Daily Times

The theme “Manus X Machina” centred around a few key beauty themes.

At the top of the list? A high ponytail fit for a bionic babe, slick enough to make the wearer look like she was one part gleaming machine.

Coming in as a close second: the deep oxblood lips seen on actresses Léa Seydoux and Rose Byrne, model Miranda Kerr, and more, which became such a universal statement, it looked as if a tube was being passed around on the red carpet. For those looking for the kind of swingy hit that commands a paparazzi lens, bobs were an easy option, with actresses Michelle Williams and Kristen Stewart, and singer and songwriter Solange Knowles leaning into lived-in textures. And for highly complicated, sparkling dresses, longer strands went one of two directions: air-dried waves or simple knots-both of which proved minimalist enough to contrast with a full-throttle gown. Here, a look at the best beauty trends of the Met Gala.

Bionic ponytails – braided, flat-ironed, and wrapped in thin strips of metal, tonight’s ponytails came in all variations, bound together by one unspoken rule: the higher and slicker, the better. Oxblood lips – nothing anchored a cool, silver sartorial palette like an arresting rouge-noir mouth, making for a foolproof pairing that was as universally winning on blondes as it was on brunettes.

Bold bobs – Even skilled red carpet favourites Kristen Stewart, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, and Michelle Williams shook up their signature bobs tonight, turning up with choppier, tougher-edged variations on their crops or freshly shorn microbangs.

Twist-and-go knots – there’s no wrong way to wear a twist-and-go knot. Sleek and classic, mussed up and lived in, or high on the top of the head, each look gave star billing to plunging necklines and flash focus beading.

Minimalist hair – worn by the red carpet’s most famous super bodies, easygoing hair cut an effortless yet confident profile. Model and actresses Doutzen Kroes and Margot Robbie paired stark white cut-out gowns with air-dried textures. Meanwhile, model and actress Alessandra Ambrosio took a page from the famous good looks of original supermodels Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, who prefer their hair straight and swingy. And taking the undone look to new levels, artfully rumpled looks turned up on singer and songwriter Florence Welch and the Haim Sisters-proving you can never go wrong with a little rock ‘n’roll attitude.