The Met Gala...For Dummies!
Plus, some dresses I like
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The Met Gala was last night. You may have heard. The annual event usually drums up a fair amount of press for exactly 24 hours and then kind of fades away for a year. If you have only a vague sense of what I’m talking about, fear not! I shall explain.
Also called the Met Ball, because Gala isn’t douchey enough, it started in 1948 as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume institute, and the event also marked the opening of that year’s exhibit. For many decades, it was a high society thing for the well-to-do of NYC, held at normal party spots.
Then in 1972 Diana Vreeland got involved and started roping in celebrities, moved the event to the Met itself and introduced a yearly theme. Anna Wintour took over in the 90s and oversees everything including the exclusive guest list. Because you can’t just buy a ticket. If you’re a hoity toity New York person, maybe you can, but the bulk of the seats ($50,000 each) are bought by fashion brands, who then recruit celebs and models to attend in outfits made by that brand. Everyone has to be Wintour-approved, and if you’re thinking, who the fuck cares? Well, Kim Kardashian cared a LOT, and when Kanye finally got her and her family in the door (well, under the tent), it created a path for other influencers and Internet celebrities, and now who is and is not “worthy” to be invited is something stupid people like to argue about on the Internet.
If you want even more of the ins and outs of who sits where, I highly recommend Amy Odell’s substack; she also smartly analyzes the outfits on Succession.
The significance of the Met Gala — a red carpet, followed by dinner and a show, some dancing and a handful of afterparties — is debatable. If you’re a celebrity from the business, music or sports world, it’s just a party. If you’re a model or an actor looking for their next brand ambassadorship, it’s a very good networking event. Wintour et al go to great lengths to encourage people to mix and mingle. And of course, you can cash a number of checks just over the course of the evening. Attendees regularly document everything from their skincare prep to their after-party hair products, and you best believe they’re charging premium rates.
Reputation-wise, attendance is not in itself a sign of importance. Unlike an Oscar nomination, an invite doesn’t mean you’ve “made it” in any serious sense, and because there are so many people there every year, you don’t even get a press cycle to yourself. Nabbing a Vogue cover is probably a stronger endorsement by the fashion media. And it’s not like if you do a really good job following the theme (I’ll get to that in a sec) you get any sort of prize. Which is why it’s become increasingly trendy to pull some sort of stunt on the red carpet (I’ll get to that in another sec).
On the other hand, it’s definitely the most high-profile fashion event in the world. The only runway show most regular degular people notice was/is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (it’s coming back for some reason), and even if you bother to pay attention to Fashion Week…which one? Paris? New York? Spring? Summer? There were 13 Fashion Weeks in 2022. But there’s only one Met Gala. (The proliferation of Fashion Weeks led me to coin the phrase “it’s always fashion week somewhere!” at work, but it hasn’t caught on there or more broadly, and I really think it should!).
Because of its unique place in the pantheon of red carpets, it’s also a trendy setting. Ocean’s 8 takes place at the Met Gala, as did the finale of the rancid, reanimated corpse of Gossip Girl. Both were shot at the actual event, which I’m sure is some kind of sponsorship deal. Make no mistake: it gets outsized press coverage on purpose. Anna wants it to be a big thing, and went so far as to let it be the subject of a documentary, The First Monday In May (it is traditionally held on the first Monday in May). The doc is worth a watch if you’re interested, but it’s not as exciting as the other Vogue doc The September Issue, as it suffers from a fatal lack of Grace Coddington.
Okay. So. Themes, stunts, and other shenanigans. Former attendees have revealed that it’s kind of a slog, actually, but that doesn’t stop us Very Online people from having fun with it. And because there are simply so many famous people in the same space at the same time with, basically, nothing to do, they get up to some shit! It was in the elevator after a Met Gala after party that Solange beat Jay-Z’s ass, after all.
I’m sure there are more, but here are the Met Gala memes and gossip items that currently come to mind:
Taylor Swift meets Joe Alwyn (same night!)
