The Met Gala is one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world and is held annually on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is a fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute, which houses lots of different collections of fashion history. Each year, the gala introduces a new theme that aligns with the Costume Institute’s latest exhibitions which creates a dress code for celebrities and designers to follow. “I love the Met Gala. It is so fun to watch, and you get to see unique types of outfits every year. I personally love fashion, and it is interesting to see how people try and fit the theme,” says senior Stella Brewer.
The Met Gala took place this year on Monday, May 5th and many notable people attended including Rihanna, Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, and many more. The event was co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharell William. The Met Gala also featured a host committee in addition to their co-chairs which included Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens, Regina King, Doechii, Usher, Angel Reese, and Spike Lee.
Every year, attendees of the Met Gala must follow a dress code that encompasses the theme. This year’s theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” and was tied to the Met’s upcoming exhibit of the same name. The Met shared that the exhibit will “feature garments, paintings, photographs, and more which all explore the style of Black men in the context of dandyism, from the 18th century through present day.”
Many different outfits stood out this year but here were some of the fan favorites:
Zendaya has always stood out at the Met Gala every year she attends. This year, she was dressed in an all-white three-piece suit which was designed by Pharell Williams for Louis Vuitton. Her outfit was very effortless as well as vintage which turned many heads. The look paid tribute to the classic zoot suit, known for its sharp tailoring and bold presence in Black fashion history. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a sleek white tie as well as a sparkly Bulgari brooch jewelry which added contrast to the sleekness of her suit. However, the boldest statement from her outfit was her bright red nails which added additional contrast to the monochromatic suit. Overall, her outfit tailored well to the theme and had a good mix of classy and bold which many fans loved. “Zendaya’s outfit was one of my favorites of this year for sure. A lot of people might think it’s simple, but it fits the theme perfectly and looks really nice and classy!” adds senior Zoe Lake.
Colmon Domingo had one of the most outgoing outfits at this year’s gala. He wore a dramatic royal blue Valentino cape that paid homage to the late Andre Leon Talley’s style. The cape had many intricate embellishments at the top which added a more unique look to it. But this wasn’t the end of his Met Gala outfits – he later revealed a look underneath the cape which was a sharp, tailored black and white patterned blazer, a pinstripe dress shirt, and a polka dot neck scarf. He had accessories like Boucheron jewelry, making it one of the most talked about outfits of the night. As one of the co-chairs of the event, his outfit fit the theme well and resembled it in both a historical and modern way.
To no surprise, Rihanna made a jaw-dropping entrance at the Met and embraced the theme with a custom Marc Jacob outfit. It was a blend of classic tailoring and featured a black cropped suit jacket, a gray corset with a detached white collar, and a pinstripe tailored skirt that mimicked a long blazer. She completed her look with a wide-brimmed hat and a burgundy polka dot tie. However, the biggest surprise to her outfit was the reveal of her third pregnancy making her appearance even more iconic. This made Rihanna one of the most talked about celebrities at the Met this year.
Every year the Met Gala results in millions of dollars raised to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Its earnings have grown significantly over the years with this year’s gala setting a new record of 31 million dollars. This makes it the highest grossing edition in the event’s 77-year history. The Gala raises money primarily through ticket sales and sponsorships. Each ticket costs $75,000 and tables start at $350,000, which are often purchased by luxury brands that invite celebrities as their guests. From all of this combined, the Gala continues to raise more and more money every year.
Met Gala Monday is many people’s favorite day of the year because they are able to see unique forms of fashion worn by celebrities that they love. It has continued on for over 70 years and will continue to pursue for many more. Whether you care for fashion or not, it is an event that you cannot miss.
