Janelle Monáe Ditches Met Gala Look for Black Bikini on Red Carpet

Janelle Monáe made quite the fashion statement during her brief appearance on the carpet during the 2023 Met Gala.

The 37-year-old Glass Onion alum showed up to the Monday, May 1 event in New York City wearing a black and white gown inspired by the look of an oversized men's suit. But, shortly after arriving on the carpet, she lifted it up to show off an even more eye-catching ensemble.

With the help of some assistants, the "I Like That" singer removed her over-the-top gown while on the stairs of the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art, revealing a little itty bitty black sequin bikini adorned with silver chains and paired with a chunky, galactic-style boot.

The "Make Me Feel" performer's two-for-one look made great use of her accessories–which included a white cat purse–and the event's theme, an ode to the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Related: An Oscar Winner Wore a Cat Mascot Suit to the 2023 Met Gala

Lagerfeld, who is best known for his work as a creative director for Chanel among other critically-acclaimed collaborations, was also recognized for his ever-evolving signature style that included Edwardian and gothic-inspired suits almost always paired with a white collar, gloves, a ponytail and other distinctive accessories.

Looking for more examples of great tributes? Additional celebrities that clearly understood the evening's assignment are Ashley Graham, Kendall Jenner, Olivia Wilde and Emily Ratajkowski.

And if you missed the livestream, a few other key pop culture moments you may have missed include not one but two baby announcements–one from Serena Williams and another from Karlie Kloss–a PDA-filled reminder that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are still very much in love, and of course, the online controversy sparked by Doja Cat's outfit.

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