At the annual Met Gala event in New York, ensembles showcase a variety of themes, from Bad Bunny's Tudor-inspired hat and hoof-like shoes to Zendaya's hummingbird perched on her neck. The moderators could be seen.
Flowers, animals and vintage haute couture abounded at the so-called East Coast Oscars, a major fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The dress code for this year's extravaganza is “The Garden of Time,” inspired by the 1962 short story of the same name by British author J.G. Ballard.
At its core, it's about the fleeting nature of beauty, perhaps a key theme looming over the celebrities attending this year's gala. In pure drama, co-host Zendaya dominated the green and cream carpet in her first Met Gala appearance since 2019.
The 27-year-old star wore jewel-toned lamé, organdy and satin designed by John Galliano, with vines creeping up the Duchess's corset and arms, and what appeared to be hummingbirds nestling around her as she appeared early. He made his long-awaited appearance. neck.
A few hours later, she made a second surprise appearance. Her two outfits, this time in dramatic black inspired by Mexican Gothic style, rounded out the fashion parade and emphasized the fragility of her beauty.
Most attendees chose to evoke awakening and life, perhaps ignoring the theme and demonstrating the permanence of fashion across the centuries, including many flourishes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some, like singer Lana Del Rey, emphasized decadence with wild sculptural twigs extending from their gowns and tulle veils draped over their heads like a canopy.
South African singer Tyra's strapless Balmain dress evokes the sands of time, right down to the hourglass purse, and was so sculpted to her body that she had to be carried up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art .
Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny reminds us of something like a Tudor bullfighter with his big hat and black bouquet, the only pops of color, his bright red inseams and the patent shine of his bifold shoes I have.
Cardi B was resplendent in a funereal black outfit, and the train was so vast that it took nine men in tuxedos to lift it up the stairs.
“This is a black rose,” she told journalists.
mysterious and unexpected
Celebrity interpretations of the Met Gala's theme have varied and often sparked debate on social media, but this year's attendees seemed to defy the pressure.
Actor Colman Domingo, wearing a lily-colored caped jacket and wide-leg pants and holding a bouquet of flowers, told reporters, “I don't think there's any pressure at all.In fact, I think it's an opportunity.'' This theme is paralleled by the exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, which focuses on the most fragile items in the Institute's vast collection of costumes.
The show, which will be open to the public from May 10th to September 2nd, features costumes so delicate that they cannot be expressed on mannequins. The Costume Institute relies on the blockbuster Met Gala to fund activities such as exhibitions and acquisitions.
The celebration was first held in 1948, and for decades was reserved for New York's high society. In the 1990s, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the high priestess of American fashion, took over the show and turned the party into a catwalk for the rich and famous.
Ticket prices this year were $75,000, with table prices starting at $350,000. A 2023 gala honoring the late designer Karl Lagerfeld raised a record amount of nearly $22 million.
But what happens inside is an eternal mystery. “I'm sure there was something mysterious and unexpected,” actor Jeff Goldblum, dressed as the Count wearing Tiffany jewelry, told reporters on the red carpet.
Guests will be poring over the exhibits, and stars like Rihanna, who usually has unparalleled command of the red carpet, have performed in the past, but were absent from this year's gala. It didn't appear.
social media frenzy
This spectacle is the social media craze for celebrity watchers. And this year, both the gala and the exhibition will be co-hosted with his TikTok. The tech industry gathered on the carpet with some of the biggest names in music, film, politics, and sports, including TikTok CEO Hsu Chu, who is also honorary co-chairman. Outside the event, hundreds of anti-Gaza protesters demonstrated nearby, with heavy security and several arrests as stars walked the red carpet.