Books By Style

Actress Elle Fanning made an elegant display at the 2024 Met Gala, wearing a custom, transparent gown by Balmain. The glassy gown gives the illusion that she’s been wrapped in ice, making her look like an ice sculpture come to life. The birds seeming to fly off her shoulder adds another whimsical element to the sculptural effect. Her look perfectly encapsulated the theme of the night, “The Garden of Time”, by seemingly drawing inspiration from the crystalline beauty of the ice flowers in J.G. Ballard’s short story.

The Met Gala’s 2024 exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” was an ode to the idea that nothing – especially fashion – lasts forever. Balmain and Fanning’s take on the concept is shown through the delicate nature of glass or ice. Neither of which lasts very long, considering how fragile glass is and how fast ice melts in the wrong conditions. The same can be said about society and life. Fanning’s delicate ensemble is meant to serve as a reminder of the ephemerality of fashion and life.

While this look is meant to embrace ephemerality, it reminds one of being frozen in time. With the draping and glassy effect of the gown, Fanning looks like she’s been preserved in ice. Almost like she’s been put in a sort of stasis, similar to the stasis the characters in the Sun Eater series experience during space flight. For them, they spend a majority of their lives frozen in time – and yet even then, they don’t live forever.

The Sun Eater series, which spans more than seven books, was written by Christopher Ruocchio. It follows the story of the antihero Hadrian Marlowe as he navigates a war that takes place over multiple galaxies and millennia. This epic space opera will take you on a thrilling adventure across space and time, where you’ll experience great triumphs and heartbreaking tragedies. Follow along as reluctant hero Hadrian Marlowe fights his way through space, trying to bring peace to war-stricken humanity.

Fans of Elle Fanning’s 2024 Met Gala look may like the Antonella sheer crystal embellished dress from Oh Polly. For fans who prefer the mermaid style gown, you can look at the beaded gown from Luluslly. Fans looking to stun in an icy illusion of crystals will love the Maddie Ivory gown from Hacchic Couture. Readers interested in science fiction, romantic tragedies, space operas, and political intrigue will love the Sun Eater Saga. Interested readers can buy the series in book stores and online.