Garments that are too old and fragile to be worn again are brought back to life in even more glamour through technology. Evidently, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” succeeded with celebrities bringing garments back to a whole new life.
The guests appeared in stunning outfits in line with the Garden of Time dress code. The Gala featured approximately 250 items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. As usual, it was held on the first Monday of May, this time, the 6th of May, 2024.
The allure of the Gala lies in its highly secretive guest list, a mystery that always piques curiosity. However, the co-chairs for this prestigious event, including Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Zendaya, and Jennifer Lopez, were revealed in advance, adding to the anticipation.
A Quick Look into the Night
Like every other Met Gala, the 2024 Met Gala took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Vogue streamed this lovely night across its digital platforms, and you can still catch it up on its channels.
The Met Gala, a fundraiser for the Metropolitan’s Costume Institute, had some interesting co-hosts on the red carpet. Actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham led the grand entrances. Also, as Vogue’s special correspondent to interview the Gala’s biggest stars, Emma Chamberlain returned.
The Vogue team wasn’t left out. They had their moment to share their thoughts and reactions to the red-carpet glamors and shenanigans. They brought an entirely new feel to the red carpet with proper context for all the best looks on the Gala live blog.
The Significance of Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
The Costume Institute has a new exhibition with the 2024 Met Gala. Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion and the official dress code, “Garden of Time,” was all the night was about. The exhibit featured about 250 rare pieces drawn from the permanent collection of the Costume Institute. Designs by Schiaparelli, Dior, Givenchy, and many more are some of the feature pieces that span over 400 years of fashion history. Some garments, like a Charles Frederick Worth ball gown from 1877, are too old to be worn again. These garments will be displayed via light projection, AI, video animation, CGI, and various forms of sensory stimulation.
In all of this, one would wonder what inspired the theme for this year’s gala. The Garden of Time dress code was inspired by a 1962 J.G. Ballard story about a count who cuts a rose from his garden to slow down time until there are no remaining flowers, all in a bid to stave off an angry mob approaching his castle. The magical undertones of the story, along with the emphasis on new and old, inspired the exhibition, which was met with florals, techno-inspired fashion, and references to Sleeping Beauty.
Andrew Bolton, the curator of Wendy Yu and in charge of the Costume Institute, said in an earlier speech that the exhibition was “…an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion.” It was shaped around the land, sea, and sky to pay tribute to the natural world.
The guests didn’t miss the opportunity to find personal expressions in the theme.
Brief History of Met Gala
We can all agree that the Met Gala is a well-anticipated charity event. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute receives the event’s proceeds, which is a significant source of its funding. The interesting part, aside from the evening itself, is that the Gala marks the opening of its annual fashion exhibition. With about eight-figure revenue, the Gala is the belle of the fashion season.
We’ve all wondered what goes down at the Met Gala. Does anybody really know? The event is shrouded in mystery and kept secret for years. One best-kept secret of the Gala is the guest list. It is not released until the day before the event. There are some names you’d definitely expect to see on the guest list. Names like Beyonce, Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, and more. Some designers are also seen in attendance with their muses.
There is a no-phone policy, which the guests must also abide by. Although the Met Gala event features high-profile performers, the guests also get to explore the exhibition before dinner. There are usually about 450 guests in attendance—stars, young creatives, and industry paragons.
How did it get to this point? A point where it creates so much buzz and still maintains its grace after all these years. It wasn’t always this way. The Met Gala used to be held at different venues like Waldorf Astoria and Central Park until it found its home at the Metropolitan Museum. The Gala event was first created by Eleanor Lambert, a fashion publicist, in 1948. Above and beyond the love for fashion, it was an avenue for raising funds for the Costume Institute, which was newly established and marked the opening of its annual exhibit. The first Gala was held in December 1948 as a dinner which cost $50 tickets.
The Met Gala became a more social event when Diana Vreeland became the consultant for the Costume Institute in the 1970s. The event became themed and included celebrities. The revolution wasn’t about to end with Diana. Anna Wintour turned the entire event around when she stepped in as the editor-in-chief for Vogue in 1995. As we’ve learned for ourselves, it’s not child’s play. It has come a long way, shaking up the corners of the world in no small way.
