There were myriad eye-catching looks at last night's Gilded Age-themed Met Gala, the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
But none caused quite so big a stir as actor Blake Lively's intricate Versace gown that was ornate on a level that elicits "oohs" and "ahhs"—and that was before the now viral moment when a team of handlers transformed it into an entirely different gown before our very eyes.
And nobody was quite so blown away by the magical moment as Lively's husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
As Lively's billowing shimmering copper-colored dress transformed to a sea-green gown with a mile-long train, Reynolds face perfectly encapsulated the surprise of the moment--and fans are loving it.
See his reaction below.
you deserve someone who admire you the way ryan reynolds admires blake lively \ndon't settle for lesspic.twitter.com/bAX0FJYoEn— anna st james (@anna st james) 1651545595
A jaw-drop, an awestruck look and a round of applause—yep, that pretty much sums it up.
By all accounts, Lively's intricate, high-concept gown was among the greatest—if not the absolute best—moments of the entire night.
Blake Lively\u2019s dress is unveiled at the #MetGala. https://bit.ly/3KGZAJc\u00a0pic.twitter.com/Vo4XCydMRt— Variety (@Variety) 1651528965
It was perfectly in line with the night's theme, which centered on the Gilded Age, the era between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War I that saw unprecedented prosperity, especially in cities like New York.
Lively's gown not only referenced the silhouettes of the era, but the dress was a tribute to New York itself, full of references to the city's landmarks like the Empire State Building and Grand Central Station.
And its gasp-inducing copper-to-sea-green transformation was a reference to the Statue of Liberty's own evolution from its original copper when it was first gifted to New York by France during the Gilded Age, to its present-day tarnished sea-green color.
In short, it was the kind of showstopping, dramatic moment that the Met Gala is made for.
And for many fans, Reynolds' gobsmacked reaction said it all.
ryan reynolds\u2019s reaction to blake lively\u2019s dress reveal omgpic.twitter.com/efnFzIb02y— \u064bLiat \u2721\ufe0e (@\u064bLiat \u2721\ufe0e) 1651529017
ryan's reaction when they unveiled blake's dress pic.twitter.com/UYq62gQYYQ— jeanne (@jeanne) 1651529299
ryan\u2019s reaction, i can\u2019t pic.twitter.com/PONdBoL0Lk— myr (@myr) 1651529367
ryan reynolds\u2019s reaction to blake lively\u2019s dress reveal omgpic.twitter.com/efnFzIb02y— \u064bLiat \u2721\ufe0e (@\u064bLiat \u2721\ufe0e) 1651529017
HE CLAPPED HE AAAAAhttps://twitter.com/Variety/status/1521249194228387840\u00a0\u2026— c (@c) 1651540670
Get yourself someone who looks at you like Ryan Reynolds looks at Blake Lively #MetGalapic.twitter.com/qEkdLNuXwQ— Oh Polly (@Oh Polly) 1651570574
you deserve someone who admire you the way ryan reynolds admires blake lively \ndon't settle for lesspic.twitter.com/bAX0FJYoEn— anna st james (@anna st james) 1651545595
If he Doesn't look at you the way RYAN looks at BLAKE , Girl he is not the one \n\n#MetGala #MetGala2022 #BlakeLively #RyanReynoldspic.twitter.com/7olFR9cBZi— \ud835\udc7a\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8e\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f \ud83c\udf7e (@\ud835\udc7a\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8e\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f \ud83c\udf7e) 1651537521
blake lively and ryan reynolds. that's it. that's the tweet.pic.twitter.com/lLIjveWiZ5— r\u00fcya \u263e\u263c (@r\u00fcya \u263e\u263c) 1651532500
May we all find the Ryan Reynolds to our Blake Lively.