Fashion & Style
Lauren O'Neil
Posted on September 14, 2021
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dan levy met gala

Dan Levy and Simu Liu make Toronto proud with their 2021 Met Gala fits

Fashion & Style
Lauren O'Neil
Posted on September 14, 2021
Report Inaccuracy
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Dan Levy straight-up crushed it at the 2021 Met Gala last night, if you haven't heard, alongside a surprising number of other Canadian stars — more than I've ever seen at the event before, which is kind of delicious when you consider that this year's theme was "American Independence."

Yes, fashion's biggest night came back with a bang on Monday evening after a one-year pandemic-induced hiatus, and attendees did not disappoint.

Most of the usual suspects — your pop stars, your hot actors, your Hadids, your actual supes — arrived at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday evening to walk the iconic Met steps in designer outfits most had likely hoped to make headlines with.

It worked for Kim Kardashian and U.S. politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom rocked statement-making looks, but an unexpected winner also emerged in first-time Met Gala attendee Dan Levy.

The Canadian actor, director, producer and activist (best known for his award-winning series Schitt's Creek) truly wowed the crowd with his ensemble last night — which is not an easy feat when you're contending with the likes of Rihanna and Lil Nas X.

Designed by LOEWE's Jonathan Anderson, the entirely bespoke look was crafted "with the brief of imagining what a 'gay superhero' might wear," according to the designer himself.

"The look features two seminal works by artist and LGBTQ activist David Wojnarowicz (1954-1992)," wrote Anderson in an Instagram post explaining the work.

"The LOEWE bespoke polo and trousers depicts two men kissing, from a 1984 artwork that deftly reappropriates a homophobic cartoon to instead celebrate same-sex love. Photos of Wojnarowicz and his friends surround the couple, amid a background of world maps, indicating the arbitrary borders and divisions the queer community faced."

From the clutch to the boots, Levy's entire outfit was an artistic statement, as well as a tribute to the late Wojnarowicz, for whom LOEWE made a donation in the name of the organization Visual AIDS.

Anderson says the work "asserts visibility for queer people—exposing the hatred and bias experienced daily, while celebrating love and joy."

It clearly resonated among Met Gala viewers and critics; Vanity Fair hailed Levy's look as "intricate and expressive" while other outlets used terms such as "show-stopping" and "powerful."

But as previously mentioned, Levy wasn't the only Canuck — or even the only Torontonian to turn heads at last night's extra-exclusive Met Gala. Also on hand and racking up praise for their stylish looks were...

Shang-Chi star Simu Liu:

Pickering-born singer Shawn Mendes:

Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow:

Actor Elliott Page:

 Vancouver singer and Elon Musk-lover Grimes:

And, of course, Stratford's very own Justin Bieber:

Not a bad showing of Canadians, especially for a year where the Met Gala's guest list was shorter than normal due to COVID restrictions.

Lead photo by

Metropolitan Museum of Art
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