Zendaya in blue sparkly J Lo arrives at garden-themed Met Gala

By Ben Kellerman

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Zendaya posed on Monday in a blue dress decorated with bunches of grapes at the green-and-white carpeted entrance to the lavish annual Met Gala, which this year has a garden theme.

Stars had to dress in ‘Garden of Time’ attire for the invitation-only event, known for its A-list celebrities and extravagant outfits.

Film and TV star Zendaya, who hosted this year’s event, wore heavy eyeliner and a dark blue lamé and organza dress with a bias cut, worn over a satin corset from the Duchess. The dress, designed by John Galliano, featured bunches of grapes on one hip and arm, a large ruffle on one side and a blue hummingbird on one shoulder.

Jennifer Lopez, another presenter, wore a sheer beaded Schiaparelli dress. “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth and musician Bad Bunny were also named the evening’s presenters.

The high-profile Met Gala is a benefit event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition.

This year’s exhibition, called ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’, will feature rare items that have been dormant in the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, including designs so fragile that they will only be shown through animation and projections .

China’s TikTok, which faces a U.S. ban unless its owners sell the social media app to address security concerns, was one of the event’s sponsors. TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew was named honorary co-chair of the gala and was expected to mingle with guests at the event.

(Reporting by Ben Kellerman; Writing by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)