With the 2026 Met Gala theme being announced, many people were blindsided that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s names were attached to the ball held on the first Monday of May. However, new reports have alleged that the deal was thoroughly planned out, and the billionaires have taken most of the reins.
According to Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop, the couple has “seized control” of the Met Gala. “They aren’t just donors,” a longtime Met insider shared. “Jeff is writing the checks. Lauren is making the calls. They’re basically running the Gala.” While Vogue’s Anna Wintour is still the chair of the world-famous gala, sources claim that Sánchez’s influence is strong. “Anna’s shadow is still long,” the insider says, “but make no mistake — everyone is suddenly orbiting Jeff and Lauren.”
The former journalist is reportedly calling the shots by “calling designers, pushing for a glossier, sexier Gala, and positioning herself as the new celebrity whisperer.”
In an interview with the New York Times, Wintour defended the couple as sponsors, saying that Sánchez “loves costumes” and “loves fashion,” referring to the Gala’s theme “Costume Art.” This also isn’t the first time that Bezos held a big position for the Met Gala. Amazon sponsored the 2012 gala, and he served as honorary chair.
The report comes months after rumors spread that Jeff Bezos was gifting Vogue and Condé Nast to Sánchez as a wedding gift. A source told the Daily Mail back in July: “The rumour that Jeff is going to buy Condé Nast is all anyone’s talking about in the fashion industry and inside Vogue,” adding, “Lauren Sanchez is such an unlikely cover star, and the word is that she landed the July issue partly because the Newhouse family want to butter up Bezos. In New York they’re slimming down the business which is exactly what companies do before a sale.”
The source continued, “Anna is said to be the one brokering the deal so that’s why Lauren was put on the cover. Anna has equity in the business so has a lot to gain from a sale.”
Wintour stepped as Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, with Chloe Malle was promoted to Head of Editorial Content. Wintour will remain in her global roles as Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer and Vogue’s Global Editorial Director.
It’s not rare to gaze upon the Met Gala looks each year and think, “Wow, that gown is a work of art.” Now, the 2026 iteration of the event is taking that idea to a whole other level. The latest Met Gala theme is “Costume Art,” inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s vast collection and the connective tissue that runs through it all—the dressed body. Curator in charge of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton, said in a recent interview that the core idea is this: no matter which gallery you’re perusing in the world-famous museum, you’ll be exploring the relationship between clothing and the human form.
It’s not the most straightforward theme—so below, we’re breaking all the details down, as well as keeping track of everything else you need to know about fashion’s biggest night.
What is the theme of the 2026 Met Gala?
Next year, the Met Gala and accompanying exhibition will be Costume Art, which addresses “the centrality of the dressed body in the museum’s vast collection,” according to Bolton. This will turn the focus on the Met’s art collection—sculptures, paintings, and objects from across five centuries—while placing them alongside both historical and contemporary garments. For instance, a quintessentially padded Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons garment is situated next to a photograph from German artist Hans Bellmer that displays a similarly bulbous shape. A classical Greek sculpture, meanwhile, is compared to a Fortuny gown from the 1920s, which mimics the color and fabrication of the garment portrayed in the late 5th-century work.
When it comes to attendees’ looks, expect many art-adjacent gowns and suits. And if you thought sheer dressing was on the way out, think again. This theme is all about the body, and it will likely be shown off like never before on those museum steps. One can also likely expect a lot of Saint Laurent designs on the red carpet, as the brand is a sponsor for the exhibition.
When is the 2026 Met Gala?
Per usual, the Met Gala falls on the first Monday in May, meaning in 2026, it will take place on May 4. The exhibition, meanwhile, will run from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
A$AP Rocky at the 2025 Met Gala, for which he was named a cochair.
Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
Who will be chairing the 2026 Met Gala?
As of now, the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala have not been announced. As usual, Anna Wintour is expected to be the primary host of the evening. She will be joined by Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, who are sponsoring the event.
What will be included in the accompanying exhibition?
The “Costume Art” show will focus primarily on Western art. Almost 200 works will be displayed with 200 garments and accessories. The exhibition will be divided into three categories: bodies omnipresent in art (i.e., the nude form), other kinds of bodies that are often overlooked (pregnant or aging bodies), and universal bodies (like the anatomical body).
While both art and fashion will be present in the exhibition, Bolton has ensured that the latter is the priority. He also shared his plans for the exhibition’s mannequins, which will boast mirrored faces designed by artist Samar Hejazi. “I’ve always wanted to try to bridge the gap between the viewer and the mannequin,” Bolton said, explaining the choice will “facilitate empathy and compassion.”
The exhibition also coincides with the opening of the nearly 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries—situated right next to the Met’s Great Hall—to be the new home of the Met’s fashion collection. If you’ve ever ventured to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Costume Institute exhibition before, you know just getting to the Upper East Side building is only half the journey. Upon entering the doors, you must navigate the expansive collection for the exhibition in question, which is sometimes located in the Anna Wintour Costume Center, and at other times tucked between the American Wing and the Impressionists. Well, those days are officially behind us.
What is the dress code of the 2026 Met Gala?
Yes, “Costume Art” is the theme, but there is usually also a dress code, which provides attendees with a clearer idea of how to dress for the event. For example, while last year’s theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the theme was “Tailored for You”—hence why so many guests arrived in structured suits.
