For sports fans, there’s the Super Bowl. For fashion fans, there’s the Met Gala.
Every year on the first Monday in May, Anna Wintour, reigning editor-in-chief and pinnacle of fashion at Vogue, hosts the Met Gala. It’s technically a charity event to raise an egregious amount of money for The Costume Institute…but in reality, it’s an excuse for the biggest celebrities in the world to flaunt looks from the biggest fashion houses in the world.
All we ever get to see from the elusive Gala is the red carpet, but for about three hours the world circulates photos of outfits…judging like they have degrees in fashion and are the next Joan Rivers. But this year’s theme was especially exciting for me.
What was the 2024 Met Gala Theme?
This year’s theme was Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, with the focus being “Garden in Time.” A “sleeping beauty” in fashion refers to a piece that is only worn once before being stored away forever. These pieces are often tarnished after they’re worn once.
But as always, there’s a theme within the theme. “Garden in Time” implied nods to nature, which would explain the floral prints and natural elements like mother of pearl and wood. These themes also opened the door for sustainability: reworking and re-wearing pieces that have already existed. Not creating an entirely new costume from scratch.
Once these pieces go on display, they can’t be touched again or they’re considered ruined. While many celebrities weren’t wearing original “Sleeping Beauty” pieces, there were references to vintage collections from classic designers like Versace, Alexander McQueen, and, of course, Loewe.
Loewe happened to be the belle of the ball this year. The hottest brand of 2024 (by far) secured high-profile celebrities like Taylor Russell, Ariana Grande, Dan Levy, Omar Apollo, and more. And not only was everyone wearing Loewe, the craftsmanship and detail was breathtaking in every way.
As I continued to watch notable figure after notable figure grace the famous Met staircase, I continued to wonder where every Met Gala icon was? Where was Rihanna and A$AP Rocky? Blake Lively? Hailey and Justin Bieber? Selena Gomez, perhaps? THE Bella Hadid? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? Harry Styles? Billie Eilish and FINNEAS?
Perhaps a few literally slept through the Met Gala this year…but nonetheless, the celebs showed up. And I’m here to critique them.
Best Dressed
Lana Del Rey
Her first Met in six years and Lana Del Rey shines in custom-made Alexander McQueen. She’s on-theme, the embodiment of Mother Nature.
Mona Patel
Of course, this was a Law Roach style. But Mona Patel had, by far, the best dress of the night. The animated butterflies on her arms were magical.
Tyla
Nothing says “Sleeping Beauty” more than a gown made of sand specifically molded to Tyla’s body. She even had to get carried up the stairs in her custom Balmain.
Zendaya
Law Roach, the stylist you are. Zendaya treated the Met stairs as her runway with multiple show-stopping looks.
Kendall Jenner
I mean, the dress literally was only ever worn on a mannequin and fit Kendall Jenner – with no tailoring. That’s fate.
Mindy Kaling
The dress, titled “Melting Flower of Time”, was designed by Gaurav Gupta. It was walking art, stunned.
Harris Reed
Harris Reed is responsible for some of Harry Styles’ most iconic looks…but tonight, they were the moment.
Taylor Russell
Speaking of Harry Styles…Taylor Russell had one of my favorite Loewe pieces. The wood bodice corset contrasted with the gown.
Worst Dressed
Kylie Jenner
I just think she could’ve done more than a vintage bridal look…
In fashion, the top headlines of 2022 were brimming with excitement and chaos.
Scandals swept Balenciaga and any brand associated with the artist formerly known as Kanye West. Legislation offered a new pathway for sustainability in fashion. A new guard of creatives took the helm at some of the world’s most stories houses, while a recession loomed over the whole industry.
Ever since the pandemic struck in 2020, the years have felt as though they’ve all bled together. That’s certainly true for fashion news — so, we’re recapping the biggest headlines in the industry from 2022, from the biggest controversies to the most notable moments of progress.
Designers Act Amid Russia’s war on Ukraine
Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/Getty Images
In a major escalation of a longstanding conflict, Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, kicking off an intensified war that hasn’t stopped. The fashion industry responded with letters, donations and posts on social media. Vogue Ukraine called designers to action, while Granary — the fashion education platform founded by Ukrainian Central Saint Martins graduate Olya Kuryshchuk — shared an open letter urging the community to condemn Russia.
Groups like LVMH and Kering donated to aid groups like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), while some brands suspended business in Russia altogether. Meanwhile, designers like Demna took to the runway for messaging against the war (before the brand was embroiled in scandal).
Balenciaga ended the year not with a celebration, but with a series of apologetic statements.
The Kering-owned luxury brand released its Balenciaga Gift Shop campaign on Nov. 16, showing a range of new giftable items from the brand, “staged around children dressed in the Balenciaga Kids line” — however, it soon started trending, with many criticizing the photos showing children next to wine glasses, holding teddy bears in BDSM-reminiscent harnesses.
#BalenciagaGate only got more heat when people turned attention to its Spring 2023 campaign, released just a few days after on Nov. 21. The Joshua Bright-photographed imagery was set in an office, and among a variety of props strewn across a desk, there was a printed copy of the 2008 United States v. Williams decision on child pornography laws. More controversy ensued.
