This was the most important night for the fashion industry. Sparkling lights, shining looks, glam all the way, that couldn’t be missed. Every year, on the first Monday of May, various celebrities and public personalities are invited by Vogue to the Met Museum to raise money and celebrate the power of fashion. The first Met Gala took place in 1948, and it was quite different from the extravagant, celebrity-packed spectacle we know today. It was started by Eleanor Lambert, a legendary fashion publicist who also created New York Fashion Week. Its purpose was to raise money for the then-newly established Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year’s Met Gala has already broken its fundraising record, collecting over 31 million dollars.
Theme and Meaning
Met Galas are known for their themes. They don’t only dictate the decorations or details, but also the dress code for the night. After “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” in 2024 and “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” in 2022, it has finally come time for this year’s Met Gala: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The focus was set on dandyism and honoring Black fashion. This year’s gala was also linked with a temporary fashion art exhibition with the same title at the Met’s Costume Institute. It was also assumed that with this particular theme, Vogue wanted to honor the legendary Black dandy and longtime Vogue editor André Leon Talley, who passed away in 2022. Many attendees paid him tribute by mimicking his unique style.
Details
We can only get a glimpse of what the Met Gala is really about. Every celebrity has to walk up the welcoming stairs leading to the Met Museum. That’s where all the celebrities and personalities take press photos and give interviews. That is also the moment we all wait for: the first and only look we get at the artistic creations the celebrities wear. This year, instead of a red carpet, the stairs were all blue with beautiful real narcissus flowers.
Co-Chairs
Every Met Gala has so-called co-chairs — people who receive a personal invite from Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue. This year, this honor was given to four men who actively advocate in and for Black communities. This evening, alongside Anna Wintour, were Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 driver), Colman Domingo (actor and playwright), A$AP Rocky (rapper), and Pharrell Williams (singer and songwriter).
Best Dressed Celebrities
As this occasion brings attention from millions around the world, everyone is eager to share their opinions on the highly anticipated themed looks. Here is what the internet and experts agreed were the best looks of the night:
Colman Domingo — one of the co-chairs — arrived together with Anna Wintour and Lewis Hamilton. He wore a royal blue Valentino cloak in tribute to André Leon Talley, the former Vogue editor-at-large whom Anna Wintour once described as “a dandy among dandies.” Then he changed into a second look for the night — a tailored, patterned suit complete with a large polka-dotted flower brooch.
Rihanna surprised everyone not once but twice that night. First, by appearing an hour after the official end of the carpet walk. Second, by showcasing her baby bump and announcing that she is expecting her third child. She arrived wearing a Marc Jacobs dress with a large hat.
Zendaya chose a simple white three-piece Louis Vuitton suit by Pharrell Williams, topped off with a jaunty white fedora. It was simple and classy.
Lizzo was on theme and on point, wearing custom Christian Siriano. In a long, tailored black-and-white couture look, she sparkled on the blue carpet.
Celebrities Who Didn’t Go with the Theme
Some celebrities decided not to follow the highly anticipated theme and went their own way, creating one-of-a-kind stylizations.
Anne Hathaway chose Carolina Herrera, whom she referred to as “the queen of the white shirts.” A big ponytail and sparkling diamond necklace grabbed all the attention.
Both Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner faced backlash from the public on the internet for not following the theme and wearing rather average looks. Hailey Bieber wore a classic Yves Saint Laurent black tuxedo. She dressed up the classic look with sparkling diamond jewelry. Kendall Jenner opted for a design by independent British designer Torishéju Dumi.
Gigi Hadid also surprised the audience by choosing a long, sparkling golden dress. She appeared at the Met Gala in custom Miu Miu, styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. It was mentioned in an interview that her inspiration for that night’s look was Zelda Wynn Valdes.
Blogger: Mary Pogwizd @marypogwizd
