If there’s one person in the world who I’ll do anything for, it’s the one and only Sebastian Stan. His Met Gala look has everyone talking. While he looks amazing, a quick glance at his look doesn’t scream the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” or “Gilded Glamour” theme. However, a little digging shows that his look may be more on theme than you think.
The Gilded Age in America was a time period from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The industrial advances being made at the time allowed for economic fortune. It was during this time that now household names like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt made their fortunes.
So what does this have to do with Stan’s Valentino head-to-toe magenta ensemble? Well, the color magenta was invented in 1856, during the Gilded Age. It grew in popularity after its invention and it became a key shade in many pieces of art like Paul Gauguin’s Portrait of Maine (1890) and Henri Matisse’s Les toits de Collioure (1905).
With all of that said, there is still the question of why this color? Stan is not the only one who showed up in this fluorescent pink. Other celebrities dressed by Valentino, like Glenn Close, Jenna Ortega, and Nicola Peltz all showed up in the shockingly bright pink. This color is a collaboration between the couture house and Pantone: the two teamed up to create a unique shade of pink called “Valentino Pink PP.” The exclusive color was revealed at Paris Fashion Week.
While the look was definitely not a traditional choice, the hidden meaning behind the ensemble should not go unnoticed.