Karlie Kloss “looking camp right in the eye” and then showing up in literally just a cocktail dress
Amy Schumer’s impromptu maternity shoot right before giving birth
It’s maybe part of why Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra got together? Their relationship timeline is sus
But let’s get back to the fashion. As I said, there’s a theme every year, and the theme is…whatever the theme of the costume exhibit is. People don’t have to stick to the theme, and it’s generally agreed upon that most people other than Rihanna tend to miss the mark. And while the event never really influences or predicts trends in the wider fashion space, it does create a sort of interesting conversation, because while most people can’t articulately explain whether or not an avant-garde look “works” or not, pretty much anyone with a basic sartorial vocabulary can point to an ensemble and say whether it is “punk” or not. On the first Monday in May, we are all critics.
If you’re a true A-lister, you can actually just show up on a pretty column gown because you don’t need the press, but if you’re click-hungry (the KarJenners, anyone with a movie to promote), you tend to go for something Out There, and sometimes it ends up a little Hunger Games. And then there are the stunts. Kim in all-black. Kim starving herself into Marilyn Monroe’s dress. Cara Delevingne’s Peg The Patriarchy bib. AOC’s Tax The Rich gown. Did any of this look…good? That’s like asking if someone performed well at Coachella. Not the point!
This year’s theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. Did it go well? I don’t know, I am writing this on Sunday. Lagerfeld (RIP) is a semi-controversial choice given his many problematic views. He is one of the few designers with name recognition despite never having an eponymous line (Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Diane Von Furstenburg, Betsey Johnson and Michael Kors are household names too…but they slap those names on billboards). It’s also interesting because Chanel, where he worked for the bulk of his career, is currently in a flop era. Here’s a good video about the brand:
And a very, very good Instagram chronicling its celeb misses (courtesy of Emily Kirkpatrick, whose red carpet substack is soooooo good):
For me, the most important part of the 2023 Met Gala is that Choupette, Karl’s cat, is supposed to make an appearance. As long as Choupette had a nice time, I declare the event a rousing success!! (What themes would I like to see? Great question, so glad you asked. Bob Mackie, Patricia Field, androgyny, militarism, streetwear, fantasy.)
Now that you’ve learned everything you never wanted to know about a party that is, after all, at a fucking museum (dork alert!!!), let’s get to the fun part: clothes!!! These are some of my favorite looks from what I consider the Peak Met Gala Era, from 2015 (the year The First Monday In May documents) til the start of the pandemic, when such an event suddenly became in terribly poor taste.
Is this just an excuse to abuse my Getty login? Maaaaaaaybe…
2015: China: Through the Looking Glass
Anne Hathaway
I think she looks just gorgeous. I don’t totally know what it has to do with China, but given how easy it would be to use this theme as an excuse to be, well, racist, I think it’s fine that she went in another direction.
Rihanna in Guo Pei
Rihanna’s (hand clap emoji) always (hand clap emoji) on (hand clap emoji) theme! A fantastic use of color, fabric and texture that looks like actual art and might be…kinda comfortable underneath?
Karolina Kurkova in Tommy Hilfiger
So this is what I meant about being borderline cultural appropriation, but I think she stays on the OK side of the line because while the material and aspects of the silhouette are traditional (stereotypical?), a lot isn’t. Namely the skirt and her hair.
Zendaya in Fausto Puglisi
Make no mistake, Zendaya is coming for Rihanna. She very much wants to be on the top of the best-dressed list…I won’t even get into the Law Roach of it all. This dress is really pretty.
Chloe Sevigny in JW Anderson
Another example of Could Be Problematic, But Isn’t. Museum on bottom, boutique on top!
2016: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
Lady Gaga
The thing about Lady Gaga, especially pre-A Star Is Born, is that her everyday outfits were already so over-the-top that it was pretty hard for her to channel anyt style other than Lady Gaga. I like the way the jacket looks like a microchip!
Haim in Rodarte
Does it fit the theme? Not even a little bit. But Haim and Rodarte are a perfect match, and I appreciate that the eye-catching thing about their look is that there’s three of them.
