Met Gala - What you need to know
Buckle up for this ride, because this year’s Met Gala has been a big one.
But before we go over the fabulous looks of the night, we could all use a refresh on the history of the event.
How did it become the most important fashion night of the year?
It may come as a surprise, but the event wasn’t created with the intention of being the grand occurrence we see today, with celebrities glamming up in the most sumptuous gowns.
In 1948, when publicist Eleanor Lambert hosted the first Met Gala, the main intention was to raise money for the newly founded Museum of Costume Art, which would later be acquired by the Metropolitan Museum. The ticket was only $50, and anyone that contributed was welcome to attend.
Though that year the event went by almost unseen (WWD was the only fashion magazine to mention it), Lambert had already set high expectations about what it had to become.
‘I want it to be one of the gayest and most beautiful parties New York has ever seen, and we hope in one evening to raise all the money necessary to maintain the facilities of the Costume Institute.’
By making it exclusive, she made it desirable.
In the following years, the venue and date of the event changed many times, until it became tradition to hold it the first Monday of May on the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of art. In 1971 Diana Vreeland introduced the first theme in the gala. From that moment on, the philanthropic target has in some ways been surpassed by the fashion relevance of the night, and the Met Gala has officially become the real party of the year.
Back to last night, let’s take a look at the celebrities who best interpreted the theme: The Garden of Time, a homage to this year’s exhibition at the Costume Institute titled “Sleeping Beauties, Reawakening Fashion”.
The undisputed queen of the event, Anna Wintour, opened the dances with a black embroidered coat by Loewe (sponsor of this year’s Met).
Florals, as seen on the Vogue editor, were undoubtedly the star of many looks, as seen on Amelia Gray, Nicki Minaj and Sydney Sweeney.
Zendaya, once again, really stood out and presented not one, but two magnificent gowns, one by Maison Margiela Couture and the other by Givenchy Vintage, both designed by John Galliano.
Two personal favorites were Gigi Hadid and Lana Del Rey. The model wore Thom Browne, a white gown with a long trail that can double as a coat (how creative!), while the singer was dressed in custom Alexander McQueen, inspired by Giacometti’s sculptures which depict the human body as slim and stick-like figures, almost trapped inside them.