On Monday May 5. the annual Met Gala was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This event is attended by celebrities from all over the world and is often considered to be fashion’s biggest night of the year.
The Met Gala was first held in 1948 as a way to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Furthermore, the event marks the opening of the museum’s annual fashion exhibit. Over the years, it has been known globally for its glamorous red carpet full of daring looks from various designers.
“I really liked the theme this year,” sophomore Aaliyah Recinos said. “I found a lot of value in using the Met Gala as a way to celebrate black dandyism and identity.”
Each year, a theme for the gala is selected by the Costume Institute’s curator in charge—this position is currently held by Andrew Bolton—and reflects the theme of the Costume Institute’s exhibition for that year. This year’s theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” and the official gala dress code was “Tailored for You,” according to The Met. Many attendees wore tailored looks, including suits and jackets.
“My favorite look from the Met Gala this year was Teyana Taylor’s,” junior Sterling Loretto said. “I loved the details and the colors of her outfit, and I thought it fit the theme well.”
The gala is primarily organized by Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of Vogue, who curates the event’s exclusive guest list. Additionally, every year different celebrities co-chair the event, meaning that they help organize the different festivities that will take place and promote fundraising. This year’s Met Gala co-chairs included: Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour, and honorary chair LeBron James, according to The Met.
“I didn’t really like Hailey Bieber’s outfit this year,” junior Noella Tae said. “I thought it was too simple, not very unique, and lacked a personal aspect that some of the other looks included.”
The Met Gala is one of the most expensive events in the world to attend. An individual ticket costs around $75 000 and a table capable of seating ten guests costs at least $350 000, according to the BBC. This maintains the event’s exclusivity and prestige.
“I loved the theme this year, it was a lot less campy compared to previous years,” math teacher Lindsay MacGarva said. “Everything felt a bit more precise and detailed.”
Most of the celebrities who attend the Met Gala do not pay for their tickets. Instead, they are usually invited by a major fashion house that has already purchased tickets, under the condition that they wear the design of said fashion house. This allows the different houses to showcase their own interpretation of the theme, promote their designs, and gain more exposure in the media.
“I liked how some of the celebrities were able to show what this theme meant to them via the artistic medium of fashion,” Recinos said. “I hope next year continues to create space for celebrities to be innovative and wear something different from typical red carpet looks.”
