Every year the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts the Met Gala to raise money for their Costume Institute. The theme of the institute’s annual exhibit this year is “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and it inspired some stunning high-fashion looks worn by attendees to the popular event. Amid all the outstanding outfits the ones that caught my eye the most were those where armor played a role.

It makes sense that there would be some warrior influence considering the history of the church, but the results were impressive. I wasn’t expecting to see everything from subtle nods to actual chainmail and seeing them my brain of course went more to areas like Dungeons & Dragons than the church. Whether you’re a fantasy geek, history geek, fashion geek, or just like cool designs, it’s worth taking a look at these dresses!

Here are a few of my favorites from the gala that show what can happen when fashion and armor combine.

Zendaya

If you’re subscribed to GeekFold, you know what I think of this dress already (if you’re not, what are you waiting for? Sign up here!) The outfit worn by Spider-Man actress Zendaya was created by Versace and inspired by Joan of Arc. Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach told WWD that during his conversations with Versace he "started thinking about strong women who had a connection to religion."

“I dreamt of Joan of Arc one night and called Versace and was like, ‘What if we did something to reference Joan of Arc?’ They came back with really, really great sketches,” he said.

This was easily the most striking armor-like ensemble at the Met Gala. It even inspired some amazing art!

H&M’s dresses

There were a number of people wearing H&M designs to the Met Gala and the company considered armor when developing two of them. Medieval armor inspired the dress worn by Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart. The inspiration is clear in the top of the dress, which is quite different from the rest. According to Glamour, H&M creative advisor Ann-Sofie Johansson thinks Reinhart’s dress is noteworthy for “the clash between that softness in the sleeves and skirt—that kind of glossy, ethereal, cloud feeling, very light and airy—[and] the hardness of the bustier.”

The second design was worn by Olivia Munn and made entirely of gold chainmail. Munn told Bazaar.com that the specific inspiration for it came from the Crusades though, which tampers my enjoyment of the chainmail dress unlike the Joan of Arc and general medieval armor inspirations of the other designs.

Shailene Woodley

Ralph Lauren’s design for actress Shailene Woodley didn’t use metal to convey its warrior vibe. It’s the silver and detailing here that gives the sense of plate armor though there’s also a bit of a futuristic hint in the metallic dress.

Louis Vuitton’s silver dresses

Louis Vuitton was another company that dressed a number of people for the benefit and like Ralph Lauren, they created two dresses that suggest armor without including any actual chainmail. The shining silver design of actress Jennifer Connelly’s dress doesn’t scream armored knight, but is more of a subtle nod.

The dress worn by actress Michelle Williams on the other hand makes the inspiration a little clearer thanks to the studs paired with its silver shine.

 What was your favorite look from the Met Gala? Tell us in the comments!

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