Whoa! Singer Demi Lovato made a sophisticated comeback to the Met Gala this evening, her first attendance since 2016. Returning to the Met Gala is an honor, Lovato tells Vogue. The singer found that this year’s dress code, the “garden of time,” particularly spoke to her; it was appropriate to follow both personally and in terms of style. According to Lovato, “I associate a garden with evolution, rebirth, and blooming—events that occur throughout human history.” “I was excited to go this year because I feel like I’ve grown so much since my first Met,” the fan said. “I have had many eras throughout my career.”
Naturally, Lovato dressed to impress for the event, donning a specially made Prabal Gurung masterpiece. Prabal created a look that combines strength and delicacy, and that’s what brought Lovato and him together. Her all-handcrafted white, strapless couture gown was accessorized with matching opera gloves. The silk-lamé fabric of the gown was covered in more than 500 hand-cut mirrored mylar flowers with bejeweled centers, and it was decorated with sequins and glass crystals. Gurung describes the blossoms as having a harsh technological edge combined with a feminine softness. “This dress captures the intricacies of her artistic persona.”
Gurung’s choice of pointed, shimmering embellishments alluded to the “garden of time” dress code for the evening. Gurung adds, “I wanted to delve into the notion of conserving something that endures over time.” “Instead of utilizing delicate, flimsy materials like chiffon, I used substantial, long-lasting elements and hard, strong materials.” Lovato thought that the garment’s contrast of soft and hard reflected her own identity as an artist. In addition to fitting the theme, she explains, “the contrast between the delicate silk and the flowing hand-embroidered flowers and the strong sequins and glass crystals speaks to the duality of myself as a human and an artist.”
Although Lovato could have dressed for the Met in any designer, she was drawn to Gurung because she believes the designer grasps the idea of presenting a story via clothing. “I think Prabal showcases that he has a narrative and purpose to his designs, which is what I love about his creative for my look,” says Lovato. “Even though I just recently met him, we are already texting back and forth like old friends. I’m incredibly fortunate to be included in his creative process at all.
In 2016, Lovato made her Met Gala debut donning an ensemble designed by Jeremy Scott. Gurung claims that the main goal of her comeback this year was to create a fantasy wardrobe that would give her a sense of strength and self-assurance. Gurung describes Demi as “so inspiring—resilient, strong, [and] beautiful.” “I wanted to create an almost glamorous armor for the evening, and a gown to reflect all of these things.” It hit all the right chords when Lovato put on the last dress. Prabal, according to her, “created something so beautiful and so powerful.”