That being said, the dress code typically isn’t announced until much closer to the actual event. So we will likely have to wait a bit until we get more specifics on what the guests are expected to embody with their ensembles next year.
NEW YORK (AP) — If there’s been one uniting theme of all the blockbuster fashion exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it’s the simple idea that fashion is art.
“Costume Art,” announced Monday as the next big show at the museum’s Costume Institute — launched by the starry Met Gala in 2026 — aims to make that connection more literal than ever, pairing garments with objects from across the museum to show how fashion has long been intertwined with different art forms.
Max Hollein, CEO and director of the Met, said in an interview ahead of Monday’s announcement that he hopes the exhibit will take visitors to the New York museum on a (very fashionable) journey through art history, where they will see connections throughout.
“It’s a show that can really live in fascinating ways at the museum and can pull from all different areas of our collection — paintings, sculpture, drawings,” Hollein said.
“I hope we all agree that fashion is art,” Hollein added. “But actually I think the exhibition … will make it obvious how fashion is actually happening, so to say, all across the museum and in all different mediums already.”
The new show will examine the dressed body, and will be organized thematically by different body types, according to the Costume Institute’s curator in charge, Andrew Bolton. It will include the “Naked Body” and the “Classical Body,” for example, but also less expected themes like the “Pregnant Body” and the “Aging Body.”
“Bustle” by Charles James, right, is displayed at the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
“Bustle” by Charles James, right, is displayed at the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A spandex bodysuit by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck from a 2009 collection, right, is displayed during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A spandex bodysuit by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck from a 2009 collection, right, is displayed during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
The connections that will be drawn between artworks and garments will range, curators said in a statement, “from the formal to the conceptual, the aesthetic to the political, the individual to the universal, the illustrative to the symbolic, and the playful to the profound.”
One example: in the “Naked Body” section, a 1504 print from German artist Albrecht Dürer will be paired with spandex bodysuits by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck from a 2009 collection that revisits the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
On hand for Monday’s announcement was Misty Copeland, who recently retired from American Ballet Theatre after a trailblazing career that saw her become the company’s first Black female principal dancer. In her remarks, she spoke of the interplay between fashion and dance and said the show makes a “powerful case for the body, in all its forms, as a work of art, worthy of being seen, elevated, and celebrated.”
Michael Kors, Anna Wintour and Misty Copeland listen during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Michael Kors, Anna Wintour and Misty Copeland listen during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
“Of course, both fashion and dance have long held up an ‘ideal’ body, one that has historically meant thin, white, and female. That bias shaped my own experience,” she said. “Early in my career, I was made to feel that my body didn’t fit the mold. My skin was too dark, my muscles too defined. Being a Black woman and a ballerina was presented almost as a contradiction.”
Copeland said she fought to challenge that idea and stood “firmly in the value and beauty of my body, and of the many Black and brown dancers whose bodies have so often been overlooked.” The new exhibit — following the lauded “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which focused on Black menswear — adds to that conversation, Copeland said.
It’s also a show that will have a new home. “Costume Art,” which opens to the public May 10, will inaugurate new gallery space occupying some 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters), right off the museum’s Great Hall.
Misty Copeland speaks during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Misty Copeland speaks during the announcement. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
That means that when the A-listers come up the main steps on May 4 at the Met Gala — perhaps dressed to channel famous objects of art — they will be only feet from the exhibit, making it easier to view the art before sipping and socializing. (Gala details — such as the celebrity hosts and specific dress code — will be shared later.)
Hollein said the museum was mainly concerned with giving fashion a more prominent home — and giving regular visitors a smoother experience. In past years, long lines for fashion exhibits would snake through other galleries and create bottlenecks in inconvenient places.
The new Conde M. Nast galleries — created from what was formerly the museum’s retail store — will house not only all spring Costume Institute exhibits to come, but other shows from different parts of the museum.
Bolton said in a statement that the gallery space “will mark a pivotal moment for the department, one that acknowledges the critical role fashion plays not only within art history but also within contemporary culture.”
“Costume Art” opens to the public May 10, 2026, and runs until Jan. 10, 2027.
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This story has been updated to correct the date of the 2026 Met Gala. It’s May 4, not May 5.
The countdown for the Met Gala 2026 is officially on, and we are finally getting some intel about the highly anticipated fashion event.
Widely referred to as fashion’s biggest night, the Met Gala is an annual fundraiser event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Every year, fashion enthusiasts from around the world tune in to see celebrities, artists, and fashion insiders arrive at the prestigious dinner, gracing the iconic stairs of the Met Museum, donning some of the most coveted sartorial creations, each year inspired by and honouring the exhibition’s theme.
On November 17, 2025, Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the theme of the 2026 exhibition, which will serve as the guiding thread for the Met Gala, marking the beginning of the countdown to May.
Below, find out everything we know so far about the 2026 Met Gala. Continue reading for the full details, or skip to your preferred section using the menu below.
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When is the Met Gala 2026 taking place?
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as in 2021, the Met Gala typically takes place on the first Monday in May every year. Doing some basic calculations, that means the Met Gala 2026 will take place on Monday, May 4, 2026.
What is the Met Gala 2026 theme?
