A Bid For The Met
In 2023, more than ever before, we saw celebrities flood red carpets with archives of fashion history. From more veteran celebrities like Cate Blanchett to Gen Z'er Olivia Rodrigo, fashion darlings from every walk of life are out with the new and in with the old. It feels as if every red carpet now features not just a piece of fashion's past, but an iconic piece of fashion's past. Looks that those who are tuned in with the fashion world recognize like the Todd Oldham yellow mini skirt last seen by Shalom Harlowe as she overtook Amber Valletta on the runway.
Has sustainable fashion finally taken over the red carpets?
Or is my other hypothesis correct: people are vying for an invitation to the 2024 Met Gala. Monday, May 6th marks this year's Met Gala, which is themed Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, to celebrate the 250 archival pieces in the Costume Institute's permanent collection. For many, the Met Gala red carpet is THE event of the year. Each year, the theme is revealed months in advance. However, the guest list is never revealed until we're watching it on our TV. Tickets to the event coming in at a mere $50,000, or $300,000 a table, naturally means the event prides itself on exclusivity. Each year, designers bring along their favorite celebrities to model their designs that fit the theme. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour has organized this event since 1995 and is notorious for banning future attendance of guests who decline an invite. And while many guests are expected to attend, aka the likes of the Kardashian-Jenner clan or the Gala's previously best-dressed guests like Blake Lively and Rihanna, there are always some surprises in store.
In years past, celebrities have donned vintage looks that abided by past themes, like Penelope Cruz wearing a Chanel Haute Couture wedding gown from the Spring/Summer 1998 collection as an ode to Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty at the 2023 Gala. This year, however, we can expect nearly everyone to wear an archival piece. Although the dress code hasn't been announced, the theme gives us a hint to what's in store.
Since November, celebrities across every medium have been bringing their A-game with vintage pieces, noticeably around the time that the Met theme was announced. Specifically, Versace has dressed numerous "It girl" celebrities like Zendaya and Dua Lipa in their looks, which leads me to believe that the brand will have a strong showing on this year's red carpet. At the 2024 Golden Globes, Carey Mulligan, nominated for Best Actress in the Academy Awards, went as far back as 1949 to don a Schiaparelli black gown with crystal bust embellishments. Also at the Golden Globes was Elle Fanning in Pierre Balmain from the 1960s and Kylie Jenner wearing vintage Hanae Mori. At the 2024 Governor's Award, Olivia Rodrigo wore a simple vintage black Saint Laurent gown, and at the Emmys Laverne Cox wore a vintage Thierry Mugler.
It wouldn't surprise me if celebrity stylists have calculated their client's looks so it's impossible not to invite them to the Met Gala. As we continue into the award season with the Grammys and Oscars ahead, I expect to see even more archival dresses and jewelry. We can expect to hear from the Met Gala regarding their dress code in late April, or early May, and until then, we can only long to one day get that invite to the infamous red carpet too.