Famously referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” the Met Gala is one of the most talked-about events in the month of May. Created by publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise funds for the then-newly-founded Costume Institute, the event initially served as an opening celebration for its annual exhibit. Held every year on the first Monday of May, the Met Gala is not only a fashion event featuring the most iconic looks on stars, young creatives, and industry paragons but also a fundraising night that brings together the best in fashion, art, and philanthropy.
For nearly three decades, under the discerning eye of Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, the Met Gala has transformed into a fashion extravaganza unlike any other. Often hailed the ‘Oscars of fashion,’ the glamorous affair draws a star-studded guestlist from across the globe, all hand-picked by Wintour, the event’s chairperson.
This year’s Met Gala was no less, with the biggest names across industries like fashion, film, society, sports, music, and business cloaked in their most daring and dazzling interpretations of the theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Spanning over 400 years of fashion history, the exhibition featured 220 garments from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. Iconic designs by Schiaparelli, Dior, Givenchy, and other masterpieces that are too fragile to ever be worn again were displayed using cutting-edge technology like video animation, light projection, AI, and other forms of sensory stimulation – rebirthing the artful designs.
Exemplifying a juxtaposition of natural beauty and new-age innovation, the 2024 Met Gala carpet prompted a plethora of looks with biotic cues and vintage silhouettes, which went hand-in-hand with the dress code, The Garden of Time – inspired by a short story written by J.G. Ballard in 1962.
Floral Fantasy
While Miranda Priestly might not be convinced with florals being groundbreaking for spring, fashion’s biggest night proved otherwise. Drawing inspiration from the dress code, florals dominated the carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring breathtaking blooms that added a dash of whimsy and elegance to the star-studded event. From Gigi Hadid’s 3D floral gown and Alia Bhatt’s breathtaking Sabyasachi saree to co-chair Zendaya’s bouquet of roses by Alexander McQueen as headgear, flower power bloomed all over and took centre stage. The men of Met were no less, with Morgan Spector looking dapper in a Willy Chavarria suit adorned with 3D faille poppies and Law Roach’s custom AFEW Rahul Mishra fit.
Goth Glam
Synonymous with the most glorious, outrageous couture, this year’s Met Gala carpet channelled a dark atmosphere in line with the theme present within J.G. Ballard’s short story. Goth elements like dark colours, lace, leather, velvet, deconstructed shapes, bold accessories, and dramatic silhouettes stood out on the carpet. A-list star Zendaya added a dash of drama to the night, dressed in Maison Margiela, while internet multi-hyphenate Emma Chamberlain embraced dark glamour in a thorn-wrapped vintage gown by Jean Paul Gaultier. The gothic glamour extended beyond fashion, with several celebrities opting for a dramatic beauty look to complement their garden-themed silhouettes. Switching to the dark side, Amelia Gray opted for vivid magenta lips with a sleek hairdo, while Charli XCX rocked a sculptural spiked mane, complementing her pitch-black lipstick.
Vintage Vault
In line with the exhibition’s theme, industry favourites pulled out all the stops to deliver a night of unforgettable fashion moments. In a nod to fragile masterpieces of fashion history, an abundance of archival designs, along with plenty of referential looks, were seen on the first Monday of May. From Emily Ratajkowski’s see-through hand-beaded dress from Atelier Versace’s autumn/winter 2001 collection to Ambika Mod in vintage-inspired Charles James 1951 Petal dress by Loewe, fashion’s biggest night served as a great stage for vintage couture.
From floral fantasies to dark glamour and vintage revivals, celebrities and couturiers brought the dualities of the theme Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion and The Garden of Time to life, solidifying the Met Gala’s place as fashion’s most creative playground. As we eagerly await the revelation of what the next season holds, one thing remains certain: the Met Gala continues to redefine and refine the boundaries of haute couture for us and the generations to come.