On November 17, 2025, Vogueannounced the Met Gala 2026 theme is “Costume Art.” According to curator Andrew Bolton, the 2026 Met Gala theme is inspired by “the centrality of the dressed body in the museum’s vast collection.”
The upcoming exhibition will mark the inauguration of nearly 12,000 square feet of the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a fashion-first permanent space located adjacent to The Met’s Great Hall. The collection will feature “paintings, sculptures, and other objects spanning the 5,000 years of art represented in The Met, alongside historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute.”
“What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Bolton told Vogue. “It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which is really what the initial idea for the exhibition was, this epiphany: I know that we’ve often been seen as the stepchild, but, in fact, the dressed body is front and center in every gallery you come across. Even the nude is never naked. It’s always inscribed with cultural values and ideas.”
What’s new about the 2026 Met Gala theme? Well, it‘s Bolton’s first theme ever without a subtitle. Although the theme originally had a secondary part to complement the main title, Bolton and his team ultimately decided to remove it. “
“We took it out and it was like taking off a corset,” he said. “I thought, this is exactly what it should be. It’s bold, it’s strong, it’s a statement of intent. [The goal] is not to create a new hierarchy. It’s just to disband that hierarchy and to focus on equivalency — equivalency of artworks and equivalency of bodies.”
What is the Met Gala 2026 Dress Code?
Vogue traditionally announces the dress code a few months after the theme is revealed, so stay tuned for more information on how the 2026 Met Gala dress code relates to the “Costume Art” theme soon.
For reference, Vogue announced the official dress code for the 2025 Met Gala on February 4, 2025, just shy of four months after the theme was unveiled. While the theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the dress code was “Tailored for You.”
While there haven’t been many details about how the theme applies to the dress code, the dress code is usually a nod to the exhibition’s focus. Last year, it was explicitly announced that the dress code is “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation,” so put your thinking caps on!
Who are the co-chairs of the Met Gala 2026?
The co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala have yet to be announced. Last year, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour served as co-chairs of the 2025 Met Gala alongside honorary chair LeBron James.
Who will attend the Met Gala 2026?
The Met Gala guest list is always top secret until the night of; however, you can get a glimpse of who to expect based on each year’s co-chairs and the host committee.
Who will host the Met Gala 2026 red carpet?
We don’t know who will be the host of the 2026 Met Gala red carpet just yet. For reference, Vogue unveiled last year’s hosts (LaLa Anthony, Teyana Taylor, and Ego Nwodim) just a couple of weeks before the actual Met Gala.
This article was first published on Teen Vogue and will be kept updated.
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The annual MTV Video Music Awards is not only one of music’s biggest celebrations, but also presents another opportunity for attendees and performers to show off their sartorial best. Sheer was a reigning trend throughout the night held at New York’s UBS Arena, namely with Sabrina Carpenter and Tate McRae outfits. The “Man’s Best Friend” singer stunned in a completely sheer, beaded red gown from Valentino with a lavender fuzzy boa. Meanwhile, McRae embraced the trend in a custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin number that featured a bra top with a plunging sweetheart neckline and twisted spaghetti straps paired with a see-through skirt with a train creating a cutout silhouette.
The sheer mania at the 2025 VMAs is just a gleaming reminder that the naked dress trend is still relevant, and not going anywhere anytime soon. Countless celebrities have rocked the silhouette throughout the years, with stars like Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner, and Doechii embracing the look, from the Billboard Women in Music Awards to the Met Gala. And these stars prove the trend has graduated from your average see-through slip to more innovative designs — from cutouts with sheer overlays in full-coverage dresses to see-through catsuits. Of course, we’ve gathered some of the best sultry styles for every style, shape, and occasion that will help you nail the trend.
Whether you’re headed to a much-needed girls’ night out or gathering looks for your bestie’s tropical bachelorette, we have options just for you, even as low as $20. From an unconventional take on the LBD to sheer pants for your warm-weather evening soirées, shop our top sheer finds ahead.
While the last Met Gala was all about flowers and ball gowns, next May’s edition will be a suited spectacle. This time, the attention will be placed more so on the men in attendance than ever before. The 2025 Met Gala theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” inspired by the sartorial history of the Black dandy, and hosted by some of the most well-dressed men of this generation. Below, all the details you need to know about fashion’s biggest night, from the exhibit that informs it all to the co-chairs who will be leading the parade of looks.
What is the theme of the 2025 Met Gala?
As mentioned above, next year’s exhibit will be titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and the red carpet will, per usual, reflect the themes present within the show. Expect a lot of tailoring, as well as unique takes on traditional suiting. There will also likely be a lot of designs that harken back to Black history, both within and outside of America, calling on eras and styles like traditional African fashion, the suits of the Harlem Renaissance, and more modern works by designers like Virgil Abloh and Pharrell Williams, who is serving as a co-chair for the event.
Louis Vuitton is actually a co-sponsor of the 2025 Met Gala, so Williams will likely be very busy dressing many guests that night. Other designers and houses like Thom Browne, Chanel, and Versace will likely have tables and therefore dress attendees. Otherwise, though, hopefully, guests are inspired by the year’s theme and accompanying exhibit and tap BIPOC designers to dress them for the evening.
