Metallics were a fashion hit at last night’s Metropolitan Museum of Art gala as stars stunned in futuristic frocks with ear climbers, diamonds, and chokers

Ear climbers, diamonds, and super-modern styles were popular choices at last night’s 2016 Met gala in New York City. The theme “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” is also the name of the museum’s high-profile exhibition, which takes place May 5– Aug. 14 and examines the differences between handmade haute couture and machine-made fashion. The event itself is a benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and draws scores of stars and serves as a can’t-miss spring style event for trend watchers.

During the arrivals last night, it was clear that a number of celebs committed wholeheartedly to the machina side of the theme by wearing modern jewelry styles. Examples include Kim Kardashian’s diamond ear climbers and horizontal line ring by Lorraine Schwartz, Lady Gaga’s sprawling (and dangerous-looking) spike rings also by Lorraine Schwartz, Lily Aldridge’s 18k yellow gold earrings and ear cuffs by Ana Khouri, and Taylor Swift’s black rhodium and diamond ear cuff from Eva Fehren. Olivia Wilde, meanwhile, wore a thick metal choker from Jennifer Fisher.

And with all the metallic gowns on display, it’s not too surprising that colorless diamonds were nearly everyone’s first choice of stone. Model Hailey Rhode Baldwin wore Butani diamond earrings and Noudar diamond rings, singer Demi Lovato wore stud earrings and rings from Norman Silverman, and Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o wore drop earrings, cluster bracelets, and several rings in platinum with diamonds from Tiffany & Co. with her green metallic gown.

On the more traditional side of attire, Sarah Jessica Parker wore a Hamilton-inspired ensemble with massive cameo necklace by Fred Leighton Jewels, and Nicole Kidman also wore Fred Leighton jewels with her silver-and-black Alexander McQueen gown.

A smattering of other fun looks presided as well. Queen Bey wore light pink and colorless diamond rings from Lorraine Schwartz with her faux pearl–studded gown, Kris Jenner wore a black diamond choker necklace from Schwartz, and actress Kate Bosworth looked ethereal in Dolce & Gabbana with a massive silver-tone headpiece. On the odder side of event looks were some of the guys—Zayn Malik borrowed an arm from Iron Man to complete his attire, Jeremy Scott’s skeleton suit seemed more Day of the Dead than machina, and Kim K.’s other half wore colored contacts to give everyone the creeps with piercing laser-like eyes. Do those three dudes represent the intersection of future and handmade fashion? We hope not.

(Photo courtesy of @LorraineSchwartz)

JCK