Two simple words: MET GALA. The biggest fashion gala event of the year.
Words | Anna
It marks the Costume Institute’s exhibition annual opening. Don’t get it twisted, this fashion exhibition is a true fundraising exhibition in its great American splendor. The internet goes wild on every celebrities’ pictures and videos in their outstanding gowns. The latest edition to date was no different.
The two words
MET – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
GALA – The Costume Institute Gala, diner/ball
Held this past Monday, the 6th of May 2019, Lady Gaga, Serena Williams, Henry Styles, Alessandro Michele, JLo, ARod, shined bright on the carpet. It is held annually in May, every first Monday of May, to be precise, or simply put, it’s the fashion world’s Oscar. Oh, did I mention this year hit color was “pink”?
Birth
So, let’s get back to the birth of the MET GALA. It was established back in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert, the fashion publicist, the founder of New York Fashion Week and the International Best Dressed List (held by Vanity Fair). Everything started as a gala diner to raise money for the then newly founded Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A gala tailor made for the high society members and the top names of the fashion industry. Interestingly, back then, the cost of the ticket was 50$… But don’t get me started on the inflation.
Growth
The first biggest change came when Diane Vreeland took over the helm as the special consultant at the Costume Institute to then. Prior that, she was the editor-in-chief of Vogue. She’s been chaired the gala dinner since 1973. Nevertheless, she took the gala diner to higher level as it started to get more publicity, more glamourous to become the blockbuster event at that time. Members of the high society and celebrities across all the industries came together to celebrate this epic fashion event.
Vogue
Since 1995, Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief took over. Since Anna Wintour runs the show, the event is called the Oscar of the fashion world. She methodically keeps and picks the guest list. Worry not, if you’re not on the guest list, you can still purchase your ticket. Just know the price tag has increased from 1948´s 50$ to today’s 35.000$. And if you want to have your own table, prepare your wallet to be slightly lighter as it will cost you between 200K$ to 300K$. So, as you can imagine, the celebrities are battling to get their name of the list. The household names such as Gisele Bündchen and her husband Tom Brady will appear on the list repeatedly, but don’t expect to see Donald Trump to be part of it, as some celebrities don’t want to be part of it.
MET GALA today
This year´s exhibition theme is: Camp. Or in other words, it’s the spirit of extravaganza, as the pink carpet. Vogue is constantly pushing the limits of MET GALA event and its message. Thanks to the social media global awareness as well as our own openness to share as much as we can and see much more than we could have seen back in 1948. Today, we can even witness the celebrities getting ready for the event. From A to Z. From the cosmetic treatment, dress fitting to striking the pose on the pink carpet. The words that come to mind is prestigious. Because it is prestigious honor to be on the red carpet, as it is prestigious feeling to create a dress for the red carpet. Today when you get your ticket to the show, you’re not only enjoy the luxury diner, you also expect extreme secrecy when it comes to the line and program of the evening. Today MET GALA´s red carpet doesn’t only mean to see trends, or expression of creativity from the best designers or celebs personal calling on social or political issue. No, today we can clearly witness the secret community there is created, the red-carpet community. Friends are excited to meet their friends.
The theme itself just perfectly reflects our society direction and pop-culture influence. For some camp was invented by the “drag queen”. Camp is the expression of outrageous, ultimately exaggerated exaggeration.
All this to say that my favorite pick of the night, the star of the stars is definitely Serena Williams, who rocked this outstanding Versace gown perfectly fitted her Off-White sneakers.
