Kim K, J-Lo, Camila Cabello, Gemma Chan and Emma Raducanu lead the best dressed stars at the 2021 Met Gala

Following a year’s hiatus, The Met Gala made a triumphant return last night. And the stars hit the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum in a series of looks that most certainly made up for lost time.

Fully committed to this years’ In America: A Lexicon of Fashion theme, which is also the theme of the Museum’s annual fashion exhibition, the A-listers arrived in a series of bold and beautiful looks, inspired by the Land of the Free.

American designers featured heavily, and many made nods to the star-spangled banner in blue or red ensembles, while others –J.Lo and Leon Bridges among them – took it more literally, accessorising their looks with Stetsons.

Among the best dressed on the night was model Iman, who wore a dramatic golden brocade jumpsuit under a feathered overskirt with a matching giant halo-like headpiece from British-American designer Harris Reed. Also bringing the drama in golden hues was rapper Lil Nas X, who pulled off not one but three custom Versace looks in one red carpet – from a golden cape, to shiny golden armour then a slinky sequinned bodysuit, each of which was revealed Matryoshka doll-style as he walked the infamous steps of the Met Museum.

Also partaking in the drama of a reveal was Rihanna’s new beau ASAP rocky, who initially arrived alongside a black Balenciaga-clad RiRi swaddling himself in a patchwork blanket which he later ditched to reveal a dashing Matador-inspired black tuxedo with white ruffled shirt.

Elsewhere, dramatic trains were the dish du jour. Karlie Kloss rocked a red Carolina Herrera mini with sculptural floral detailing and a flowing train, Gemma Chan also rocked a Prabal Gurung mini with a giant green taffeta train while Spanish singer Rosalia made her Met Gala debut in an offbeat red leather Rick Owens look, complete with thigh-high leather boots, leather gloves and a flowing leather cape.

Others meanwhile stuck to more classic ballgowns. Gigi Hadid, whose hair was newly ruby red, rocked a white Prada column gown with a thigh-high leg slit and leather gloves, Sienna Miller glowed in nude shimmering Gucci with a flowing ostrich feather coat and Kaia Gerber wore an elegant strapless black Oscar de la Renta gown that paid tribute to the almost-identical Halston design Bianca Jagger wore to the same event back in 1981.

Scroll the gallery above for more best-dressed stars on the night.