"Fashion's biggest night" is here.
It isn't enough to just look "nice" at the Met Gala: It's about making sure you're remembered.
Here's what we know about this year's event and theme, and how you can watch it in Australia.
What is the Met Gala?
Think: party with a purpose.
The Met Gala is a charity event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
It also launches the annual spring exhibit that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the museum.
Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, is supervising the entire event, as she has done since the 90s.
Over the years, the event has raised millions for the Costume Institute Benefit at the Met, which holds an annual accompanying exhibition.
Last year, the evening earned $17.4 million for the institute.
When is the Met Gala 2023?
This year's Met Gala will happen on Monday, May 1, in New York.
That's this morning for Australia.
The event has traditionally taken place on the first Monday in May every year since 2005 — minus 2020, when it was cancelled, and in 2021, when it was moved to September due to the pandemic.
What is this year's theme?
The Met Gala 2023 theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
It pays tribute to the German fashion designer, who died in early 2019 at the age of 85.
The Met's star curator, Andrew Bolton, said the theme won't be as straightforward as it sounds.
Rather, guests will be encouraged to pay tribute to Lagerfeld's life's work in their own unique way.
Given Lagerfeld's past comments about women's bodies, the #MeToo movement and the Syrian refugee crisis, the event's theme is not without its critics.
How can I watch it in Australia?
You can watch the entire red carpet unfold on a Vogue live stream, which will air on their YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
It started streaming at 8am AEST today in Australia.
We're also live blogging the event here!
Who is hosting?
This year's five hosts are drawn from film, television, music and sports.
In January, Vogue revealed the 2023 Met Gala hosts would be Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer and Dua Lipa.
And, of course, there is Wintour running the whole thing as usual.
The group will also make up the night’s official co-chairs.
Who is invited to the Met Gala?
Let's just say the biggest names and leading figures in fashion, music and Hollywood are on the list.
This year, there will be roughly 400 guests — similar to recent years, but still lower than pre-pandemic highs of 500-600.
However, it's not enough to just be an "it" celebrity.
Guests also need to be in Wintour's good books, because she and her team approve every guest.
How much does a ticket cost?
This year, the cost has gone up, as it does every few years due to rising expenses.
It’s now $US50,000 ($75,000) for an individual ticket, and tables start at $US300,000.
Generally, brands or companies buy tables and then host their desired celebrities or fashion muses.
Will Kim Kardashian be invited back after 'that dress' incident?
In an Instagram post shared just days before the Met Gala, Kim Kardashian revealed she was at Karl Lagerfeld's office in New York "to get a little inspiration for the Met".
So that's a yes.
Last year's Met Gala theme was Gilded Glamour, a reference to New York’s post-Civil War boom time.
Kim Kardashian managed to wear the actual dress Marilyn Monroe wore to sing Happy Birthday to then-president John F Kennedy in 1962.
She wore it for just a few minutes, before changing into a replica after walking the red carpet.
However, when the dress was returned to its owners, Ripley’s Believe or Not!, damage was allegedly evident.
ChadMichael Morrisette — who owns a mannequin supply company, and once handled the dress — said he saw fresh damage to the crystal-covered garment when he popped in for a look at Ripley’s Los Angeles location.
Morrisette shared photos of the 60-year-old dress with a friend and a Monroe collector, who posted before and after shots on social media.
The whole event instigated debate online as to whether historic garments should be pulled out of preservation.
What about other Kardashian-Jenners?
It’s possible that Kendall Jenner will be seen at this year’s event, considering the 27-year-old featured on the cover of Vogue’s May issue, which pays tribute to Lagerfeld ahead of this year’s Met Gala.
Jenner was among 10 models enlisted for the cover, including Gigi Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Anok Yai and Devon Aoki.
ABC/AP
