It happened again, each year the stars come together for the fashion-forward event of the year – The Met Gala. Now, you may think this is just an event to get the most over-the-top looks photographed, but it is also a huge event for raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York, which is an excellent reason for having such eccentric and quirky outfits.

How can we be inspired by events such as this? Well, if you are invited to attend special events, oftentimes they may add a theme to the event, this may only be that it is a black tie with a theme for the venue, but other times, a theme for the fashion may be implemented also. This can feel a little overwhelming for sure – how can you find the perfect outfit to suit the requirement, what can you wear to stand out for the right reasons - and much more, and many can feel the same in day to day life, as well as evening events.

When it came to this year’s Met Gala, the theme shared with the guests was “Camp – Notes on Fashion” and I loved how varied and colourful the outfits were. As always, there were fashion statements that the likes of those of us without relationships with high-end designers who can donate their clothing, would not be able to invest in, but it did show-off some of the amazing changes in the fashion world.

One thing I truly loved was the way many of the men dressed – showing off the androgynous way fashion can be taken, for example, Ezra Miller wore a bejewelled under-bust corset under a pinstripe suit, with a stunning bold red lip, and incredible multi-eye look! The way he truly embraced the male and female fashion styling was so on point for not only the theme, but also a style many men can now have a dip into. I’m not saying you have to go all out and add a bustier to your wardrobe (but you could if the event called for it!) but do not feel that your gender defines what you must wear.

Another trend I noticed within the Met Gala attendees was the glamorous eyelash trend which was best shown by Lady Gaga, with her gold 3D eyelashes and rhinestone under-eye jewellery. This trend isn’t an everyday item, of course, but it can be a fun way to add jewellery in a new way! If you want to be a little more demure with your face jewels, you could opt for your favourite metal in a quirky earring or necklace, a metallic eye-liner, or start with fake eyelashes to open up the eye.

If you feel this may still be a little too far, then you could take inspiration from the beautiful look of Lucy Boynton, who not only used little jewels around her eyes to imitate the large eyelash trend, but also added very cute bejewelling to her nails and fingers. This is a great way to upgrade your look without feeling like you are taking too much attention on yourself – nails are easy to update, as well as help to upgrade your overall outfit, without committing to too much of an investment. I think her entire outfit was beautiful, with a more hippy take on the Camp theme. She looked comfortable, appropriate, and polished, whilst staying true to her own personal style – something to remember for any event you attend – stay true to your own style, do not feel you have to change!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by a theme for an upcoming event, or are unsure how to keep to your personal style and be suitable for a special occasion, then I do hope this has shown to you that you can continue to stand out and be true to yourself, without detracting from the theme or your own style. If you would like any help to prepare, and plan out your whole look, I would love to help.