Flying the Loewe flag were The Crown actor Josh O’Connor in an exaggerated tuxedo with floral boots, Wintour in a floral-embellished coat worn over a simple white gown and Greta Lee in a structured lace dress. Browne embellished his preppy suiting with florals for Cynthia Erivo, Australian basketballer Ben Simmons and TikTok star Reece Feldman.

“Let’s face it, the luxury labels are the real winner of the event,” says fashion curator Alison Kubler. “Money is raised for the Met but the advertising these brands receive is incalculable.”

The floral theme was still too simple for some. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga actor Chris Hemsworth wore a plain cream suit from Tom Ford with glossy black boots. A shirt unbuttoned to seedy nightclub levels was Hemsworth’s only concession to style.

Pop star Troye Sivan’s pale blue Prada shirt sliced up the back and worn with a black bib avoided the dress code, with a butterfly brooch pinned at the waist appearing to be a last-minute addition.

Theatre producer Jordan Roth swung to the other end of the menswear spectrum in a custom Valentino hooded gown embellished with floral details and matching pink and green make-up. It was over the top, on theme and stopped a bud short of cosplay.

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Singer Rita Ora also took the look-at-me approach in a nude illusion creation from Marni. The beaded fringed design could almost be described as a dress and was draped over a puckering body stocking.

Skating closer to a kitten incident, or Bjork’s infamous swan dress from the 2001 Oscars, was Lana Del Rey in a mobile mosquito net.

The strapless bone gown from Alexander McQueen creative director Sean McGirr, embellished with thorny branches, a single rose and enough netting to keep a horde of bees at bay, was as dramatic as Del Rey’s music.

In the past, Rihanna has delivered the final style note for the event. Last year, the singer arrived well after the dinner had begun wearing snow-white Valentino. This time, Rihanna planned to wear her own label Fenty but was a no-show, making way for Galliano’s long-awaited triumph.

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