As a seasoned Met Gala attendee who has made several trips up the iconic Met stairs, Nicole Kidman lived up to her elegant reputation by reviving a 1950s vintage gown for her return to the gala this year.

I love how she subtly interpreted this year’s theme, opting for a bespoke black-and-white Balenciaga gown instead of the more popular whimsical floral motif. Some, however, weren’t impressed by her ostensibly typical black-and-white look, which they assumed deviated from the evening’s “The Garden of Time” dress code.

As they ascend the Met Gala stairs wearing matching black-and-white ensembles, Nicole Kidman appears like a princess being assisted by her prince charming husband, Keith Urban (Credit: Michael Stewart / INSTARimages)

The Inspiration Behind Kidman’s Met Gala Dress

This year’s exhibit theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s “The Garden of Time” short story, pays tribute to the...