When is the 2025 Met Gala?
It’s the first Monday in May, of course, meaning in 2025, the Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 5.
Who is chairing the 2025 Met Gala?
All the co-chairs for the event will be men, specifically men known for their style. The 2025 Met Gala will be chaired by musician and designer Pharrell Williams, actor Colman Domingo, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, musician, our Originals issue cover star A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour. Basketball star Lebron James will also join the group as an honorary co-chair.
“They’re all men who aren’t afraid to take risks with their self-presentation,” Head Curator of the Costume Institute Andrew Bolton said of the co-chairs. “They take advantage of classic forms, but they also remix them and break them down in really new ways.”
What will be included in the accompanying exhibit?
“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” will turn its attention to the Black dandy—an archetype that can be traced in America to the 18th century—and explore the intersection of fashion and Black identities. Along with Bolton, the show will be guest curated by Monica Miller, professor and chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University and author of Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
Miller has described Black dandyism as “a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context. To really push a boundary—especially during the time of enslavement, to really push a boundary on who and what counts as human, even.” Through clothing, photography, paintings, drawings, and film excerpts, the show will illustrate the journey Black people have taken in this country, from an enslaved group to global trendsetters.
Since 2020, following the Black Lives Matter movement, the Costume Institute has been working to fill a hole in its archive, and has acquired about 150 pieces from BIPOC designers. Many of those will likely be on display within the exhibit, which will be organized into 12 characteristics of Black dandyism, informed by a 1934 Zora Neale Hurston essay, “The Characteristics of Negro Expression.” The will open on May 10 and run until October 26, 2025.
What is the dress code for the 2025 Met Gala?
If you’ve been a fan of fashion’s biggest night for a while now, you know that there is often a bit of discrepancy between the theme and actual dress code. For example, in 2024, the theme was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” but the dress code was, “The Garden of Time,” causing many attendees to wear ensembles that represented the decay of beauty, as inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name.
Usually, the dress code isn’t announced until much closer to the actual event. So we will likely have to wait a bit until we get more specifics on what the guests are expected to embody with their ensembles next year.
With the official start of summer only weeks away it’s tempting to lean towards opaque pastel polishes. But a new stealth nail trend is emerging. Coined the “glass slipper mani” by celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, it’s the latest riff on glazed donut nails that we’ve been waiting to show off against a tan.
Lauren Sánchez debuted the look at the 2024 Met Gala as the perfect pearly complement to her strapless Oscar de la Renta black gown, featuring mirrored embellishments on the full skirt in the shape of flowers.
Picking up on the shattered glass effect, and a fairytale interpretation of the Met Gala’s “Garden of Time” theme, Tom caption his Instagram post: “Synergizing off the stained glass perfection of her custom @oscardelarenta gown, we wanted the nails to be very feminine and elegant like the soft light diffusion of sheer iridescent glass.”
See the “pink glass slipper mani”
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To recreate Cinderella’s fabled glass slipper, Lauren wore neat, long, almond-shaped gel tips. Tom laid down a smattering of tiny pale pink metallic flakes with flecks of icy blue and green before setting them with a clear, glass-effect gel nail varnish to achieve the desired high-shine finish.
All before hand-painting a miniature white rose on a single pinky finger “to add a little bit of extra personality”, he said.
The pink glass slipper mani is characterised by a prismatic shimmer rather than heavy glitter or an in-your-face chromatic metal overlay. Above all else, it’s dainty and so light-reflective, it’s guaranteed to reveal the full spectrum of pastel hues in golden hour.
Sarah Jessica Parker Missed Dinner at Met Gala Due to Gown, she highlights the personal challenges and behind-the-scenes preparations that can impact the enjoyment of such high-profile events.
“Today With Hoda And Jenna” episode featuring Sarah Jessica Parker’s Met Gala experience.
Christian Siriano’s design for Sarah Jessica Parker’s gown.
Sarah Jessica Parker, the iconic “Sex and the City” star, made her 12th appearance at the Met Gala on May 6, 2024, wearing a sculptural Richard Quinn corset gown and a Philip Treacy fascinator. However, her stunning ensemble came with a price – she revealed on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’ that she had to skip dinner at the event due to the restrictive nature of her outfit.
Sarah Jessica Parker Missed Dinner at Met Gala Due to Gown
Sarah Jessica Parker, a regular attendee of the Met Gala, made a significant appearance at the 2024 event, marking her 12th time at the Costume Institute’s annual benefit since 1996. This year, she chose a sculptural Richard Quinn corset gown, which she complemented with a Philip Treacy fascinator. The dress was among the most fashionable of the night but, as Parker revealed, lacked in the function department, making it difficult for her to sit down.
Parker’s choice of fashion over function was evident as she posed on the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s famous steps, standing in what appeared to be a sprinter van. This was due to the design of her dress, which was so restrictive that she couldn’t sit down if she had wanted to. This revelation came during an interview on “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” where she was asked about the music and dinner at the event. When asked if she stayed for dinner, she replied, “I didn’t,” indicating her inability to sit due to her dress.
