Celebs are busy preparing for this year’s Met Gala, which is set to take place on Monday May 2.
The dazzling event, known as "fashion's big night out", will see hundreds of A-list celebs take to the steps of the Met in jaw-droppingly extravagant outfits.
The fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is returning to its normal schedule in May this year, after last year's event was postponed to September due to Covid-19. The Costume Institute is opening part two of its “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” exhibition, which aims to celebrate the "unsung heroes of US design".
This year's Met Gala theme will be Gilded Glamour and White Tie.
The exclusive event has been meticulously planned by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour since 1995, and while it one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, there are a number of strict rules that guests are expected to follow if they wish to be invited back by the fashion mogul.
From selfie-free zones to forbidden foods, we take a look at some of the most stringent rules of the mysterious event.
Met Gala's no selfie rule
The glitz and glamour of the Met Gala make the party one of the most photographable events of the year, but while official photographers are allowed to take shots of the celebs, selfies are strictly banned.
In 2015 it was announced that the use of social media would be prohibited at the event, to stop celebs from spending so much time on their phones and encourage them to be present.
A notice sent to guests that year said: "The use of phones for photography and social media will not be permitted inside the gala."
However, the no-selfie rule has been famously broken several times since, including Kylie Jenner's huge bathroom selfie in 2017.
Met Gala dress code
When the Met Gala invitations are sent out in spring, there is one vital detail that's included: the dress code.
The dress code is perhaps the most well-known rule of the Met Gala, and each year guests are expected to meet high expectations for their attire.
In 2020 the dress code was "studied triviality" and last year it was "American independence"; this year's dress code is "gilded glamour, white-tie".
We can expect to see celebs showcase lavish outfits inspired by the Gilded Age of New York, which stretched from 1870 to 1890.
No under-18s
In 2018 a new rule was established that meant under-18s were no longer allowed to attend the gala.
The rule meant that many young celebs missed out on the elite event, including the then 16-year-old dance star Maddie Ziegler who told The Hollywood Reporter: “I can't go because I'm not old enough!”
A Met Gala spokesperson explained the decision to ban under-18s, saying: "It's not an appropriate event for people under 18."
No smoking
In 2003 a ban on smoking indoors was introduced in New York City, but despite this law saw many celebs were photographed smoking in the bathroom at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during 2017's gala.
The following year guests were reminded that it was “illegal to smoke in the museum” and it was reported that a strict ban on smoking was detailed in that year's invitations.
Strict seating arrangements
Anna Wintour ensures that the Met Gala is diligently planned down to the smallest detail, but one of the most important aspects of the event is the creation of the seating chart.
Plans for the seating arrangements begin in December, and there are strict rules when it comes to who celebs sit by.
Wintour likes to ensure that the gala remains a social event where guests meet new people, which means that spouses are usually seated apart. So new lovebirds Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson will likely be forced to sit separately after what is expected to be their red carpet debut this year.
The seating chart also ensures that guests who have sat by each other at a previous Met Gala don't sit next to each other again.
Eaddy Kiernan, who's in charge of the seating chart, told Vogue: “We really try to think very carefully about who’s sitting next to each other
"Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire, but who may not even realise that they have a lot in common."
Food bans
After walking the famous red carpet and visiting the exhibition, guests are seated for a formal meal. According to the New York Post, even the food that's served at the Met Gala comes with rules.
Certain foods are supposedly banned from the kitchen. A former Vogue employee let slip that parsley is on the list of no-go foods to avoid the risk of it getting stuck in guests' teeth.
Bad news for fans of Italian food, as other ingredients on the do-not-serve list include onion and garlic, as well as messy foods like bruschetta.