Ticketing and fundraising
Since that initial $50 price, Gala ticket prices have soared, with the 2024 Gala tickets coming in at $75,000 per seat.
Since its establishment, the Gala has raised over $175 million, with the 2019 edition alone raising $15 million for the Costume Institute. The money raised contributes to the Costume Institute’s collection of more than 33,000 objects, which represent seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the 15th century to the present.
So, what exactly does the Costume Institute do? They say, “We exhibit, conserve, study, and house the world’s most comprehensive costume collection, offering an unrivaled fashion history timeline.”
Significance of 2024 Gala to POC
As the Gala event has evolved, many aspects — including fundraising, tickets, fashion, creativity, social significance, and more — have also developed. This event has significantly impacted the inclusion of people of color in the social arena, increasing global diversity over the years, with room to grow as always in the entertainment field, much like the corporate world.
Representation
Not only were people of color guests at the event, but they were also active participants. Jennifer Lopez who co-chaired the red carpet stood in the gap for the POC while some others like Tyla, Zoe Saldana, Mindy Kaling, Cardi B, and Rosalia among others walked pretty on it (the red carpet).
Keke Palmer
According to the search results, Keke Palmer wore a shimmering silver Marc Jacobs gown with a dramatic sky-high ponytail.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy came in a sculptural tan pleated gown by Gaurav Gupta Couture. It was a beige architectural gown called “The Melting Flower of Time” and it featured a cape resembling a wilting flower at the back.
Usher
Usher wore a sparkling black Alexander McQueen suit with an embroidered cape and a leather hat. He held a red rose to complement the outfit.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez wore a sparkling nude Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown embroidered with 2.5 million silver beads and pearls resembling butterfly wings.
Cardi B
Cardi B wore an all-black ensemble with a large flowing black strapless tulle gown that required a lot of assistants to carry. This was paired with emerald jewelry and green nails.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny stunned the red carpet in a custom Maison Margiela navy blue suit with white stitching details, a red stripe down the pants, a large hat, leather gloves, and carried a bouquet that featured the Puerto Rican national flower and a rose.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah made an entrance in Thom Browne’s creation. A gathered black coat with raffia and bugle bead fraying over a square-shouldered dress embroidered with black sequins and birds of paradise motifs.
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana wore a beige lingerie tulle Chloé Fall 2024 dress with a Chloé belt and over-the-knee boots.
Rosalía
Rosalía described herself as “a black tulip” in her black ensemble as a homage to Lady Dior through Maria Grazia Chiuri’s vision.
Other Appearances
Unfortunately, some celebrities I looked forward to seeing at the 2024 Met Gala were absent. I was on the lookout for iconic fashion moments from Beyonce, Rihanna, and Blake Lively, but, to my disappointment, they didn’t make it to the event for one reason or another. Notwithstanding, I had a swell time enjoying the glamorous looks on the red carpet. Check out my personal favorites:
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian wore a custom Maison Margiela Couture look by John Galliano.
Zendaya
Zendaya came ready with a buzzer. Even as a co-chair, she still found time to dazzle us all with a second outfit, and with each outfit, she captured the true essence of the theme.
First look
She made her first appearance with a towering green tulle gown that was designed by Maison Margiela. It featured a hummingbird on her neck with fruits and vine drapes around the dress.
Second look
A 1996 vintage black Givenchy gown with a big train and ruffled sleeves paired with a rose-beautified hat from Alexander McQueen’s collaboration with Philip Treacy in 2007. She bleached her eyebrows to complete this look.
Tyla
Singer Tyla made her Met Gala debut wearing a beige sheath dress made from sand designed by Balmain. Her outfit was described as one of the best looks on the red carpet.
Camila Cabello
Cabello carried a purse made of a block of ice that melted into a clutch, capturing the idea of “impermanence” tied to the nature theme. This was the outstanding aspect of her outfit.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat wore a soaking wet, see-through cotton dress by Virgil Abloh. Doja Cat never seems to disappoint with being controversial. Doja Cat told a correspondent that she chose this as “cotton” was her flower of choice in “The Garden of Time” dress code. This also had social media talking about how cotton is not a flower. From research, cotton is considered a plant, similar to a dandelion.
