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best and worst
May 1, 2017

The 21 Best, Craziest, and Snooziest Beauty Looks From the 2017 Met Gala

By Ashley Weatherford and Kathleen Hou

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Photo: Getty Images

There were zero crystal face masks. But still, celebrities did their best to interpret this year’s Comme des Garçons–themed Met Gala from a beauty perspective. Some decided to get Rei Kawakubo bobs, a few Victoria’s Secret models and actresses ignored the directive entirely in favor of soft waves and nude lips. Others, like Katy Perry and Lily Aldridge, experimented with the effect of impaired visibility with elaborate veils and scarves. Cara Delevingne tried crystals and a spray-painted bald head. Selena Gomez caught the red-carpet pink eye that’s been going around.

Click through the slideshow to see the 21 best, snooziest, prettiest, most elaborate, pixie-ish, and simplest beauty looks from the 2017 Met Gala.

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1 / 21 Photos
Katy Perry Perhaps a clever ploy to name-drop her new album (Eye Witness?), Perry was striking in a look ready for a Red Wedding (or a Bad Romanc... Katy Perry Perhaps a clever ploy to name-drop her new album (Eye Witness?), Perry was striking in a look ready for a Red Wedding (or a Bad Romance?) with closely shorn platinum hair, a glittery red lip, Pat McGrath #DarkStar006 eyes, and a delicate red veil. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images
Rihanna What? You thought Rihanna was going to wear beach waves and no-makeup makeup to go with Look No. 1 of the Comme des Garçons Fall 2... Rihanna What? You thought Rihanna was going to wear beach waves and no-makeup makeup to go with Look No. 1 of the Comme des Garçons Fall 2016 Collection?  Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Selena Gomez Gomez continues to make a convincing case for red carpet conjunctivitis with a vibrant-but-soft bright-pink eye, created by makeup a... Selena Gomez Gomez continues to make a convincing case for red carpet conjunctivitis with a vibrant-but-soft bright-pink eye, created by makeup artist Hung Vanngo for Marc Jacobs Beauty.  Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images
Cara Delevingne How do you accessorize a bald head? With paint and sequins, of course. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani painted the model’s head with... Cara Delevingne How do you accessorize a bald head? With paint and sequins, of course. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani painted the model’s head with a coat of silver lacquer. But a painted head by itself is boring, I suppose, so she dotted Delevingne’s head with a constellation of crystals as well. Even with all of that glitz, however, Delevingne’s brows still stole the show. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Lily Aldridge Some called Aldridge's look "a big question mark," but hey, at least it's not a top knot. It's unusual, but unique, ... Lily Aldridge Some called Aldridge's look "a big question mark," but hey, at least it's not a top knot. It's unusual, but unique, and the sheer magenta scarf delicately drapes over her face, across her neck, and to the back to tie her hair, in a design created by Bryce Scarlett.   Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Jaden Smith He took his beauty look into his own hands. Literally.  Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment W
Zoe Kravitz Zoe Kravitz or modern Audrey Hepburn? The platinum pixie looks great and gamine on Kravitz, and her pink lipstick (part of the beauty... Zoe Kravitz Zoe Kravitz or modern Audrey Hepburn? The platinum pixie looks great and gamine on Kravitz, and her pink lipstick (part of the beauty look created by makeup artist Nina Park) complements, but isn't matchy-matchy with her ice-pink gown.  Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Zendaya Standing out among the endless waves and sculptural top knots was Zendaya's breezy and bountiful head of curls, along with an orange lip ... Zendaya Standing out among the endless waves and sculptural top knots was Zendaya's breezy and bountiful head of curls, along with an orange lip that paired perfectly with her macaw-print gown.  Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Chloe Bennet, Josephine Skriver, Joan Smalls It's not that these models look bad, a feat that's been rendered genetically impossible, it's more t... Chloe Bennet, Josephine Skriver, Joan Smalls It's not that these models look bad, a feat that's been rendered genetically impossible, it's more that this look could have appeared on any red carpet. Props to Joan Smalls for the drawn-on lip ring though.  Photo: Venturelli/WireImage
