Met Gala 2015: Celebs did their 'China: Through the Looking Glass' homework

Met Gala 2015: Celebs did their ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ homework

May 5, 2015 6:30 AM PT

Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Janelle Monae and Jennifer Lopez were among the celebrities who looked as if they’d done some homework before Monday’s 2015 Met Gala celebrating the Costume Institute’s “China: Through the Looking Glass” theme.

Think China red, silky black, luscious gold and ornate embroidery. Yin and yang, dragons and flames.

RiRi went straight to the source for was was literally the biggest look of the evening, tapping a Chinese couturier rather than putting a Western interpretation on Eastern fashion.

Designer Guo Pei created her ensemble: a massive, fur-trimmed, embroidered gold cape that needed three handlers outside New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and teased to a bold pink lining and strapless pink minidress that remained essentially invisible underneath.

“It’s handmade by one Chinese woman,” Rihanna told Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley on the red carpet. “It took two years to make this.”

The singer called it a “miracle” that she was wearing the outfit. “I saw this beautiful piece on the Internet,” she said, while researching Chinese couture. And it all came together from there because, well, she’s Rihanna.

EXPERT OPINION: Fashion critic Booth Moore sizes up the red carpet

SJP, who of course Instagrammed a shot of her shoes ahead of the event, tapped London milliner Philip Treacy for a headpiece that looked like a crown of bright red flames. See? He does lots more than mere weddings.

Lopez and Kim Kardashian both wore dresses with more to see through than to see. Kimmy’s lacy white Peter Dundas design for Cavalli was almost enough to make us forget the floral sofa she wore to her first Met Gala in 2013, when she was pregnant. Third time’s a charm?

J.Lo was covered up only by a curvy red Versace dragon that had no choice but to reveal lots of side-butt. Kendall Jenner also pitched in on Team Kardashian with a lot of side-boob exposed in a sparkling, simple green column from the Calvin Klein Collection with a high neck and lace-up sides.

Monae discussed her black-and-white ensemble with Talley, noting, “The great thing is, black and white represents the yin and yang, the opposite forces attracting, so balance in all things.” Another great thing? Girlfriend designed her garb with the help of fast-fashion retailer H&M.

Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs made a colorful red carpet debut as a couple, with the singer wrapped up in a Christopher Kane creation patterned with naked bodies -- and naked body parts. And yes, she sported a sparkly ring on that finger.

Katie Holmes topped off an elegant, mostly backless black Zac Posen gown with a choppy bob and bangs, sparking speculation that she’d gone the way of the wig.

Amal Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Helen Mirren, Gigi Hadid and Kris Jenner each had her own take on the color red. Miley Cyrus, Karlie Kloss, Chrissy Teigen and Keri Russell mixed it up in black. Anne Hathaway was covered head to toe in a liquid-gold column gown that was also kind of a hoodie. Katy Perry carried a clutch made out of a Krylon spray-paint can, which has pretty much nothing whatsoever to do with China.

And surprise, Justin Bieber was there in a black jacket covered with a month’s worth of embroidery -- seriously -- in the form of gold dragons. Yeah, that’s the same Bieber who was hanging with Jamie Foxx at the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight Saturday night.

“He’s part of the new world. He’s the future. So proud to have him tonight,” designer Olivier Rousteing enthused to Vogue’s Talley. The Biebs, his companion, tossed out bon mots along the lines of “great,” “cool,” “thanks,” “yes” and “I’m really honored.”

Wonder if anyone told him Selena Gomez was also there, in a form-fitting white Vera Wang gown with cutouts and black accents? Something tells us he had an idea ...

Also this year: Madonna did get an invitation.

Check out the photo gallery above for a peek at lots of outfits from the 2015 red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.