The first Monday of May is almost here, and we cannot wait to see what the stars will wear to the Met Gala. Organised to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute, the event coincides with the unveiling of the Costume Department’s annual exhibition. Over the years, the star-studded fundraiser has evolved from a dinner of American socialites to a heavily awaited themed red-carpet event attended by the biggest celebrities all around the globe.
This Year’s Met Gala Theme
The theme of this year’s Met Gala is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”. The exhibition intends to revisit more than 200 items from the Metropolitan Institute’s archive. Every year, the theme of the Met Gala also comes with a dress code open to the designers’ and their guests’ interpretation. This year, it is “The Garden of Time”, inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1926 short story of the same name.
While we wait to see what the designers have in mind for Monday, let’s go through some of the most memorable Met Gala themes that we have witnessed at the fundraiser, from its inception in 1973 till last year.
2021 – In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
There is nothing quite as denotative of America as Kim Kardashian being instantly recognisable despite being covered head to toe in this black Balenciaga ensemble. As if that was not enough to cause an internet breakdown, the sheer Givenchy gown that her sister Kendall Jenner wore to the red carpet drove us to a frenzy.
2019 – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Camp has been one of the most experimental themes in the history of the Met Gala. The celebrities didn’t hold back either. Lady Gaga’s four step costume change won the night, while the Jenner sisters twinning in feathered Versace dresses gave us MAJOR sibling goals.
2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
The 2018 Met Gala has got to be my favourite to date. I’m still not over Gigi Hadid’s Versace butterfly gown, and I had to pause working on this article for a good fifteen minutes just to fawn over SZA’s look (just LOOK at her, duh). Rihanna, in classic Riri fashion, slayed the theme in a papal Galliano dress.
1999 – Rock Style
This theme was everyone’s chance to channel their inner rock girlfriend. Giselle Bündchen made her met Gala debut that year in this Versace dress. Stella McCartney and Liv Tyler were the true rockstars of the year with their one-shouldered printed tops. Whitney Houston in her robed shirt showed us how rock is done.
1995 – Christian Dior
At her only appearance at the Met, Princess Diana paid homage to the fashion stalwart in the legendary Dior satin slip-dress with a statement pearl and sapphire choker. Equally memorable was Donatella Versace’s self-designed belts-and-staps dress and Iman Hamam’s black Christian Lacroix dress.
1989 – The Age of Napoleon, Costume From The Revolution To The Empire
The 1989 Met Gala red carpet was quite the gilded affair, as seen in the outfits of Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and Count Vega del Ren. Pictured right, Carolina Herrera and Nan Kempner looked no less regal in their silver and gold brocade jackets.
1981 – The Eighteenth-Century Woman
Who says the older Met Galas were boring? Bianca Ross’s feathered dress at the ’81 Met caused quite a stir, and everyone was obsessed with Jackie Onnassis’ flowy black dress. Meanwhile, these two socialites (pictured right) went all out on the theme in a way you would only expect in present-day Mets.
1974 – Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design
The second-ever themed Met Gala was one for the ages. Cher made fashion history with the iconic naked dress by Bob Mackie while Bianca Jagger’s sequined red Halston gown and beret reflected the glamour and romance of Old Hollywood. Elsa Schiaperelli’s granddaughter Marisa Berenson brought out the fantastical element in Hollywood fashion with her sequined dress.