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez’s longtime makeup artist, Scott Barnes, outfitted the entertainer with a fresh coat of false lashes to cinch her ’6... Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez’s longtime makeup artist, Scott Barnes, outfitted the entertainer with a fresh coat of false lashes to cinch her ’60s-centric look. But, as these things go, Lopez’s showstopper resided on her backside, where two feet of hair swooped down her back. The mastermind behind the look was hairstylist Chris Appleton. You just know he had a pony somewhere on his mood board. Photo: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
Rita Ora There's something just right about the gigantic, silky red bow paired with Ora's dark brows and the sculpted, shellacked, platinum pixie... Rita Ora There's something just right about the gigantic, silky red bow paired with Ora's dark brows and the sculpted, shellacked, platinum pixie. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Courtney Love Would it be a Courtney Love beauty look without a little smeared lipstick? (In this case, via a kiss from daughter Frances Bean Cob... Courtney Love Would it be a Courtney Love beauty look without a little smeared lipstick? (In this case, via a kiss from daughter Frances Bean Cobain.) Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Alessandro Michele  The man with the greatest hair on Earth lost a few inches recently, but that hasn’t stopped him from having hair that is... Alessandro Michele  The man with the greatest hair on Earth lost a few inches recently, but that hasn’t stopped him from having hair that is most likely more beautiful than yours (sorry). At this year’s fete, Michele opted for a fluffy, banged ’do, with a few whimsical, curled layers. Though his date was the remarkable Dakota Fanning, I think we know who won the hair competition in that duo. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Kim Kardashian She may not be wearing a Givenchy crystal face mask, but for Kim Kardashian, supernaturally sleek short hair by Michael Silva (a c... Kim Kardashian She may not be wearing a Givenchy crystal face mask, but for Kim Kardashian, supernaturally sleek short hair by Michael Silva (a change from her previous super-long-hair look) and gleamy silver eyeshadow is radical.   Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment W
Lily Collins With her choppy bob (by Gregory Russell), clumpy lashes, and vampy listick, Collins looked like a glam robot version of Rei Kawakubo... Lily Collins With her choppy bob (by Gregory Russell), clumpy lashes, and vampy listick, Collins looked like a glam robot version of Rei Kawakubo.  Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
La La Anthony A normal ponytail isn’t really a normal ponytail when it’s accented with a handful of arty black sticks. Just take a look at La La ... La La Anthony A normal ponytail isn’t really a normal ponytail when it’s accented with a handful of arty black sticks. Just take a look at La La Anthony. Solange’s “Don’t Touch My Hair” hairstylist, Nikki Nelms, curled Anthony’s hair in loose tendrils and secured it in a high pony. A standard-fare smoky eye accomplished by makeup artist Sheika Daley rounded out the pretty look. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Katie Holmes Her look conjures the blues.  Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Rose Byrne You have to give it to Rose Byrne, who arrived in a hairdo that’s the opposite of boring. In fact, her bronde ringlets were enormous a... Rose Byrne You have to give it to Rose Byrne, who arrived in a hairdo that’s the opposite of boring. In fact, her bronde ringlets were enormous and quite reminiscent of an ’80s-era perm. And to cap it off with an electric red lip? Ah, perfect. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Lupita Nyong'o Orange you glad Lupita and her makeup artist, Nick Barose, chose to create an "Impressionist eye" with five different co... Lupita Nyong'o Orange you glad Lupita and her makeup artist, Nick Barose, chose to create an "Impressionist eye" with five different colors to pair with her tangerine dress? Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Diane Kruger Kruger looks perfectly lovely, but in no way avant-garde. Unless not trying is the new avant-garde.  Photo: Neilson Barnard/G... Diane Kruger Kruger looks perfectly lovely, but in no way avant-garde. Unless not trying is the new avant-garde.  Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Aymeline Valade You want to get noticed on the Met Gala red carpet? Wear something bold and bright, and be really, really good-looking. Oh, and s... Aymeline Valade You want to get noticed on the Met Gala red carpet? Wear something bold and bright, and be really, really good-looking. Oh, and slap on a vibrant red lipstick, too. At that point, you can settle on a hairdo that requires not much more than a sturdy brush and gel. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
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