Sarah Jessica Parker Missed Dinner at Met Gala Due to Gown, Reveals ‘Today With Hoda And Jenna
Despite not staying for dinner, Parker did not miss the opportunity to appreciate the new exhibition at the Costume Institute, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” She described the exhibit as the most unforgettable and glorious exhibition she had ever seen, praising the museum curator Andrew Bolton and his staff for their knowledge and curiosity about fabric, material, style, and silhouettes. She was particularly impressed by the headpieces and millinery work, mentioning that she had never seen so many shades of yellow in her life.
Parker’s appearance at the Met Gala was not just about the fashion. She also brought a Benedetta Bruzziches Lumière bag and wore Briony Raymond and Marlo Laz jewelry, along with pieces from N.Y.C. shops Beads of Paradise NYC and Gray & Davis. She accessorized with bedazzled tights and embellished pumps. Parker emphasized that her comfort became a low priority, with the priority being to present properly and take care of the elements on behalf of the designer, milliner, hairstylist, and makeup artist. She noted that this year, she would be standing, highlighting the importance of the event’s theme and her commitment to the fashion industry.
The Met Gala is known for its grandeur and the fashion extravaganza it presents. This year, the theme was “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name. The event featured a variety of looks, with celebrities like Cardi B, Lizzo, and Mindy Kaling making notable appearances. The theme was reflected in the floral arrangements and the overall aesthetic of the evening.
Sarah Jessica Parker Missed Dinner at Met Gala Due to Gown
Sarah Jessica Parker’s appearance at the 2024 Met Gala was marked by her choice of a fashionable but impractical dress, her decision not to stay for dinner due to the dress’s design, and her appreciation for the new exhibition at the Costume Institute. Despite the challenges posed by her dress, Parker embraced the event’s theme and the opportunity to celebrate the fashion industry.
Emily Ratajkowski, Doja Cat, and Rita Ora.Getty Images (3)
Doja Cat, Rita Ora, Emily Ratajkowski, Dua Lipa and an army of other stars went nearly naked at the 2024 Met Gala — seemingly ignoring the night’s “Garden of Time” theme, as laid out by Vogue EIC Anna Wintour.
Rapper/singer Doja literally had her diaphanous white Vetements dress doused with hair gel and water which exposed her breasts and butt. She shocked fans by appearing as if she just stepped out of the shower with the dress clinging to her body.
A Met Gala look isn’t complete without a perfect manicure. Rita Ora, Doja Cat and Gracie Abrams are only a few of the stars who opted for funky manicures at the 2024 Met Gala, which took place on Monday, May 6, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Ora matched her sultry […]
Dua Lipa’s gothic-style offering certainly flashed the flesh and even the Gala’s co-chair for this year, Jennifer Lopez hopped on the trend with her see-through, body clinging gold dress.
Ora attempted to cover her private parts with her hands on the red carpet as the strategically placed beads on her nude see-through bodysuit.
Anna WintourKevin Mazur/MG24/Getty
While FKA Twigs went almost completely naked in a see-through beaded dress with a white rope coat by Georgia Pendlebury.
The conveyor belt of scantily-clad stars suggests that they either ignored or misunderstood Wintour’s annual dress code objective.
For the first time ever, Wintour apologized for the confusion ahead of the event caused by the accompany Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”. She admitted that the theme was too broad and subject to too much interpretation. She then issued a clarification that the dress code was Garden of Time, but it may have been too late.
Emily RatajkowskiJeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
She said: “I fear that we’ve unleashed a lot of confusion out there for which I deeply apologize, but I imagine we’ll see a lot of flowers.” However, flowers would turn out to be the least of Wintour’s fears.
“The exhibition broke my cardinal rule,” Wintour, 74, continued on in the chat with Today’s Jenna Bush Hager on Monday, May 6. “When we came up with the title ‘Sleeping Beauties,’ it’s wonderful and poetic and romantic, but actually, it could be many, many things.”
It wasn’t Wintour’s first backtrack regarding this year’s theme. She initially wanted to make the event a tribute to the life and work of controversial fashion designer John Galliano.
It was a long night for Hollywood’s hottest thanks to the Met Gala in New York City on Monday, May 6. The biggest names in music, TV, film and, of course, fashion flocked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the opening of the new exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” At the exclusive dinner, […]
The 63-year-old British designer, who had been long blacklisted following a string of anti-semitic rants, is undergoing a comeback. But a glowing Met Gala tribute may have proven too controversial, or too soon, for the designer.
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Doja Cat bares allTaylor Hill/Getty Images
After a documentary High and Low detailed Gallino’s history – including racist comments – and his decades long fight for forgiveness the museum put the retrospective on an indefinite hold.
Elsewhere in Wintour’s interview, she also addressed the long-standing rumor that she had banned onions, chives, and garlic from the gala’s dinner menu.
“Well, those are three things I’m not particularly fond of, and so yes, that’s true.” She also said of the cellphone ban: “It’s often wonderful to hear after dinner, people say, ‘Oh, we had the most wonderful conversations,’ and so that’s the idea, that life can exist without a picture on your cell phone.”
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…
Early red carpet predictions suggested more than one interpretation of the theme, which is customary of the event. Some said a literal interpretation of “time” might see celebrities wearing entire dresses made from vintage watch faces or embracing a clock motif — and while the latter was true of one or two attendees, “sands of time” was a more abstract take on the “time” aspect of the theme. Other predictions included gowns adorned with real, live, growing flowers and foliage, which didn’t eventuate; crystalline looks inspired by J.G Ballard’s 1962 short story, also titled The Garden of Time, which did. And of course, the expectation of florals, florals, and more florals turned out to be correct.
