The 2024 Met Gala celebrated the Sleeping Beauties exhibition, with many celebrities reviving vintage fashion. Nicole Kidman, however, wore a 1950s couture gown recreation.
The iconic Balenciaga ball gown, inspired by a 1951 haute couture design by Cristóbal Balenciaga was originally worn by Dorian Leigh. The original dress and its recreation by Demna featured a white double silk satin bustier over a black flared skirt, decorated with hand-frayed organza embroidery. As per Vogue, the recreation involved 800 hours of hand embroidery, 3,000 feathers, and 150 meters of silk organza, each cut, folded, pleated, and hand-frayed. Additionally, 400 hours of atelier work were spent transforming two separate pieces into a single-piece evening gown.
Styled by Jason Bolden, Kidman paired hers with opera-length gloves and Harry Winston diamond bracelets.
At last year’s Met Gala, Kidman re-wore a feathered blush gown from a 2004 Chanel No. 5 ad, demonstrating her commitment to the Karl Lagerfeld-dedicated dress code.