn corset dress and navy trousers while husband George Clooney opted for a traditional black tuxedo REUTERS
20/50 Lana Del Rey wears an elaborate Gucci gown and bird halo headpiece REUTERS
21/50 Sean 'Diddy' Combs wears a Musika Frere suit while Cassie opted for Thom Browne with Chopard earrings Getty
22/50 Miley Cyrus wears plunging black dress by Stella McCartney and Sydney Evan custom hoops with a large cross Getty
23/50 Cynthia Erivo opted for a Valentino gown, Sophia Webster shoes and bejewelled brows Getty
24/50 Power couple Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams both dressed in Chanel for the annual gala PA
25/50 Winnie Harlow wears an all-white Tommy Hilfiger dress with a dramatic train PA
26/50 Donatella Versace, who was co-host for the event, opted for an ornate navy and gold dress of her own design AFP/Getty
27/50 Elon Musk wears a white tuxedo and Tesla pin, while Grimes opted for a black dress and Tesla choker AFP/Getty
28/50 Lily Aldridge and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley walked the red carpet together, both wearing Ralph Lauren Collection gowns AFP/Getty Images
29/50 Atlanta-based trio, Migos, wear sequinned Versace suits EPA
30/50 Contributing Editor of Vogue Thailand, Nichapat Suphap, wears custom Peter Dundas AFP/Getty
31/50 Anya Taylor-Joy wears a gold tapestry Dolce & Gabbana dress PA
32/50 Janelle Monae wears a monochrome Marc Jacobs gown with a crystallised head wrap and Stephen Jones hat PA
33/50 Rapper Cardi B opted for a custom Moschino gown alongside designer Jeremy Scott REUTERS
34/50 Eiza Gonzalez wears a black Prabal Gurung gown with a white cape AFP/Getty
35/50 Cara Delevingne wears a dramatic all-black Dior Haute Couture dress and beaded veil REUTERS
36/50 Lewis Hamilton wears an all-white ensemble designed by Tommy Hilfiger AFP/Getty Images
37/50 Rita Ora wears an all-black embellished ensemble by Prada EPA
38/50 Amanda Seyfried wears a romantic Renaissance-style gown by Prada AFP/Getty
39/50 Amber Heard paired a Carolina Herrera scarlet gown with a gold halo headpiece REUTERS
40/50 Lena Waithe made a powerful pride statement with a sparkly rainbow cape worn over a sleek black suit PA
41/50 Kylie Jenner wears a black Alexander Wang gown with semi-sheer heels and micro sunglasses PA
42/50 2 Chainz (kneeling) proposed to Kesha Ward on the red carpet, both wearing custom Versace AP
43/50 Doutzen Kroes wears a colourful Sies Marjan dress AFP/Getty
44/50 Supermodel Gigi Hadid wears a Versace gown with stain glass window-inspired detail PA
45/50 SZA wears a frothy Atelier Versace gown and a headpiece by Chrishabana AFP/Getty
46/50 Diane Kruger accessorised her Prabal Gurung gown with a custom Philip Treacy head piece REUTERS
47/50 Andrew Garfield wears a velvety pink tuxedo jacket by Tom Ford PA
48/50 Paris Jackson and Miley Cyrus both opted for gowns by designer Stella McCartney PA
49/50 Vanity Fair’s contributing editor, Amy Fine Collins, wears a custom design by Alice + Olivia’s Stacey Bendet Eisner AFP/Getty
50/50 Emilia Clarke wearing a Dolce & Gabbana gown Getty
“And I thought her outfit couldn’t be more perfect,” one person commented.
Another individual described the clutch as “precious”, while someone else said it was “cool” and “thoughtful”.
Lively’s dress was so large that she had to be sewn into it while travelling to the Met Gala in a party bus.
She reportedly wore Lorraine Schwartz jewellery worth almost £1.5 million on the night, which included a variety of diamond and ruby rings, diamond earrings and gold bracelets.
The actress finished off her look with a custom halo created from 100 carats of champagne diamonds, in keeping with the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme.
Lively attended the Met Gala with shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who escorted her to the party bus that took her to the event while she wore a silk Versace robe and Louboutin heels.
The event, which is regarded as one of the most important fashion fixtures of the entire year, takes place annually on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Lively said director Baz Luhrmann's oeuvre was one of the inspirations for her look. "What he did with Shakespeare and love and religion and passion and danger and all of that... 'What would Baz do with the theme?' was sort of our vibe," Lively said. "I saw Baz and Catherine Martin that night, and I was so excited to show them. 'Look at the bag! And look at the dress!'"
Later, she shared a photo of billionaire couple Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault. "When @salmahayek and @francoishenripinault are carrying your train...this is when you know you've made it," she joked on Instagram. "(And also that you're an egomaniacal a hole who must be stopped before you try to take Kings Landing. Cersei doesn't stand a chance. GAH! There I go again!!)" In her Vanity Fair interview, she described the gala's décor as "very Game of Thrones." As luck would have it, "I saw the Mother of Dragons," Lively revealed, referring to the "great" Emilia Clarke. "I kept wanting to go back and ask to take a picture with her, but I was too shy."
Raise your hand if you're feeling Met Gala fatigue.
(Both hands raised.)
Nothing against fashion's biggest night—there were some truly amazing looks—but all the glamour can be somewhat hard to relate to. We love a good ball gown, but how many times can that inspire our next brunch outfit? Luckily, after the first Monday in May, stars flew to the annual Cannes Film Festival, movie premieres and charity events in ensembles we can actually take style notes on.
For instance, Blake Lively's pink frock makes for the perfect summer dress. Pair your pastel number with yellow heels, walk around with a handful of matching balloons, and you have an Insta-worthy moment ready to be captured.