Claire Danes in Zac Posen
I honestly would have forgotten about this dress — a silvery-blue Cinderella-like gown that lit up— except that Zendaya copied it three years later, but worse!
Lily Collins in Valentino
Oh Lily Collins. I could honestly write a thousand words about how she is the nepo baby of all nepo babies, but that’s for another time. She’s blessed with classically good looks and not one iota of edge, so to compensate she does this thing where she puts some shit on her face. OK!
Lena Dunham, Jenni Konner, Jenna Lyons in J. Crew
Again, group of three is always cool. I also like that they didn’t just wear *the same thing* they wore *specifically a Jenna Lyons look.* Made up their own theme! Fun.
Madonna in Givenchy
Madonna’s whole thing is “this shouldn’t work on anyone but Madonna, however, luckily, I am Madonna.” And she is Madonna.
2017: Comme des Garçons/Rei Kawakubo
Lily-Rose Depp in Chanel
I don’t really like Lily-Rose Depp as, like, an entity, and this isn’t on theme at all, but it’s a great dress! Barbiecore before we were doing Barbiecore, and the rare grown-up gown that’s also appropriate for her age (she was like 18 at the time).
Caroline Kennedy in Commes des Garcons & Jack Schlossberg
See, this is what the Met Gala is supposed to be. East Coast socialites in couture they don’t quite understand. Where are Sweet Caroline’s arms? Who let Jack where that watch? You know these two were like so respectful of the art inside.
Rihanna in Commes des Garcons
Yes!! Yes.
Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana
She’s good! And not overthinking it. Take a gorgeous girl, put her in a gorgeous gown. No jewels just rizz.
Mary Kate & Ashley
These little style gnomes always show up looking like they just pulled some shit out of their closet and did their own hair and makeup in the car ride over. They are good designers and they’ve earned the right.
Jenni Konner & Lena Dunham in Elizabeth Kennedy
Not as cool as when they were a triad with Jenna, but here’s a secret: Lena Dunham, not a particularly stylish person overall, kinda slays the Met Gala? I think being, at her heart, a kooky rich girl raised by artists in New York makes her, actually, the ultimate Met Gala attendee, but people don’t realize because she isn’t model-shaped.
You know you’d all be GAGGING if this were Aubrey Plaza.
2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Hi, so this is my favorite theme…ever? Possibly tied with Charles James, though I really loved that for the exhibit. This was such a good idea, taking something that affects every part of life and has an aesthetic and translating it into the equally cult-y world of fashion, and everyone looked amazing because everyone looks good in gold and red velvet!
Sarah Jessica Parker in Dolce & Gabbana
SJP is sort of the Grande Dame of the event, and she’s always got some shit on her head. Despite being a Shoe Person, on the first Monday in May she’s MISS HAT.
SHE HAS THE NATIVITY ON HER HEAD. SHE’S JEWISH. I AM SO HAPPY.
Emilia Clarke in Dolce & Gabbana
Obviously all the Italian brands slayed this year, and this is the kind of gown I wish we saw more of on, like, the Emmys red carpet or whatever.
Like why can’t this stuff be in Emilia’s hair at a premiere? Stop being boring!
Shailene Woodley in Ralph Lauren
I didn’t choose this topic to dunk on bad looks, I really didn’t. But Shailene Woodley bugs the ever living fuck outta me and clearly she was a bitch to her stylist because WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS?????? is it supposed to be Joan of Arc? Because uh…
Zendaya in Versace
Honey this is how you do Joan of Arc. (ignore the shoes)
Taylor Hill in DVF
It’s literally just a sexy cardinal outfit and I. Love. It.
Lily Collins in Givenchy
What did I say about Lily Collins putting some shit on her face?
Cardi B in Moschino
Jewels! Gloves! Glamour! The Choker!!!!!!!!
Hailey Bieber (then Baldwin, then dating Shawn Mendes) in Tommy Hilfiger
Completely off-theme but she looks super pretty and I think she should dye her hair pink again.
Anya Taylor-Joy & Sarah Paulson in Prada
See what I mean about random celeb networking opportunities. What are they watching on Sarah’s phone? Drop your guess in the comments.
