The Met Gala is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It traditionally marks the opening of the Costume Institute's exhibition. The Met Gala guest list is extremely exclusive and often includes a mix of fashion icons, celebrities, artists, designers and personalities from the worlds of film, music, sport and business.
What makes the Met Gala so special is the combination of fashion, art and celebrities. It is one of the most highly regarded and discussed fashion events worldwide. It attracts international attention each year as guests appear in extravagant and often avant-garde outfits, often inspired by a particular theme related to the Costume Institute's current exhibition.
The theme for the 2024 Met Gala, taking place on May 6, is "Sleeping Beauties, Reawakening Fashion". The exhibition will feature 250 pieces of clothing and accessories from the last 400 years, where the main intention is to highlight the fragility and ephemerality of fashion, bringing the past back to life.
This is attempted through nature-inspired room installations that also make use of new technologies. Although the fashion on display can no longer be worn, the curator of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton, hopes that the exhibition will stimulate the sensory perception of fashion and experience it as alive.
This year's dress code theme is "Garden of Time", based on the short story written by James Graham Ballard. Narrative that epitomizes Ballard's fascination with time and memory. In this story, a couple lives in a beautiful, remote garden, where they use a unique method to ward off the encroachment of the outside world. They possess a collection of crystal flowers, each of which, when plucked and shattered, can halt time momentarily, allowing them to live in an extended present. As invaders progressively approach their sanctuary, the couple must confront the inevitable exhaustion of their time-stopping flowers, facing the reality of time's relentless advance.
The Met Gala 2023 was held in honor of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019. Appropriately, the dress code was "In honor of Karl". The exhibition showcased Lagerfeld's work for Chanel, Fendi and Chloé, as well as garments from his own brand. Memorable are the looks of Jared Leto, Doja Cat and Lil Nas X.
In 2022, the dress code was "Gilded Glamour" and was inspired by the economic growth after the American Civil War and before the turn of the century. Kim Kardashian caused a sensation by wearing an original dress that Marilyn Monroe was wearing when she sang 'Happy Birthday’ to President John F Kennedy in 1962.
The Met Gala 2021 also drew on American history. The dress code "American Independence" was intended to reinterpret American national pride in the context of current events. The exhibition was designed to prove that patriotism can be more than stars and stripes.
The dress code for the Met Gala 2019 "Studied Triviality” offers a wide range of possible interpretations. The focus of the exhibition was the Camp concept, shaped by Susan Sontag, which stands for an intentional love of overstatement and the unnatural. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Cardi B attracted attention this year with their unique looks.
IMAGO / UPI Photo / JOHN ANGELILLO
As you can see, the Met Gala is different every year, not only because of its exhibition but also due to its dress code. This year's theme also offers plenty of room for inspiration, which is why we are excited to see how the guests will implement the theme in their outfits. Take a look at our collections for an overview of the Met Gala themes of recent years and get inspired by the theme of the Met Gala 2024. Make IMAGO your future supplier of images from the Met Gala and other events.