Last night the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art were illuminated by starlight. A stellar cast of celebrities gathered in a collection of outfits largely unrivalled for their extravagance, complexity, visual impact and lack of restraint (except for Mr Kanye West, who turned up in a $49 Dickies jacket). The occasion was the 71st Met Gala, a yearly fundraiser organised by legendary US Vogue editor Ms Anna Wintour to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute. The theme was “Camp: Notes On Fashion”, which is the name of the museum’s latest exhibition, and is itself inspired by Ms Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes On Camp_”_.

If you’re unclear about the proper definition of “camp”, then you’re in good company. Ms Sontag, an important cultural commentator, set out to explain it in her famous essay, but instead produced 58 bullet points. The result is closer to a framework from which to think about camp, rather than a workable definition, although there are certainly some quotes from the essay that speak to the outfits worn last night, including a description of camp as a “love of the exaggerated”. We’ve rounded up six of the most striking outfits, but before anyone passes harsh judgement on the men that didn’t make the cut, bear in mind the 58th and final bullet point of Ms Sontag’s essay: “The ultimate Camp statement: It’s good because it’s awful”. So perhaps the misses were even more in line with the dress code than the hits.

Last night’s inclusion of the singer Mr Frank Ocean was cause for a double celebration, firstly for his exceptional outfit, and secondly because such a public appearance hints at the possibility that he might soon be releasing some new music. Mr Ocean stood out amid a sea of embellishment, colour and extravagance by dialling it right back, but rather than reach for a simple tuxedo, he interpreted restraint in a more contemporary way. His pull-over Prada parka, white shirt, black neck tie, cropped black trousers and unadorned black boots created a high-end take on norm-core formalwear, and the outfit was accessorised by his conspicuous use of a Contax T-3 35mm film camera. Not only did Mr Ocean look like one of the most sophisticated men at the party, he also provided us with a timely reminder of how powerful restraint can be in menswear.

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“Camp is art that proposes itself seriously but cannot be taken altogether seriously because it is ‘too much.’”

Last night, the parade of ever crazier outfits was in danger of taking itself a little too seriously, so it was refreshing to see Mr Anderson .Paak relishing his moment on the red carpet. The Californian singer, who’s released two albums in the past six months, looked utterly at ease in his oxblood-coloured ankle boots, deeply cuffed pink slacks, ivory-hued collarless shirt and a wildly patterned sequined blazer. The cream cowboy hat and bejewelled glasses were icing on the cake. It’s a vivid, exuberant ensemble that works because Mr .Paak shows no sign of taking it seriously, and the photographs capture a man who knows his clothes are a little crazy, knows he can carry it off, and is simply enjoying the trip.

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“The whole point of Camp is to dethrone the serious. Camp is playful, anti-serious.”

The “Sicko Mode” rapper, and Ms Kylie Jenner’s baby father, is a burgeoning fashion icon and last night he showed up in Dior, as designed by Mr Kim Jones. The military-inspired suit consisted of a dark olive pair of trousers, a double-breasted jacket and a short-sleeved tunic. This was worn with a black leather shoulder harness and, on his right arm, a military medal-inspired piece of jewellery and a single black leather sleeve and cuff. At first sight Mr Scott’s hyper-masculine, para-military style contrasts with the more flamboyant outfits worn by many of the Gala’s other guests, but on reflection, perhaps it was truly camp. To wear a streetwear-inspired, ultra-macho outfit to an extravagant celebration in aid of New York’s foremost fashion museum is surely in itself an expression of high-camp. Right?

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“The experiences of Camp are based on the great discovery that the sensibility of high culture has no monopoly upon refinement.”

Wow. Mr Leto, ably assisted by Gucci designer Mr Alessandro Michele, clearly decided that he’d go big this year. He didn’t just wear a floor-length, high-necked, scarlet dress, he wore one dripping in crystals, with silver slippers and flesh-toned crystal-embellished gloves. Then he accessorised the look with a life-size waxwork of his own head. As he revealed few clues in the red-carpet interview he gave Vogue, during which he looked very severe while explaining that camp is about not taking things too seriously, it’s left to us to speculate about the inspiration behind this look. But to our mind, it recalls the renaissance painting “Salome with the head of Saint John the Baptist” by Mr Bernardino Luini.

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“The hallmark of camp is the spirit of extravagance. Camp is a woman walking around in a dress made of three million feathers.”

Eye-catching clothing currently rules menswear, from the popular realm of streetwear to the exclusive world of the red carpet. What would have seemed outrageous only a few years ago is run of the mill in 2019, but despite this process of desensitisation, Miller’s outfit was still shocking (we should note that Miller doesn’t identify with any gender category). The American actor’s best known for playing Credence Barebone in the Fantastic Beasts films, but their eerie performance in those movies was nothing compared to the effect of looking at their face last night. They started off in a regal-looking satin cape with their face covered by a mask (which in turn depicted their eyeless face), before removing the cape and mask to reveal their own face, but with five more eyes than is usual. They combined this with a pinstripe suit featuring a jewelled corset and a long train. The result was genuinely unsettling.

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“Camp is the triumph of the epicene style.”

The British actor is best known as The Avengers’ eccentric Dr Strange and when it came to his outfit he chose clothes that were correspondingly out of step with the night’s prevailing styles. Other men opted either for unremarkable slim-fitting black tuxedos, or something totally extraordinary. Mr Cumberbatch stood out in his retro-inspired cream dinner jacket and matching trousers, thanks to the full shawl lapels, double-breasted waistcoat, matching ascot and fedora, and accessories that included a tie pin, watch chain, tasselled cane and embroidered slippers. It was all very Mr Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby, and it worked.

Most relevant Ms Sontag quote:

“So many of the objects prized by camp fashion are old-fashioned.”

The men featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown