Met Gala Uncovered

Diana Vreeland (centre) at the “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design” exhibition in 1974. Source: Architectural Digest.

It dragged us out of our lockdown rut last week, and splashed a MUCH needed glamour hit across our screens. It was a two year wait after last year’s cancellation (due to the obvious), so naturally we were in dire need of some decadence…immediately.

It could be seen as a celebration of the letter M; celebrated annually on the first Monday of May hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the evening is dedicated to celebrating fashion to raise funds for the Met’s Costume Institute. Fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert who launched New York Fashion Week later created the Costume Institute Benefit in 1978, before legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland later added her spin to the party of the year by joining the Costume Institute as a consultant.

Fast forward to 1995, when the Met Gala blossomed into what it is known as today influenced by none other than Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at the time. It’s known to push the boundaries and celebrate art, which we love. Theatrical, dramatic, and a little kooky.

Naomi Campbell in Versace, 1995. Source: Vogue.

It’s transformed from an annual fundraiser to a couture fête, releasing the shackles off fashion designers to go…wild. Beginning as midnight suppers at venues including the Waldorf Astoria, guest lists became increasingly exclusive, and the evenings decadent as guests entered the underground soiree through an elevator.

So, let’s talk themes. It was Vreeland that linked the gala with the museum’s exhibits, with Diana’s first exhibit labelled “The World of Balenciaga” in 1973. It gave the Costume Institute that much needed makeover, bolstering donations and attracting icons in Andy Warhol, Cher, and Diana Ross. Guests would sashay through the exhibition before a designer dinner and a spot of dancing at the Temple of Dendur. With dessert tickets costing $100, students were able to later join the party. Following Vreeland’s death in 1989, her legacy continued as Princess Diana attended in a John Galliano designed Dior dress, and has now evolved to include athletes or TikTok stars to the invite list.

While the tales and scandals of the gala remain a mystery, it’s the red carpet draws the headlines. Notable themes have included “China: Through the Looking Glass” featuring an 18-foot-tall birdcage with live peacocks, or this year’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” which was centred around the question of “who gets to be American?” paying homage to designers including Marc Jacobs.

Other notable themes include:

2013: “Punk: Chaos to Couture”.

Lady Gaga in 2019 for the theme “Camp: Notes in Fashion”. Source: Vogue

2001: “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years”.

1997: “Gianni Versace”.

Although naturally we secretly love to play the “wear or tear” vote on Instagram, like art, the ensembles just as interpretive.