Met Gala: The Best Themes

The Met Gala was established in 1948 as a fundraising dinner for the Costume Institute to celebrate its opening — though its current identity didn’t begin to take form until the early 1970s, under the leadership of Diana Vreeland.

Following her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Vreeland was taken on as a consultant for the Costume Institute, changing the venue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, introducing annual themes, and shifting it into the social event we know and love today. Inviting stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger, Elton John, Cher, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, she turned it into a vibrant and glamorous party that has brought fashion, celebrity, music, art, politics, and culture under one roof for over 50 years now.

Held annually on the first Monday of May, it has become an international phenomenon — arguably the biggest event for fashion and pop culture.

In honour of the announcement of this year’s theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, we take a look at some of our favourite past themes.

Take a look…

The last Met Gala of the 1990s looks like it was one of the most fun to date. Partnering with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, the event highlighted iconic rock artists who not only pushed boundaries in their music, but in their style as well. Dating back to the 1950s, it looked at the way that rock-n-roll influenced fashion throughout the years, from youth subcultures to high-end runways. Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney’s “Rock Royalty” tees drew eyes, as did Donatella Versace’s iconic green dress, but it was Lil’ Kim’s show-stopping Versace set that ushered in a new wave of daring style on the Met steps. The first rapper to be invited and attend the gala, she was the star of the night — though later criticised for revealing so much skin (*eye roll*).

One of the first events that saw guests go all out with their looks, the 2004 Met Gala was a night for the books. Celebrating the Costume Institute’s exhibition on 18th century style codes and how the period’s design influenced contemporary art and fashion, it looked to the newfound pleasure in beauty and indulgence of the Rococo era and the opulence of a long gone high society. For today’s high society equivalent. In one of our favourite looks, model-actress Amber Valletta brought punk rock to Versailles with a Marie Antoinette-inspired Norris Couture corset and Jean Paul Gaultier skirt. Here, she’s pictured with Linda Evangelista, also wearing JPG.

There have been several themes dedicated to designers — Gianni Versace, Poiret, Red Kawakubo, and most recently, Karl Lagerfeld, to name a few. One of the museum’s most popular exhibitions to date, Savage Beauty paid homage to Alexander McQueen a year after his passing. Chronicling his contributions to the industry from his 1992 Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection to his final runway presentation in 2010, it explored the designer’s influence on merging politics, art, and fashion. Some guests came in Alexander McQueen ensembles (Daphne Guinness’ feathered look was phenomenal), while others referenced his influence in nuanced ways. Crystal Renn’s high-drama custom Zac Posen was a personal favourite interpretation of the theme.

Breaking Savage Beauty’s attendance record, the 2015 Costume Institute exhibition focused on the impact of Chinese design on Western fashion. Featuring avant-garde garments, Chinese art, and cinematic examples, it challenged the West’s racist and patronising view of the East and celebrated its artistry, beauty, and influence over centuries. Everyone’s favourite look was Rihanna’s Guo Pei ensemble, a golden yellow fur-trimmed cape that was also featured in the exhibit itself. Handmade and intricately embroidered, it was an enthralling example of Chinese couture and took two years to make.

Perhaps a pre-cursor to the innovation we saw in the 2019 Met Gala, the 2019 theme sparked conversations on the relation between technological advancements and heritage handmade techniques. Looking to the past and the future, the exhibition explored craftsmanship throughout history, contrasting the haute couture with prêt-à-porter. It commented on the dichotomies of mass production — the increased accessibility yet also homogenisation of fashion, the harmful environmental effects of overproduction yet problem-solving possibilities of technology, and so forth. One section of the exhibition, dedicated to wearable technology, inspired guests to push boundaries with their looks. Clare Danes’ glow in the dark Cinderella-esque Zac Posen gown was certainly a highlight (no pun intended), combining extravagant hand-sewn techniques with fibre optics that lit up as the lights went low. There was also co-chair Taylor Swift’s freshly bleached hair, which has gone down in history.

Of course, a Met Gala roundup would not be complete without the 2019 edition. A full blowout exhibition and event, it is fitting that it was the last Met Gala before the pandemic lockdowns. Lady Gaga won the night — of course, given that the theme practically had her name on it — in four iconic Brandon Maxwell looks that took 17 minutes to unveil on the carpet.