Surprise! This evening, singer Demi Lovato made an elegant return to the Met Gala—her first time attending the annual event since 2016. “It's an honor to return to the Met Gala,” Lovato tells Vogue. For the singer, it was this year’s dress code—the “garden of time”—that especially resonated with her; It felt like a fitting one to partake in, both personally and fashion-wise. “When I think of a garden, I think of evolution, rebirth, and blooming—something that we as humans all do over time,” says Lovato. “I have had many eras throughout my career, and I feel I’ve grown so much since my first Met, so I was really looking forward to attending this year.”
Naturally, Lovato brought a perfectly polished look for the occasion, wearing a custom creation designed by Prabal Gurung. “Prabal and I came together on a look he designed that contrasts strength with fragility,” says Lovato. Her white, strapless couture gown was made completely by hand, and styled with matching opera gloves; The gown’s silk-lamé fabric was encrusted with sequin and glass crystals, and covered with over 500 hand-cut mirrored mylar flowers with bejeweled centers. “The flowers are soft and feminine, yet with a hard futuristic edge,” says Gurung. “This is a gown that encompasses the complexities of her as an artist.”
Gurung’s use of sharp, shimmery embellishments pointed back to the evening’s “garden of time” dress code. “I wanted to lean into the idea of preserving something that stands the test of time,” says Gurung. “Rather than using fragile, delicate materials like chiffon, I used hard and strong materials, and substantial elements that will not whither away.” Lovato loved the garment’s juxtaposition between hard and soft—something she felt represented herself as an artist, too. “The strength of the sequins and glass crystals, against the softness of the silk and the flow of the hand-embroidered flowers, not only fit the theme, but also speaks to the duality of myself as a human and an artist,” she says.
While Lovato likely could have chosen any designer to dress her for the Met, the singer was drawn to Gurung—a designer she feels understands the concept of storytelling through fashion. “Prabal’s designs always have a narrative and a reason to them, which I think he really showcases in his creative for my look,” says Lovato. “While I only met him earlier this year, we are already texting like old friends. I feel so lucky to even be a part of his creative process.”
Lovato attended the Met Gala for the first time in 2016, wearing a look by Jeremy Scott. For her return this year, Gurung says it was all about creating a fashion fantasy that would make her feel powerful and confident. “Demi is so inspiring—resilient, strong, [and] beautiful,” says Gurung. “I wanted to design a gown to reflect all of these things, and create an almost glamorous armor for the evening.” When Lovato put on the final dress, it hit all the right notes. “Prabal created something so beautiful and so powerful,” she says. “I felt strength.”
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