The Met Gala, also known as the Costume Institute Gala, is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. The event, which is usually held on the first Monday of May, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the fashion industry, as well as a major cultural and social phenomenon.
The Met Gala is attended by celebrities, designers, artists, and influencers, who dress according to a specific theme that is chosen each year by the Costume Institute’s curator, in collaboration with Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has been the chairperson of the event since 1995. The theme also corresponds to the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition, which showcases the history, art, and culture of fashion.
The Met Gala is not only a showcase of fashion and creativity, but also a platform for raising awareness and funds for the Costume Institute, which is the only department of the Met that is self-funded. The event also generates significant media attention and public interest, as well as influences and inspires fashion trends and styles.
The Met Gala’s Dress Code for 2024: The Garden of Time
The Met Gala’s dress code for 2024 was revealed in February 2024, and it is “The Garden of Time”. The dress code is based on a short story by J.G. Ballard, published in 1962, depicts a garden in a remote corner of the world, where time flows in reverse, and where the plants and animals evolve and evolve according to the changing seasons. The dress code also reflects the theme of the exhibition, which uses the natural world as a metaphor for the transience and transformation of fashion.
The dress code invites the guests to interpret and express the concept of time and nature through their outfits, using elements such as colors, patterns, textures, and shapes. The dress code also encourages the guests to experiment and innovate with their fashion choices, using materials and techniques that are sustainable, ethical, and futuristic.
Some of the possible ways that the guests can follow the dress code include:
- Wearing floral prints, embroidery, or appliques, that evoke the beauty and diversity of the garden.
- Wearing metallic, holographic, or iridescent fabrics, that reflect the light and the movement of time.
- Wearing vintage, recycled, or upcycled pieces, that represent the past and the present of fashion.
