See every single red carpet look from the 2021 Met Gala

It's that time of year again. After a 2020 hiatus from Met Gala season, the annual fashion party has finally made its return on a smaller, pandemic-friendly scale—though with looks just as extravagant and memorable as any other year.

Tonight, celebrities and designers have officially reconvened on the red carpet, bringing their A-game to the year's most anticipated event in fashion in a slew of expressive looks, from chic two-piece sets to full-on embellished gowns. For this year's theme, "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," the style is all about modern America, playing up tropes of expression and individuality. In other words, the looks are bound to be as over-the-top, dramatic, and political as you'd imagine.

“I really do believe that American fashion is undergoing a renaissance," said Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute. "I think young designers in particular are at the vanguard of discussions about diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainability and transparency, much more so than their European counterparts, maybe with the exception of the English designers.”

For a glimpse into the takes on the fashion event's most patriotic theme, see all the celebrity red carpet looks from the 2021 Met Gala ahead.