Ariana Grande said, “Yes, and?” to perform at this year’s Met Gala, transforming herself into fairy green Sleeping Beauty, giving Elphaba vibes. According to Vogue, Grande started off the surprise performance by singing Disney’s “Once Upon a Dream,” (Nickelodeon look away) then five of her own songs (“Into You,” “Seven Rings,” “The Boy Is Mine,” “We Can’t Be Friends,” and “Yes, And”), and finished off with a cover of “When You Believe” with her Wickedly talented co-star Cynthia Erivo, who wore white with red roses on stage — very Glinda. She was joined by 30 (!!!) dancers on stage — some of whom lifted Grande up as she belted a song — and 40 members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir. When will the full performance be released?! As a wise scholar once said: “Please, send it to me Rachel.”
NEW YORK — A plush octopus by Jellycat. A neck pillow by XpresSpa. Graphic sleeping masks by Geyoga.
The accessories weren’t designer. But these cozy, low-budget pieces stood out Sunday at the second Debt Gala, where some 200 pajama-clad revelers dressed for its “Sleeping Baddies” theme raised over $15,000 for medical bill relief. Hosted in Brooklyn one night before the Met Gala, the populist benefit’s thrifty getups and raunchy comedy routines marked a far cry from its glitzy, star-studded inspiration that collects millions of dollars annually for the renowned art museum’s costume department.
It’s one of several alternative galas that have recently emerged around the city with hopes to democratize the exclusive springtime fundraiser’s spectacle and leverage its fanfare to highlight other causes. Brooklyn Public Library revived its People’s Ball in 2022 as an inclusive declaration of fashion’s existence among “the everyday New Yorker.”
“Why should this wonderful, fun display of creativity and showmanship just be reserved for these wealthy elite when there’s so many amazing, creative New Yorkers who deserve to get the red-carpet treatment?” said Debt Gala co-founder Molly Gaebe.
This year’s beneficiaries are the Debt Collective, a debtors’ union born from the Occupy Wall Street movement, and Dollar For, a non-profit that reports having eliminated almost $50 million in medical debt by ensuring lower-income patients get discounted health services.
The prevalence of health care debt has prompted billions of dollars in relief from governments and private donors. A 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that four in 10 adults have some form of medical- and dental-related debts — with even greater numbers among Black and Hispanic adults, the uninsured and women.
Debt Gala tickets ranged from $35-$1,000. Attendees were encouraged to wear red squares — a nod to debtors’ status “in the red” and a symbol of solidarity. Handbags by Steve Madden composed almost all the items up for grabs at a silent auction.
Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For, said the fundraiser aligned better with his nonprofit’s mission than more elaborate, black-tie events.
The Washington-based organization connects financially strapped families facing overwhelming medical expenses with legal teams who help them obtain charity care. Walker said every dollar raised will eliminate over $25 of medical debt.
“I don’t want to do the old-school, golf tournament-type charity event,” Walker said.
Organizers had pitched the event as a night for those “that may never be able to buy a house” and a “red carpet for the people.” Dinosaur slippers and pink curlers contrasted with the Louboutins and bedazzled tiaras of past Met Galas. One attendee dressed in moccasins and a plaid, wearable blanket exclaimed that they’d been “wearing this all yesterday!”
The accessory of the evening might have been the sleeping eye mask. Winston Koone and Anuraag Baxi wore black ones that read “Shut Up” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Koone paired that with a $30 ring bought at a corner store. Baxi finally got the chance to break out a robe set purchased for a long flight.
“We’re here with things we found in our closets, dressing up not to mock — because I will definitely be watching tomorrow — but to show that… there is a different side to the world that maybe tomorrow doesn’t focus on,” Koone said.
The anti-capitalist sentiment and attention to New York’s greater cultural scene continued through a series of sometimes crude standup comedy sets and lively drag queen performances. Comedian Tina Friml joked that she wore a plain outfit because she sleeps in street clothes — before later confessing that she actually falls asleep naked.
Many artists lack good health insurance, comedian Chanel Ali told The Associated Press, making the cause especially relevant to the creative community. Ali said she has peers who “will not let you call an ambulance no matter what” because “they don’t want to get stuck with the bill.”
The concept came to the organizers several years ago at a wine bar in Manhattan’s Theater District after watching Met Gala coverage. The pun came first: Debt Gala. But they soon decided that the vastness of medical debt and opportunity to exponentially increase the impact of the money collected made it an equally good cause to support, according to director and Debt Gala co-founder Tom Costello.
Debtors at Sunday evening’s gala emphasized the need to fight health care inequalities baked into the system of medical debt. Philip Bjerknes, a longtime Brooklyn resident, said he incurred around $50,000 in hospital bills during a one-month institutionalization against his will after a suicide attempt.
Wearing a Brooks Brothers night gown from eBay, Bjerknes said medical debt can be very embarrassing and that he was “completely destabilized” by his experience.
“At the end of the day, the material support is what we need,” Bjerknes said. “To get to that with fun and fashion is awesome.”
