The stars literally twinkled on the red carpet at the 2016 Met Gala honoring the new Costume Institute's exhibit, Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.
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Cindy Crawford and a host of others glittered in platinum. Kim and Kanye were in their matching silver and rhinestone glory. Bey wore latex. Zoe Saldana showed her pluck with a feathered train. (She wasn’t the only one. Kendall Jenner and Lady Gaga were gorgeous, but half-naked. And Claire Danes lit the place up in a Zac Posen glow-in-the-dark number.
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But Lena Dunham went androgynous in iconic menswear, a move that could be compared to legendary Marlene Dietrich, who famously wore a man’s dress suit in the 1930 film Morocco, as well as offscreen. Her bold sartorial style has come to symbolize confidence and female empowerment.
Leave it to Lena the rebel and her posse, Girls showrunner and BFF Jenni Konner and J. Crew creative director and president Jenna Lyons, to glam up their slim-cut tuxedos with white blouses, black accessories and d’Orsay pumps (plus Lyon’s signature studious specs), proving you don’t need a ball gown to be belles of the ball.
Lena Dunham
I understand, as well as admire, why the Girls’ creator/writer/star chose not to show up looking like a Disney princess famous for needing to be rescued. The leader of Hollywood’s next wave of feminists has already saved herself with her talent and, more importantly, being true to herself. Whether she’s embracing her less-than-toned, regular woman body or countering frills and glitz for basic and tailored, Lena is a breed apart.
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She is a Girls girl though, so she was not without a bit of bling: Lena & Co. coordinated diamond rings from J. Birnbach and custom 14-karat jewelry by Snash.
Lena & Co
Even in guys’ wear, the only thing you can say to Lena is: You go, girl.