Every era in fashion has had its big names. Now, the industry is moving forward with a new guard of creatives taking seats at the helms of the world’s biggest, most influential houses.
Meanwhile, we’re seeing some of the most powerful names in fashion step back. Riccardo Tisci showed his final Burberry collection in September, and has been replaced by Daniel Lee. Alessandro Michele, who ushered in a new era of extravagance at Gucci, stepped down in November, after seven years at the helm and two decades at the brand. That month, Raf Simons also announced the closure of his eponymous label after 27 years in business.
Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the industry and larger-than-life presence, Talley was creative director and then editor-at-large at Vogue, responsible for some must-read columns that inspired the next generation and becoming one of the first Black editors to reach the top of the masthead.
Raised in the Jim Crow South, Talley detailed his ascension in fashion and the racism he had to work against in his memoir, “The Chiffon Trenches.” He peeled back the curtain with language as entertaining as it is profound, welcoming wonder in a world often guarded by walls. He ushered in a new guard of dreamers, building his audience and developing close ties with educational institutions like SCAD.
As Fashionista reported, size diversity on the runway regressed in 2022, with the number of New York Fashion Week shows featuring non-sample-sized models dwindling from past seasons, after this issue had become such a talking point pre-pandemic. With runways often being in the market of what’s in and what’s cool, the exclusion of different bodies served as a disappointment.
Sustainability’s next frontier
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The fashion industry is notoriously under-regulated, but a new chapter is on the horizon in the U.S., with legislation presenting a path forward for the conversation around sustainability.
… All the while, Kardashian was laughing her way to the bank, by way of Skims, which reached a $3.2 billion valuation in 2022, thanks to new funding and ever-loving fans.
“This latest round will allow us to focus on bringing more innovations and solutions to our customers and become even more of a trusted resource for them,” Kardashian told Fortune.
Since launching in 2019, Skims has found rapid success in shapewear and loungewear, with the pandemic catapulting its cozier categories. This year, the brand also took home the inaugural CFDA Innovation Award presented by Amazon at the trade organization’s annual ceremony.
Patagonia literally gave itself away as a company in the name of environmental preservation and sustainability: This year, American rock climber-turned-businessman Yvon Chouinard transferred ownership of the brand he founded to a trust and nonprofit. The company said it was “going purpose” instead of “going public,” making Earth its main shareholder — a first-of-its-kind move.
The year of the ‘nepo baby’
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
For the (somehow) uninitiated, “nepo babies” are relatives of successful, famous or otherwise well-connected people who then end up successful, famous or otherwise well-connected. In 2022, they got called out on online and on the front pages of magazines, with the connections that may have helped them reach their heights of career success being called into question.
Of course, fashion has always lovednepo babies, from Hadids to Jenners to Gerbers. And every year, there’s a new class to look out for in campaigns or sitting in the front row at a Miu Miu show.
Rihanna’s maternity style
Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Rihanna has changed any and every new space she’s entered, so it’s no surprise she had the same effect on maternity style as she flaunted her pregnancy in the first half of 2022.
Rather than opting for clothes that covered up her growing bump, the Fenty founder refused to tone down sexiness or her own style. That meant: beaded halter tops, vintage Chanel, diamond belly chains and more. She even got “maternity crop tops” to trend.
Even after their split, Fox continued serving looks, becoming a TikTok star and highlighting emerging designers. She opened LaQuan Smith’s Fall 2022 show and was crowned one of Fashionista’s best dressed celebrities in 2022. She took the cake in ambitious dressing, daring any fan to take it up a notch and dream bigger through their clothes.
Falling off the shoulders in velvet and tulle, Harris Reed‘s first look for Nina Ricci debuted over the weekend — on none other than Adele.
Reed became creative director of the French fashion house in September, and is expected to make his official debut at Paris Fashion Week in February. The Central Saint Martins grad gave us a sneak peek of what’s to come, though, on stage in Las Vegas at “Weekends with Adele,” where the headliner wore a custom sweeping black velvet gown with sheer circle sleeves featuring sequin polka dot embroidery and Swarovski crystals. According to Reed, this also marks the first time in five years that Nina Ricci creates a custom VIP look.
The designer wrote on Instagram: “Worn by the eternally inspiring @adele, the first individual to be dressed in my new vision for the brand in a small nod of what’s to come. I am honored to dress somebody that completely embodies, magnifies and shines with true femininity.”
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Photo: Alva Galim/Courtesy of Nina Ricci
“It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” the caption continued. “It often feels as if the entire culmination of my life’s work has led to this moment. I am so proud and humbled to be working with my amazing Nina team and every single person along the way who has helped me get to this point. If you had told me when I was a first year at CSM that I’d be dressing Adele as the Creative Director of Nina Ricci… I never would have been able to fathom the path that got me here. The experiences I’ve had, the opportunities I’ve gotten, all the hard work, long days, sleepless nights, and tears of joy. The ride has been incredible and I can’t wait to see how it continues to unfold.”
Photo: Alva Galim/Courtesy of Nina Ricci
At just 26 years old, Reed has dressed the likes of Beyoncé and Harry Styles through his eponymous brand, which is known for looks that embody elegance, take inspiration from theatre and celebrate — and reimagine — gender fluidity. So, there’s a lot to look forward to at Nina Ricci.