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Angel Reese took a break from the basketball court to make her debut at Fashion’s Biggest Night.
Reese, 22, wowed in a plunging frock at the 2024 Met Gala — which took place on her birthday — on Monday, May 6, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The star athlete’s teal getup was equipped with delicate clear sequins, a halter top, an open back and a feathered tutu. The design was completed with a sheer floor-length skirt featuring a sparkly pattern and dainty train.
Reese added just the right amount of sparkle to her look with diamond rings and stud earrings. She further accessorized with mint green heels.
For glam, Reese donned a full beat including filled-in eyebrows, a warm contour, long lashes and glossy lips. Her brunette hair was parted down the middle and styled in a low ponytail.
This year, the ball was themed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” with a “Garden of Time” dress code. The museum’s limited-time exhibit, which coincides with the theme, features over 100 garments from designers including Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy and more. It will be available for the public to view on Friday, May 10.
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This isn’t the first time Reese has sparkled on the red carpet. Last month, at the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York City, she showed off her style in a glittery Bronx and Banco design. Her gown featured a plunging cowl neckline, an open back, a sheer skirt and a hood. She accessorized the frock with diamond bracelets and silver pumps.
Reese wore her long hair down and straightened and completed her glam with rosy cheeks and glossy lips. She also donned a custom diamond grill featuring white gold embellishments from Essence Martin.
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and more basketball stars proved that scoring on the court isn’t the only thing they’re good at. The athletes showed Us their fashionable side at the WNBA Draft. Before WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced their new home teams, the 2024 class rocked the red carpet at the Brooklyn Academy […]
That night, she got drafted by the Chicago Sky after playing for the Louisiana State University Tigers.
Whether you love or hate celebrity culture, the Met Gala is an event. Those less jaded among us get to see all of the biggest stars take their boldest fashion risks of the year; unlike an award show, it’s an event that encourages avant-garde extravagance. And if you find the whole thing vapid, then you can laugh along at how Ed Sheeran’s outfit looks like something Troy Bolton wore in High School Musical 3.
But this year, the Met Gala was a test.
“Katy Perry. That’s it,” one X post read. In the photo, Katy Perry appears to be wearing a massive gown decorated with three-dimensional floral appliques. As the pearlescent gown drapes down to the ground, its long train fades into realistic-looking moss, which cascades across the beige and red Met Gala carpet.
If you look at the image for longer than a passing glance, you could feasibly believe that the “Teenage Dream” singer arrived at fashion’s biggest night wearing this whimsical, woodland-like gown. But in all of the other photos of the Met Gala, the carpet was white and green as part of the “Garden of Time” theme; in this photo, it’s beige and red. Why does Katy appear to be walking a different carpet?
That’s the tell-tale sign that this viral image of Perry is fake. And yet it already has more than 10 million views on X and over 300,000 likes.
Minutes later, another user on X posted another image of Perry. Her lips are slightly parted like she’s surprised by the paparazzi, and she’s wearing a bronze corset that looks like a key to a garden. Unlike the first image, this one actually has the correct color palette and scenery for this year’s gala, but something still feels off. Her floral skirt seems like it was cut and paste onto her body, and the light is hitting her corset in an unnatural way.
So, how do you know it’s fake, as opposed to a strange photo? No fashion magazine has reported on Katy Perry’s look tonight — it doesn’t look like she’s actually attending this year. Meanwhile, Perry cryptically liked both viral tweets, but did not comment on the deceptive posts.
Every year at the Met Gala, Rihanna is among the best dressed. In the days leading up to the event, she promised fans that she would actually get to the event in time for dinner — usually, she’s very fashionably late. She even dyed her hair pink for the occasion.
On the earlier end of the red carpet, an image surfaced of Rihanna wearing a dramatically regal, garden-themed dress. The shoulders balloon into a sculptural halo, embroidered with birds, vines and flowers. But again, despite getting 2.6 million views, the image is not real. Rihanna dyed her hair pink, remember? Like Perry, Rihanna is nowhere in sight. People Magazine reported that Rihanna had to skip Monday evening’s festivities after coming down with the flu.
The consequences of a fake Rihanna dress are pretty minor. But based on Rihanna’s history of nailing the Met Gala theme, would she really take the easy way out and wear a floral gown to the “Garden of Time” celebration? Like an AI deepfake Drake song, these synthetic looks were a bit too on the nose, lacking the creativity that makes the Met Gala unique. Could an AI come up with Cynthia Erivo’s brilliant suit or Lana Del Rey’s creepy-cool woodsy look?
Zendaya, an early front-runner for best dressed, showed up relatively in a blue-green outfit that makes her look like a super chic fairytale villain. Hours later, when an image cropped up of Zendaya wearing a black leather gown and floral headpiece on the carpet, I was braced to believe that it was yet another fake photo. But the truth is stranger: After five years absent from the gala, Zendaya actually walked the carpet twice in two different outfits. Go figure.
Still, each new image of a celebrity served as a call to check the patterns on the carpet, the flowers along the stair railings, and whether or not the paparazzi in the background look a little funky. Usually, the Met Gala is an opportunity to gab about famous people’s outlandish outfits as a brief distraction from our unglamorous Monday nights. But in the age of widespread generative AI tools, celebrity culture serves as a constant reminder that we can’t believe everything we see online.
Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach have delivered so many iconic looks throughout the years. So why would Zendaya’s Met Gala 2024 look be any different? The star was last seen at the Met Gala in 2018, and as a co-chair this year, Zendaya is back with a bang. The star turned heads in her first look of the night—which can only be described as a Maison Margiela peacock, Pat McGrath porcelain doll fantasy. And just when we thought our jaws couldn’t hit the floor any harder, she changed.
During her time promoting Challengers, Zendaya made the case for tenniscore—and her look tonight is the latest in a long line of stunning ensembles. From her neon green Celia Kritharioti dress literally tied together with a tennis ball to her Loewe tennis ball heels, Zendaya knows how to run with a concept. Thankfully for her, the Met Gala is nothing without a theme. (Which happens to be “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” this year.) It’s been almost six years since Zendaya last attended, and tonight’s look—or should we say, looks—just made up for lost time.
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images.
For the 2024 Met Gala, Zendaya wore a custom Maison Margiela dress and headpiece. Just as the theme suggests, her and Law Roach pulled together a fit so ethereal it’s practically wearable art. From the satin striped train to the bird on her shoulder, Zendaya looks like she just escaped from the Garden of Eden. Although fans might’ve expected a Challengers-inspired fit, we know Zendaya always sticks to the theme—and this ensemble hits the nail on the head.
After Pat McGrath nailed the glass skin look at Maison Margiela’s spring couture show, she teamed up with Zendaya to deliver another truly avant-garde makeup look. Zendaya wore dramatic smokey eyes, berry lips, and McGrath’s signature pencil thin brows. The look is one we’ll be thinking about for years to come—and the ensemble she changed into was somehow even more mindblowing.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
For her second look of the night, Zendaya wore a jet black evening gown with a lengthy train—one that elegantly covered eight of the steps on the iconic Met Gala staircase. The gown features a strapless neckline, fluffy sleeves, and sculptural bodice—and the star wore a fish-shaped, rose-covered headpiece to match. She wiped all the dark makeup off her eyes and lips, favoring subtle baby pink eyeshadow for the rest of the night.
The 2024 Met Gala has arrived, bringing some of the best red carpet looks we’ll see all year. Guests at the gala adhered to the dress code of “The Garden of Time,” in honor of the Met’s exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which celebrates fashion so fragile that it can no longer be worn. Here, see how the stars showcased their interpretation of the theme, florals and all. Scroll through to see every look.
The Met Gala is arguably the biggest fashion moment every single year. Annually, fashion’s most extravagant and highly anticipated event returns to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The invite-only gathering is an iconic moment for so many, and in some cases, a catapult to careers. As celebs, musicians, designers and A-listers in general, flood the red carpet, y’all already know we’re keeping you up on who wore what.
The annual event organized by Anna Wintour is all about renewing fashion with a refreshing twist. The official dress code is “The Garden of Time.” The intention is to celebrate the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, with the theme being “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” according to Vogue. Vogue reports, the exhibit will reportedly feature approximately 250 rare items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection that span over 400 years of fashion.
Looks From The 2024 Met Gala Co-Chairs
The co-chairs for this year’s festivities are none other than global superstar, Bad Bunny, A-list actors Zendaya and Liam Hemsworth. And to round it off, our girl Jenny from the Block, Jennifer Lopez. Now, lets get into the lewks, honey!
Zendaya
Bad Bunny
Jennifer Lopez
Though the carpet has just kicked off, it’s safe to say we’ll be in for a night of LEWKS. Stay tuned to see who ATE, who showed up late and everything fashion related in between, Roommates!
The 2024 Met Gala theme is ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ and an official dress code of ‘The Garden of Time’, with the exhibition focusing on using research, conversation, and technology to replicate the sensations of the museum’s major pieces.
What to expect?
Other than sumptuous outfits and loads of photographers trying to get an unforgettable shot, expect lots of bodyguards and fluffers. Yep, fluffers, aka people running around to make the dresses look picture-perfect. It takes a village, people.
This year, Zendaya and J Lo are two of the co-chairs – so we’re expecting some pretty major looks.
Who chairs the event?
Other than Anna Wintour, each year the event brings honorary chair members. The late Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace were the first designers chosen to co-chair the night, in 1995.
Since then, among many designers and fashion insiders, the gala has also made room for celebrities (and even royalty) to participate: Caroline Princess of Hanover was a chair of the 2005 Met Gala, Beyoncé was a chair member in 2013, and last year saw Penelope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel and Roger Federer co-chairing the event.
This year will see Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya serving as the evening’s co-chairs.
Kevin Mazur/MG23
Can anyone get a ticket?
Without being an actress, model, musician, Vogue editor, A-lister’s plus one, or wealthy enough to donate hundreds of thousands to the Met Museum and become a sponsor, it’s not easy.
Tickets go for approximately £23,000, while tables cost £211,000 – and that’s before you get your hands on a Met-worthy designer dress costing tens of thousands of pounds. Anyone else think watching it from the comfort of your own sofa with a takeaway suddenly seems more appealing?
Oh, and you super-rich lot getting your cheque books out might want to hold off, because only those who have Anna Wintour’s official seal of approval will be able to actually purchase a ticket.
