The Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit or the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is one of the most highly anticipated events in the fashion industry, bringing together celebrities, designers, and artists for a night of glamour and extravagance.
The Met Gala has a rich history, dating back to 1948, when it was first established by publicist Eleanor Lambert. Originally, the event was held to raise funds for the newly formed Costume Institute, which is now one of the leading fashion collections in the world. The first Met Gala was a midnight dinner, with tickets priced at just $50.
Over the years, the Met Gala has evolved into a high-profile event that attracts some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment. In 1971, the theme was “Fashion Plate,” and guests were asked to dress up as their favorite fashion icon. In 1983, the theme was “Yves Saint Laurent: 25 Years of Design,” in honor of the iconic designer’s career.
In 1995, the event was co-chaired by supermodel Claudia Schiffer and designer Karl Lagerfeld, with the theme “Haute Couture.” That same year, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took over as the event’s co-chair, a role she still holds to this day.
In 1999, the theme was “Rock Style,” and attendees were asked to dress in their best rock-and-roll-inspired outfits. In 2001, the theme was “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years,” in honor of the former First Lady’s iconic sense of style.
In recent years, the Met Gala has become more extravagant than ever, with guests donning elaborate costumes and designer gowns that push the boundaries of fashion. In 2015, the theme was “China: Through the Looking Glass,” which explored the influence of Chinese art and culture on Western fashion. In 2018, the theme was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” which explored the relationship between fashion and religion.
Each year, the Met Gala is held on the first Monday in May, and the event is co-chaired by a group of high-profile individuals from the worlds of fashion, entertainment, and politics. The guest list is carefully curated, with tickets costing up to $30,000 each. The event has become so popular that it has been dubbed the “Super Bowl of fashion.”
The Met Gala also serves as the opening night of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition, which showcases some of the most innovative and influential designs in fashion history. The exhibition is often tied to the event’s theme, with past exhibitions including “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” “Punk: Chaos to Couture,” and “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.”
While the Met Gala is primarily a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, it has also become a platform for raising awareness about social and political issues. In recent years, attendees have used the event to make statements about issues such as climate change, immigration, and diversity in the fashion industry.
This year, Jared Leto turned heads by literally dressing as a cat. Yep. Seriously.
Jared Leto attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City pic.twitter.com/BEERWvEvaP
— MET GALA COVERAGE 2023 (@celebfashionnnn) May 1, 2023
Celebrities are weird.
