At 54, Jennifer Lopez Faces Age Criticism for Wearing an Elaborate See-Through Gown, Crafted in 800 Hours

At 54, Jennifer Lopez was selected by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour to co-chair the 2024 MET Gala alongside actress Zendaya, Latin pop sensation Bad Bunny, and actor Chris Hemsworth. Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew served as the honorary chairs.

The gala’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” inspired by JG Ballard’s short story “The Garden in Time,” set a whimsical tone for the event. Despite her striking look at the MET Gala, Lopez faced criticism over her choice of outfit, hairstyle, and makeup, with some detractors claiming she was “too old” for such a bold style.

Jennifer Lopez co-hosted the 2024 MET Gala on May 6 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The event celebrated the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, which showcased 50 historic fashion items deemed too delicate to wear again.

Arriving earlier than other celebrities, Lopez dazzled attendees with her near-transparent Schiaparelli couture gown adorned with stone embellishments that highlighted her stunning figure. Fashion designer Mariel Haenn revealed that the gown took 800 hours to create, using over 2.5 million silver foil bugle beads.

Haenn further explained the gown’s symbolism: “Much more than flowers, the butterfly represents transformation—a being that awakens beautiful, powerful, and renewed. It perfectly captures the essence of ‘Sleeping Beauty.’”

Her stylist, Lorenzo Martin, opted for a subdued hair and makeup look to draw attention to the gown. He aimed for a fresh, angelic hairstyle, describing the inspiration as a butterfly’s metamorphosis. The makeup was kept effortless and natural, featuring shades of brown, pink, and caramel that complemented Lopez’s natural beauty.

Lopez’s look was completed with Tiffany & Co. jewels and nails by Tom Bachik, who described his approach on Instagram: “Like a butterfly transforming in a shimmery chrysalis, I encased Jen’s polished natural nail in a translucent pearl cocoon.”

Despite the extensive effort, time, and resources invested in Jennifer Lopez’s striking ensemble for the MET Gala, some social media users failed to appreciate her look at the prestigious fashion event.

One Facebook user remarked, “Lookin like Jenny did her own hair and makeup lookin tired and too old for see thru.” Similarly, an Instagram user criticized, “The hair and makeup is terrible! She looks tired,” echoing the sentiment that her team should have intervened: “Why did no one on her team have the guts to tell her how bad the makeup was? As a makeup artist, I can say we do not claim the person who applied this!”

Some commented on the repetitiveness of her style choices: “I feel like she always wears the same type of gown. Super sparkly, prom lookin, muted colors. It’s boring,” and others added personal critiques: “She’s beautiful but dress decent it’s getting old and so is she, wonder what her kids will think when they’re older.”

Despite the backlash over her makeup and gown, her hairstyle also came under fire, with one user describing it as their “everyday mom bun” and another comparing it to “a messy bun after a day at the beach.”

Amidst the criticism at the MET Gala, many also noted the absence of Lopez’s husband, Ben Affleck. People magazine reported that Affleck was in California, involved in filming “The Accountant 2,” due to a scheduling conflict.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo)

What are your thoughts on Jennifer Lopez’s outfit at the 2024 MET Gala? Do you think the comments about her looking old are fair?