Met Gala: What, Where, Who and Why?

Fashion fans all over the world wait for the first Monday of May. Can you guess what's so special about it? This particular day witnesses one of the biggest nights in fashion that brings together the most famous faces in film, music and art. It is one of the most prestigious red carpets: The Met Gala 

Founded by Eleanor Lambert, a publicist in 1948, the Met Gala was in attempts to raise funds for the newly launched Costume Institute at the equally new Metropolitan Museum of Art by the way of New York's High Society. With $50 (approx Rs.3600) a ticket the event that started off as an intimate soiree would turn out to be the biggest part of the year. It was in the 1970’s that the former editor in chief of Vogue, Diana Vreeland joined the costume institute as a consultant that then started shaping out to be as we know it today, into one of the most glamourous nights in fashion history.  Instead of inviting Manhattan's high society, Vreeland chose to invite Hollywood celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Diana Ross and Cher. 

In 1995, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour began presiding over the Met Gala and moved it to its present date which is the first Monday in May, which announces the opening of the Costume Institute's latest exhibition.. Even with the added extravagance the idea behind the Gala still remains the same, although now you cannot just buy a ticket for $50, rather have your fingers crossed that you make it to the prestigious guest list. 

Theme of the Met Gala 

I'm sure the thought of what all of those beautiful outfits are based on was introduced by Vreeland too. It sets the whole tone for the event and the invitees. It was hosted in the basement of the Met where they would stage each year's exhibition. Guests would arrive in the fanciest of clothing and descend into the darkness as a perfume was being pumped into the gallery. 

In previous years themes have ranged from “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination” to “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”, “Punk: Chaos To Couture” and “China: Through The Looking Glass”.

Since 1995, after Anna Wintour's reign began, each year she enlists co chairs to help her out ranging from Rihanna and Beyoncé to Katy Perry and Amal Clooney. The late Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace were the first designers chosen to co-chair the night, in 1995. 

Invitees 

The Met Gala’s guest list is an array of the most famous from the fields of fashion, film, music, art, sports etc. Wintour’s guests list sees an assemblage of the most famous from all these spheres with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, Serena Williams, the Kardashian Family, you will only find a star studded line up. The invites are chosen through various avenues, some are personally invited by Anna to join the annual committee and are then extended an invitation accordingly, others are invited by the fashion brands that they have a relationship with directly, some of the lucky ones are hand-picked Vogue staffers and matched with fashion houses accordingly. Incase you want to be a part of the star studded event you could buy a ticket, for just $35,000 (Rs.25,70,000 approx)  also keep aside some money for the lavish attire that you would sport for the occasion, also not to forget Ms.Wintour’s seal of approval is absolutely necessary for you too. The occasion is so exclusive that keeping in mind that nothing escapes social media these days, in 2015 the social media ban was introduced. 

Met Gala 2020 

Unfortunately due to the current situation that we are facing, the Met Gala was postponed. The theme would have been “About Time: Fashion And Duration'' and this year's event was set to have Anna co-hosting with Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière and face of the brand Emma Stone, as well as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep. As and when the Met Gala does happen, it will showcase 160 women’s incredible fashion pieces from the last century and a half and more. "About Time: Fashion and Duration," says Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute, takes a “nuanced and open-ended” approach.“It’s a re-imagining of fashion history that’s fragmented, discontinuous, and heterogeneous.”

As it's every fashion - lovers dream to be a part of the Met Gala someday, we will have to suffice by watching it on our screens for now. Personally I loved the theme from the previous two years which was “Camp: Notes On Fashion”  and “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination”. To see the interpretation  of the designers for both these themes was like watching art come alive and walk the red carpet on some of my favourite celebrities. 

One can only dream for now to be a part of the Gala, I’m already practicing my walk down the red carpet, what about you?

Yours,

Neeve 

References  

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/what-is-the-met-gala?amp

https://irishtatler.com/fashion/met-gala-history

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/what-is-the-met-gala