Amber Heard in Carolina Herrera
A LOT of attendees this year wore some version of a red dress and a halo-ish headpiece, but for my money this is the best one because she kept it simple and modern.
Rihanna in Margiela
This was, legally, the pope, until Moira Rose became the pope.
Ariana Grande in Vera Wang
I love that she went a totally different direction from everyone else that’s very Ariana, very Vera Wang, and also, very Catholic! It’s the Sistine Chapel.
Blake Lively in Versace
Lively famously doesn’t work with a stylist, and while her Met Gala looks tend to be glam gowns rather than anything experimental, the result is always gorgeous.
Katy Perry in Versace
The boots kind of ruin this and I don’t know why part of the wings are…on the front? But ultimately I appreciate that she saw what the Victoria’s Secret angels were doing and said…I could get one of those!
2019: Camp: Notes on Fashion
Famously a flop of a year, and really set a WTF tone for the event that was exacerbated by the pandemic. I suspect part of the Lagerfeld reasoning is that it might return the Gala to its Black Tie roots.
Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea in Mango
I don’t know who this woman is, but she wore Mango (occasionally a mall brand will spring for a table…H&M did the same once), dressed like a mango, carried a mango-shaped bag, mango-y earrings and mango-colored nails and eyeshadow and shoes, and that’s camp baby! Go girl give us nothing with that hair.
I guess I should also mention this was the year the Hes and Theys decided to Go For It, but I simply…don’t care!
Diane Von Furstenburg in DVF
If I were a designer who had her picture taken by Andy Warhol, I would absolutely turn that picture into a material, shape it into the Statue of Liberty’s toga, and then wear my own face plus Liberty accessories to a party. I would!
Katy Perry in Moschino
It should be easy to have at least part of a chandelier be pretty but this is stupid looking! Even Katy seems disappointed. Just thought you guys should see how Meh it can get.
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell
Performers gonna perform. This is so fun.
Elle Fanning in Miu Miu
This is what Margot Robbie’s Barbie press tour style should be, but I have a feeling she’s gonna play it safe :(
Kacey Musgraves in Moschino
Speaking of Barbie, a serve by Kacey. She pulled up in a bubblegum pink Corvette, which is great but makes me wish she’d leaned Angelyne. That would have been camp.
Cara Delevingne in Dior
I go back and forth on this. It’s a bit costumey, like she’s auditioning for the movie version of Candy Crush, and I don’t see any Dior coming through, but she has a walking stick and a headpiece. I must respect that.
Lena Dunham & Jemima Kirke in Christopher Kane
This must have been after Lena and Jenni Konner had their falling out, and maybe that’s a good thing, as I can’t imagine Jenni doing what Jemima’s doing here. Did I tell you Lena is secretly Good At The Met Gala or did I tell you?
The Hilfigers in Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy has dressed a number of Met Gala attendees — notably Gigi Hadid in recent years — bit given that his work is always sporty and ready to wear, it’s never been a great fit. Which is why I love him just embracing Americana with his wife and not trying to be all classy. Look at the boots!
Celine Dion in Oscar de la Renta
This fringe look is okay…
Celine dancing the night away on, I assume, a gay fan, is yay!
Tracee Ellis Ross in Moschino
Tracee Ellis Ross is a beautiful woman with good out-and-about style, but she’s never impressed me on the red carpet. She often wears things that aren’t well-tailored and neither trendy nor classic, just kinda average. So this is kinda perfect and emblematic of how people try to do the theme without understanding the actual culture behind it: a perfectly nice black gown plus a prop screaming TAKE MY PICTURE!!!!! that I’m sure she put down the moment she stepped inside. And that, my friends, is the Met Gala.
Stuff I got free from Brands this week:
Indigo gin
Coco Chanel was a Nazi but dang, she had style!
Lizzie
I know you care not for the he’s and theys, but my best executed man on theme has to be Frank Ocean’s camp look, where he dressed as a valet. Perfection, especially the earrings.
The amount of research on this one!