Honestly, if you weren’t staring at Elle Fanning on the Met steps last May, were you even watching? It’s basically a law of nature at this point: Elle Fanning and the Met Gala are a match made in fashion heaven. But her 2024 appearance was... different. It wasn't just another pretty princess moment.
People saw the photos and immediately started shouting "Disney!" or "Cinderella!" and yeah, I get it. She literally played Aurora. But if you think Elle Fanning Met Gala 2024 was just a Maleficent Easter egg, you’re kinda missing the point.
The dress was a technical nightmare that turned into a visual masterpiece. It looked like it was carved from a block of ice or blown from a single sheet of Venetian glass. In reality? It was a feat of chemistry and sheer stubbornness from the team at Balmain.
The Science of Looking Like Glass
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because this is where it gets cool. The gown wasn't actually made of glass. Obviously. She would’ve shattered the second she tried to sit down—not that she actually could sit in this thing.
The "glass" was actually layers of organza that had been painstakingly hand-covered with four separate layers of resin. Olivier Rousteing, the creative genius at Balmain, basically turned fabric into a hard shell. This gave it that trompe l'oeil effect where it looked like liquid frozen in time.
It was heavy. It was stiff. It was definitely not comfortable.
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But it looked like water caught in mid-air. When she moved, the light didn't just hit the dress; it lived inside it. The structure was so precise it looked like it was sculpted directly onto her skin. If you look closely at the photos, you’ll see the "birds" on her shoulders. They weren't just decorative; they were designed to look like they were literally lifting the heavy, "glass" fabric off her body.
Why "The Garden of Time" Actually Mattered
The theme for the night was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," with a dress code of "The Garden of Time." Most people just wore flowers and called it a day. Boring.
Elle went deeper.
She took inspiration from the J.G. Ballard short story that inspired the theme. In the story, there are these "time flowers" that look like crystal. They’re fragile, they’re fleeting, and they’re the only thing keeping the "mob" of time at bay. By wearing a dress that looked like it could break at any second, she was the literal embodiment of that fragility.
It wasn't just about being a "Sleeping Beauty" in the Disney sense. It was about the idea of a garment so delicate it’s basically "sleeping" in an archive because it’s too fragile to wear.
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The Details You Probably Missed
- The Makeup: Everyone was talking about her skin. Her makeup artist, Erin Ayanian Monroe, used L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion to give her that "glass skin" finish that matched the dress. It wasn't just a glow; it was a high-shine, presque-wet look.
- The Jewelry: She didn't go overboard. She wore Cartier—specifically some cascading diamond earrings that looked like dripping water.
- The Shoes: She wore Aquazzura PVC heels. Clear shoes are usually a "no" for me, but here? They made her look like she was floating on ice.
The "After-Party" Swap
A lot of people don't realize she didn't stay in the resin suit all night. You can't exactly eat sliders and dance to 90s hip-hop in a glass cage.
For the after-party, she swapped into another Balmain look—a silver, fringed mini-dress that Taylor Swift had actually worn months earlier to the Renaissance film premiere. It was a complete 180. From a stiff, frozen sculpture to a shimmying, liquid-metal party girl.
What This Look Tells Us About Elle's Career
Elle Fanning has been doing this since she was a literal child. She’s grown up on these carpets. But the Elle Fanning Met Gala 2024 look signaled a shift. She’s moving away from the "sweet younger sister" vibe and into "High Fashion Powerhouse" territory.
It takes a certain kind of confidence to wear something that looks like Saran wrap and resin and make it look like art. She wasn't just wearing a dress; she was performing a character.
How to Channel the Vibe (Without the Resin)
You probably can't get four layers of resin applied to your favorite Zara dress, but you can steal the essence of this look.
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- Texture is King: Look for materials that play with light—organza, silk, or even high-shine metallics.
- Monochromatic Magic: Notice how her hair, skin, and dress all lived in the same "cool-toned" world? That’s what made it look expensive.
- The "Glass Skin" Hack: Don't just highlight your cheekbones. Use a liquid glow product on your collarbones and shoulders to get that ethereal, statue-like finish.
Moving Forward
The 2024 Met Gala will be remembered for a few things: Tyla's sand dress, Zendaya's double-walk, and Elle Fanning's glass moment. It reminded us that fashion isn't always about being "flattering" or "wearable." Sometimes, it's just about the spectacle.
If you’re looking to recreate this kind of impact for a big event, focus on a single, strong concept rather than just "looking pretty." Whether it's a specific material or a deep-cut literary reference, the best looks always have a story to tell.
Check out the behind-the-scenes videos of the Balmain atelier if you want to see how they actually molded the resin—it's wild to see how much labor goes into a dress that only gets worn for four hours.
Next Steps:
- Audit your highlighter collection: If you want that Elle-inspired glow, look for "wet-look" balms rather than glittery powders.
- Research the theme: Read J.G. Ballard's The Garden of Time to see why so many of the 2024 looks were actually quite dark and melancholy.
- Follow Samantha McMillen: She’s the stylist behind this look (and many of Elle's best moments); her Instagram is a masterclass in red-carpet strategy.