The first Monday in May is fast approaching, which means one thing for the fashion and celebrity glitterati around the world – The Met Gala is back.
Last year the highlight of every A-list fashionista’s calendar was postponed until September due to the pandemic, but 2022 sees it fall on the now traditional day, set in stone by Andrew Rossi’s 2016 documentary ‘The First Monday in May’, which followed the run up to the 2015 gala. For an inside glimpse, you can watch it on Netflix now.
As we speak, actors, sports stars, activists and politicians will be busy fussing over the final touches to their outfits. It’s fashion’s answer to the Oscars.
Here is everything you need to know about this year’s event.
What is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala, also known as the Costume Institute Benefit or the Met Ball is a charity event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City each spring, and one of the most glitz and glam A-list events of the year.
The high-society function began as a dinner in 1948, founded by legendary fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. But it was late US Vogue editor and grand dame of eccentricity Diana Vreeland who propelled it into the realm of celebrity and popular culture in which it remains under the current leadership of Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief and global chief content officer for Condé Nast, who has held the reins since 1995.
The red carpet fundraiser marks the opening of one of the Costume Institute’s blockbuster exhibitions, which goes on to open to the public. On the night, guests dress the part according to the show’s theme. And amid the razzle dazzle, the real aim is to secure funds for the musuem. The event raises millions by selling tickets, which cost around $35,000 each, with tables ranging from $200,000 to $300,000.
When is the Met Gala set 2022?
This year sees the event return to its annual slot on May 2 – the first Monday in May – after last year’s was disrupted by the pandemic and postponed until September.
Who are the hosts?
Annually, the Gala is hosted by a group that Anna Wintour deems at the centre of the cultural zeitgeist. This year’s festivities will be co-chaired by American actress Regina King, power couple and Met Gala enthusiasts Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, as well as the Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
They will be joining honorary co-chairs, CFDA (the Council of Fashion Designers of America) president and designer Tom Ford, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Anna Wintour herself.
What is the theme for the Met Gala 2022?
This year’s Met Gala theme is a continuation of last year’s, and will launch the opening of part two of the same exhibition.
Both exhibitions celebrate American fashion. Part one was entitled ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’ and celebrated the Costume Institute’s 75th anniversary, exploring a modern vocabulary of American fashion from the 1940s to today and it saw guests and designers pay tribute to Hollywood stars and American designers.
Part two, ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion’, will open at the Met on May 5. According to Vogue, this part of the exhibition is meant to be a historical retrospective exploring the development of American fashion and will aim to present a thoughtful homage to American history, including the Gilded Age.
The official dress code of the ball is Gilded Glamour, the era between 1870 and 1900. In America, this part of history is known as the Gilded Age due to its period of immense economic growth. However, this theme could potentially be a controversial choice, as the name of this era also references the hypocrisy of that time, during which the facade of wealth could not disguise immense income inequality, political upheaval, and post-Civil War racism.
What will guests be wearing?
Gilt will, without a doubt, take over the red carpet in May given “gilded” refers to the word golden. Expect your favourite celebrity to embody opulence and wealth while dripping in gold. The obvious choice would be to go for Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli, whose most recent couture collection was awash with sleek, black corset gowns and glowing ornate details.
Other inspirations seen at the latest Paris Fashion Week fitting the bill include Olivier Rousteing’s gold armour minis at Balmain, or Altuzarra’s shimmering metallic disk gown worn by Gigi Hadid on the catwalk. Elsewhere, expect period takes on the late 19th century, from designers like Vivienne Westwood, or corsets from Versace, which have become a Donatella Versace staple.
As ever, there will be plenty of surprises, as celebrities notoriously take on the theme with abstract concepts.
What have been the best themes in the past?
Recent Met Gala knockouts have included the pink carpeted ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’, which saw Lady Gaga arrive in a fuchsia pink parachute dress before peeling off layers to reveal a grand total of four Brandon Maxwell looks, and Billy Porter, the Pose star, who came golden as the Sun God, atop the shoulders of six topless men.
‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’ was also memorable for Rihanna’s pearl encrusted pope look by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, and Madonna’s performance.
The spring exhibition has also been known to focus on singular designers. The most famous was the ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ retrospective in 2011, which came just a year after the great designer’s death. Other focuses have included ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between’ in 2011, and ‘Poiret: King of Fashion’, looking at the works of the American visionary in 2007.
