Graphics by Daniela Lina
Most people know it as one of the biggest fashion events celebrated every year - and others could say that it is a time for watching celebrities in either chic and iconic looks, disappointing attire, downright comedic, and sometimes just plain weird. This year’s Met Gala has created a wave on the carpet and the internet, but let’s dive further into the good, the bad, and the cats.
The Met Gala takes place traditionally on the first Monday of May. If you’re unfamiliar with the Met Gala or the Met Ball, the event is a charity and fundraiser centered around the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Insitute. Typically indicating that a new exhibit is to be opened in the museum depending on the theme of the ball. The fundraiser is also the primary source of revenue for the exhibitions, publications, purchases, operations, and capital enhancements.
Now moving on to the actual event, let’s talk about the controversial theme many people have expressed their concerns on. The Met Gala's annual theme is crucial since it serves as a framework for the evening's design and fashion attire worn by the attendees and guests. “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” was the theme for this year. A little background on the name, Karl Lagerfeld was a German fashion designer who died last 2019. His notable career was designing collections, managing advertising campaigns, and fashion runways for high-end fashion houses that include Balmain, Patou, Chloé, and Chanel made the designer popular. However, Lagerfeld has a history of sharing his fatphobic mindset, stating that some models and beauty, in general, are for those who are on the skinnier side of the spectrum and have shared his ways of losing weight to reach his standard of beauty. He has also created editorials with models in blackface and yellowface and has portrayed the dismissal of some feminist movements.
With the theme and aesthetics of the event, the carpet was one of the number one parts of the decorations that received numerous critiques. From the use of colors reminiscent of toothpaste to the lackluster decorations of the surrounding area, the decoration slightly reference the theme in the past years. And with a little research on Lagerfeld, his fashion runway shows were considered beautiful and even extravagant for some such as having a grocery store set, an indoor beach, and even autumnal forests—something they could have taken inspiration from.
The fashion and attire of the evening were a mix of good, boring, and the in between. A majority of the celebrity guests either wore Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld designs or archived pieces, which were more on the “safe” looks of the evening to match the theme. Luckily, some attendees such as Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, Elle Fanning, Rihanna, Janelle Monae, and Conan Gray did serve some great looks by various designers and brands outside of Lagerfeld. For memorable looks, it would be a crime to leave out Jared Leto and Doja Cat’s attires for the evening. Both celebrities wore outfits that paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved blue-cream tortie Birman cat, Choupette. Doja Cat wore latex and prosthetic makeup to give her more cat-like features in a hooded Oscar de la Renta dress with cat ears, while Jared Leto attended the gala in a large Choupette costume that other celebrities and the internet found hilarious.
The overall event and theme of this year's Met Gala were somewhat dull compared to past events. This year's event demonstrated a lack of the creative side of fashion, in contrast to the 2018 and 2019 galas with themes like "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" and "Camp: Notes on Fashion," where fashion designers and celebrities presented ensembles that were distinctive, creative, and enjoyable. Setting aside the memes from the event, next year’s Met Gala could do better.
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