Met Gala outfits can't easily be recreated at home — but we have ideas

The dresses are elaborate (Cardi B. had eight people helping her arrange her giant tulle black skirt). The outfits certainly aren't practical (La La Anthony joked that she couldn't breathe in her dress). And they can't be purchased with one click online (many are custom).

I'm talking about the Met Gala, of course, one of fashion's biggest nights and the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City.

It's a great event to draw inspiration from, as the Met Gala is viewed as one of the few events celebrating fashion as an art form. It's not easy (but not impossible) to bring these looks into your own wardrobe for a fraction of the cost.

So, we did the work for you. We found dresses, tops and accessories inspired by the trends and some of the most talked-about looks at this year’s Met Gala. And we do mean "inspired:" These aren't exact replicas of what was on the red carpet.

Met Gala 2024 best dressedSee Bad Bunny, Zendaya, JLo, more stars blossom in Garden of Time

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

For some background, the benefit's theme is usually tied to the museum's newest exhibit. This year, it's "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." "Sleeping beauties" refers to dresses that lie flat, too delicate to even stretch around a mannequin for display. The word "reawakening" has a double meaning in this exhibit, referring to how these pieces are brought to life through A.I. and 3-D recreations of the work and designers who took cues from the natural world.

This year's theme is tied to the "reawakening" that occurs in the spring and the flowers that come along with it. The theme is based on the short story "The Garden of Time," by J.G. Ballard. The story is about an aristocratic couple living in a villa that's surrounded by a garden of crystal flowers. A mob is advancing on them and to keep them at bay, the count must turn back time by plucking the flowers. When the mob arrives, the flowers are gone and the couple has turned to stone.

All the looks from the Met Gala:All the looks on the 2024 Met Gala red carpet, from Kim Kardashian to Zendaya

Got it? Ok, good. Here's what I found, organized by trend. Our suggestions are all under $300 (many are well below that) and can be ordered online.

Florals

This is the obvious one. Remember that short story I told you about? Ayo Edebiri, Rebecca Hall, Demi Moore and others all wore floral dresses, ranging from moody to brightly colored. Some men also found ways to incorporate flowers into their looks including Dan Levy, who wore floral pants.

• This black, floral Selkie organza mini dress with oversized ruffle straps is available in sizes ranging from XXS to 6X and costs $275.
• This black strapless dress by Conditions Apply reminds me of Moore's dress is and sold on Anthropologie.com. It costs $148 and could be worn to a wide range of summer events.
• This Finesse flower mini dress reminds me of Edebiri's dress and is made of blush-tone mesh and has floral appliqué details. It also touches on another trend seen on the red carpet — sheer — so you'll need to put some thought into your undergarments. It costs $88 and comes in sizes ranging from XS to 3X.

Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. 

Roses

It wasn't just floral motifs on the red carpet. Roses, specifically, were everywhere. Gigi Hadid wore a white off-the-shoulder Thom Browne gown featuring yellow rose detailing. The fashion designer Christian Cowan and singer Sam Smith wore shiny, metal-dipped red roses that functioned as closures to their suit jackets.

• This rosette choker comes in several colors and is a great way to complete a look. It's sold at the boutique Coup D’etat in Detroit (they also ship!) and costs $48.
• This $128 knit top by Reformation features a rose and ruching details.
• This bright pink WAYF dress with red roses has ruching at the hips and is a steal at $79.

More:All the best Met Gala looks in one place, from Kim Kardashian and Cardi B to Zendaya

Textured nudes

This was one of my favorite trends, a welcome reprieve from all the metallics and florals. Sand was the inspiration for the singer and songwriter Tyla's dress. Mindy Kaling also wore a nude-colored dress featuring sculptural pieces and actress Taylor Russell wore a dress that looked like it was made from wood.

• This off-the-shoulder knitted maxi dress by Manière De Voir has textured knit detailing and costs $160.
• This $49.99 a-line Mango dress is the color of sand and with a cotton-blend fabric, is a great dress for summer.

Metallics

On the other end of the spectrum from nudes and florals: Metallics. The Met Gala red carpet had plenty of that, too. Celebrities including Lauren Sanchez, Serena Williams, Demi Lovato, Kim Kardashian and Amanda Seyfried wore gold or silver.

• Add a pair of long black gloves to this $225 gold Norma Kamali one-shoulder dress and it's a fairly close replica of Serena Williams' Met Gala look.
• Fashion Nova sells a long skirt for $135.99 that looks like it's made of shattered glass, similar to Lauren Sanchez's dress.
• Finally, one bonus look: If you were into the mother of pearl accents on Ariana Grande's dress, this Asos dress has faux-pearl embellishments and costs $279.

Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com.