The Met Gala, an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in Manhattan, is one of the most glamorous fashion events out there. What started as a goodwill gesture, however, has slowly morphed into a contest where the main question is: “Who can make the most jaws drop?” Whether it’s another nude dress or someone not sticking to the theme, the Met Gala certainly gets everyone talking.
The 2024 Met Gala theme, not that many of the guest’s care, was “The Garden of Time” with a “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit, based on J.G. Ballard’s story. Despite this event being planned months in advance, celebrity attendees are more interested in making a scene than in adhering to the theme. Indeed, the media annually publishes lists of the “Worst Met Gala Looks of (insert year here),” pointing out those who haven’t stuck to the theme and those who have gone to the extreme. I skimmed through some of this year’s looks on Vogue and… yikes.
While some outfits are decent and stick to the theme, such as those worn by Lana Del Rey and Bad Bunny according to a BuzzFeed post, others are completely outrageous. Another BuzzFeed article highlights 16 guests who were off theme, including Cara Delevingne and Ed Sheeran. It’s unfortunate that what was supposed to be a benefit has turned into a money-flaunting event. But hey, considering that the guest list is kept under wraps and tickets are prohibitively expensive, I’m not entirely surprised.
Maybe this is what the celebs are going for though? Any recognition is good recognition in Hollywood, I guess. Anything to stay in the limelight, right? Only celebrities and people with large amounts of money to burn ever attend the Met Gala.
The proof? Who else could pay for those outfits? But “super expensive” or “outlandish” doesn’t always mean an outfit is going to be well-received, as the media demonstrates. It gives celebrities the chance to wear something outrageous that they hope people will talk about, whether they’re being mocked or admired. Raising money or not, the Met Gala has become more of an “insane fashion show” than a benefit.
