Met Gala 2024: History, Previous events, Theme, Guest list, Chairs, Dress Code, How To watch And Everything To Know
Co-Chairs:
- Bad Bunny:
- Chris Hemsworth
- Jennifer Lopez
- Zendaya
- Anna Wintour
Superstars Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth took center stage as co-chairs for the 2024 Met Gala. Alongside them was American Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. While Hemsworth made his first appearance at the event, Zendaya returned after several years. Bad Bunny, known for his dramatic fashion choices, had previously attended the Gala in 2022 and 2023. Lopez, a Met Gala veteran, graced the red carpet for the 14th time. Honorary chairs also included Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
The Theme: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”
The Met Gala’s theme was inspired by the Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, which ran from May 10 to September 2. Titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the exhibition explored conceptual reference points around fashion history, nature, technology, and the senses. Here are some highlights:
- 250 Rare “Masterworks”: The exhibition featured 250 rare pieces from the Institute’s archive, displayed in a new and imaginative way. These garments, once part of people’s lived experiences, were now motionless “artworks.” Visitors could reconnect with them through their senses, experiencing their vibrancy and dynamism.
- United by Nature: The pieces were united by their connections to the natural world, also exploring themes of rebirth and renewal. From delicate fabrics to intricate designs, each item told a story of transformation.
- “Sleeping Beauties”: Some garments were too fragile to be dressed on mannequins. Instead, they appeared in coffin-like glass displays, like “sleeping beauties.” Microscopes allowed observers to closely examine their deterioration over time.
- Contemporary Technology: The exhibition seamlessly blended antiquity with modernity. Visitors encountered a 3D-printed maquette of a “Mini Miss Dior” dress and also listened to an audio recording of razor clam shells embroidered on a Spring 2001 Alexander McQueen dress.
Dress Code: “The Garden of Time”
Inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name, the dress code for the Met Gala 2024 is “The Garden of Time.” Ballard’s tale features a utopian villa with a garden of crystalline flowers, symbolizing beauty, fragility, and inevitable decay. Guests are encouraged to interpret this theme creatively, also embracing fleeting beauty and the passage of time in their attire.
Red Carpet Show:
- Celebrities arrived in stunning ensembles, interpreting the “Garden of Time” theme in diverse ways.
- Green Red Carpet: The red carpet itself was green, symbolizing growth, nature, and the passage of time.
- Statement Looks: From ethereal gowns adorned with floral motifs to avant-garde suits inspired by ancient gardens, the fashion choices were bold and also thought-provoking.
- Also Gwendoline Christie: The actress turned heads in a custom-made gown that seemed to bloom with real flowers.
- Anna Wintour: As always, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, graced the event with her signature style.
In curator Andrew Bolton’s words, the show aimed to bring these fashion pieces back to life, celebrating their original vibrancy and dynamism. The Met Gala’s red carpet was a canvas for celebrities to interpret this theme in their own unique ways, and also the results were nothing short of spectacular. From avant-garde designs to timeless elegance, the stars truly reawakened fashion on that magical night.
How to Watch
For those who missed the live event, the Met Gala red carpet began at 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST. Early attendees likely started arriving even earlier. The Met Gala remains a celebration of creativity, style, and also artistic expression, and each year, it leaves us eagerly awaiting the next chapter in fashion history.