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu was spotted in three looks – a Comme des Garcons ensemble with a Francesca Lake headpiece, a custom Robert Wun gown with Chrishabana jewelry, and the “Venus of Hottentot,” a look by Francesca Lake inspired by Sarah Baartman.
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington appeared in a custom Oscar de la Renta corseted, suspended V-neckline gown in shades of deep plum.
Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor stunned the red carpet in a corseted red velvet bustier mini dress with appliqué roses from The Blonds, paired with a platinum blonde updo wig.
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monáe wore a custom Vera Wang Couture dress made from recycled plastic bottles that were molded into organic flower shapes.
La La Anthony
As expected, La La was dashing in a floral-printed Alexander McQueen corset dress with a puffball skirt and sheer lace top.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker wore a sheer nude, calf-length Richard Quinn dress with a sculptural hoop skirt covered in crystal floral embellishments. It was paired with a large Philip Treacy fascinator hat and Briony Raymond jewelry.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was flashy in a golden yellow Marni minidress embellished with 3D multicolored floral appliqués.
Storm Reid
Storm Reid’s outfit was a custom Coach ensemble featuring a pistachio green taffeta ballgown skirt with floral appliques It was paired with a black bustier top and a leather jacket draped over her shoulders.
Shakira
Shakira made her Met Gala debut in a big red Carolina Herrera gown with a fascinating train, ruffled sleeves that looked like an abstract rose, and a high slit, open back and cutouts.
Angel Reese
Angel Reese wore a plunging, sequin-soaked seafoam green dress with a feathered mini skirt and sheer. Attached to it was an embellished train by British designer, 16Arlington.
Taraji
Ageless Taraji P. Henson wore a custom beaded dress by Jonathan Simkhai that took 400 hours to create. The gown was over 87 feet in length and featured 410 feet of silk chiffon.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union wore a Michael Kors shimmering high-neck dress with a cascading ombré scale pattern of lilac, green, and teal blue, giving mermaid vibes.
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham hit the red carpet with a black sequin sheer corseted gown with silver floral accents and metallic details. It was designed by Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X wore an oversized, sparkling white and silver suit with a train.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore gave a dramatic sense with a black velvet Harris Reed gown with a corset bodice, structured hips, rounded silk panels on the shoulders that made a heart shape, and pink peony illustrations from vintage archival wallpaper.
Jaden Smith and Willow Smith
Jaden Smith showed up in a head-to-toe Thom Browne outfit, leaving his coat and shirt open to show off his abs. His sister Willow Smith wore a custom oversized structured black tuxedo jacket from Dior Haute Couture that was paired with sheer black leggings and pointed black patent leather stilettos.
Law Roach
Law Roach rocked John Galliano’s design – a custom black Maison Margiela tuxedo with a cape. This complemented Zendaya’s looks which he styled for the event.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande paid homage to her Wicked character Glinda with a structured white Loewe corset gown. It was a pleated, lampshade-style skirt that featured iridescent mother-of-pearl details and pastel rainbow underpinnings.
Kylie Jenner
Oscar de la Renta gown found a fit on Kylie Jenner. The pale pink had a cone-shaped bustier, dramatic train, and a flower that complemented her sleek updo hairstyle.
Conclusion
It is so interesting how people on various social media platforms quickly have something negative to say about celebrities, fashion, or the event without even taking the time to understand the event’s concept and theme. We are in such a hurtful and damaging space that people are unhappy with themselves, so they project and are quick to type before they think and end up sounding ignorant for not knowing what they are responding to. If you know about the Met Gala, then you know that fashion is THEE star of the event, with over-the-top fashion based on the theme and dress code set in place.
Most definitely, the sleeping beauties of fashion are wide awake now. The stunning appearances of the 2024 Met Gala made sure of that with their timeless and creative outfits. More than just the designs, they wore them with so much grace and style—their accessories were proof. The Met Gala fashion event continues to be one of the most anticipated events, pulling together top celebrities from different industries. Such a grand way of opening the annual exhibitions of the Metropolitan Costume Institute!
The reawakening of fashion was a success with the glamorous displays on the red carpet. We would have loved to see Megan Thee Stallion, Blake Lively, Rhianna, and Beyonce at this year’s Met Gala, but fingers crossed they grace us next year.
Amazing article….