Sleeping Beauties, Reawakening Fashion: Met Gala '24 Predictions
Well, what we'd like to see...
Happy Met Monday!
It's that time of the year again when the fashion world gears up for its grandest affair. Dubbed the 'Oscars of the East', the Met Gala is the annual Costume Institute Benefit held at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. For over half a century, this illustrious event has celebrated fashion and served as a vital fundraiser.
Hosted every first Monday of May, this star-studded ball showcases the crème de la crème of Hollywood's finest couture designs, with the official costume exhibit at the MoMA opening the following Friday.
For those unfamiliar with the event, it's natural to wonder, "What's all the hype about?" Is it simply a gathering for the rich and famous to play dress-up?”
In 2020 alone, the Met Gala Ball raised over $12.5 million for the museum and drew in over half a million visitors to the exhibition. Some might say the Met Gala is considered art's grandest night.
Even more intriguingly, the event follows a specific theme each year. This year’s is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," with the dress code "The Garden of Time" by literary J.G. Ballard. However, this theme doesn't reference Princess Aurora or any other Disney princess. It is much deeper than that.
"The Garden of Time" is a short story by J.G. Ballard that explores themes of time, mortality, and the passage of life. In the story, the protagonist discovers a garden where time passes at an accelerated rate, causing flowers to bloom and wither within moments. The garden serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of existence, with each flower representing a phase of life from birth to death.
For a dress code inspired by "The Garden of Time," guests might choose attire that reflects the story's themes of mortality, decay, and the passage of time. This could include darker colors like black to symbolize the inevitability of death or dresses adorned with floral motifs to represent the transient beauty of life.
This theme may evoke everything from the archaeological to iconic fashion houses that the world bid farewell to. With its openness, it allows ample room to delve into fashion history, sustainability, garment preservation, and more. We're hoping designers will boldly push the boundaries of their imagination.
However, amidst this wide spectrum of possibilities, we anticipate seeing many floral and nature-inspired designs grace the red carpet.
Without further ado, here are Fashion Talk's 2024 Met Gala costume predictions.
The Mona Lisa Effect and Other Artwork Inspirations
Designers have most likely drawn inspiration from highly preserved artworks, art conservation, and archaeology as a whole… and the Mona Lisa will most likely be an artwork of reference.
Currently housed in the Louvre's largest room the Salle Des États, the Mona Lisa requires ample space to accommodate its numerous admirers, as the museum notes. Since 2005, the world's most renowned painting has been displayed behind protective glass, serving as a poignant thematic reference for tonight's event.
Notable artworks like the Mona Lisa have most likely not been removed from display for tonight as preservation efforts in the art world remain imperative. This is particularly relevant to the concept of the “Sleeping Beauties,” as many world-class art pieces, such as Veronese's The Wedding Feast at Cana, prehistoric rock art paintings (like those found in the Lascaux Caves, the Smithsonian's Australian Gwion Gwion rock art, and Indonesian cave art), Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, and many others, cannot be directly touched.
Attendees of the Met Gala are no strangers to art references, as evidenced by previous years' themes. In 2018, guests transformed themselves for the theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," with many celebrities drawing inspiration from Catholic art.
🎨 — Singer Ariana Grande graced the Met's carpet wearing a Vera Wang gown adorned with Michelangelo's The Last Judgment.
🎨 — Actor Kate Bosworth embodied the statue of Mary with the Child.
🎨 — Grammy-winning artist Lana Del Rey drew inspiration from Our Lady of Seven Sorrows.
Artistic references at the Met Gala are not limited to any particular year or theme. This year's event continues the tradition of heavily referencing art. However, it may stand out as one of the most distinctive archival dives in recent memory.
This year's theme emphasizes the untouched and the unseen. Even last year's theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," sparked conversations in the art world. Actress Yara Shahidi, for instance, dazzled in a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress reminiscent of Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
In 2021, Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy made a splash on the Met Gala carpet in a design by Loewe Creative Director Jonathan Anderson. Levy's ensemble was directly inspired by American artwork.
Anderson designed a top inspired by David Wojnarowicz’s painting F*ck you F–got F*cker and a bag adorned with Untitled (One Day This Kid…) another artwork by Wojnarowicz. This ensemble uniquely encapsulated the 2021 Met Gala theme "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." The look captured the intersection between historical queer art and mainstream acceptance, reflecting the notion that for the life and work of radical queer artists to be embraced, it often needs to be made palatable to a straight audience.
It wouldn't be surprising if there were an abundance of art pieces referenced tonight. Some artworks we predict seeing include the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, Water Lilies by Monet, Sunflowers by Van Gogh, Flowers by Andy Warhol, Still-Life with Flowers by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, Puppy by Jeff Koons, Roses, Convolvulus, Poppies, and Other Flowers in an Urn on a Stone Ledge by Rachel Ruysch, Zinnias in a Pot by Clementine Hunter, White Lilacs in a Crystal Vase by Édouard Manet, and Peonies and Canary by Katsushika Hokusai.
Lost & Found: Runway ‘Missing’ Pieces
In an episode from Vogue's Forces & Fashion series titled "In Conversation: Linda Evangelista and Marc Jacobs," the decade-long friendship and collaborations between the two stars are showcased.
The retired Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Men’s and founder of his eponymous brand, Marc Jacobs, asks the '90s supermodel, "Do you have any archival clothes?" to which she eagerly responds affirmatively.
Jacobs reminisces about his early career at his namesake fashion house, recalling that he couldn't afford to pay his models, so instead, he compensated them with his runway designs.
Tonight, attendees might draw inspiration from common industry practices called 'trade.' Many models are not financially compensated; instead, fashion houses provide them with free clothes.
Fashion houses typically retain a few pieces for their archives after each show, but this practice is typically reserved for luxury couture houses with substantial financial backing. Jacobs illustrates this point in the interview, mentioning that he has old LV copies of fashion shows and some 'missing' archival pieces for his eponymous brand.
With the growth of the internet, vintage designer fashion has made a significant comeback. Now, more than ever, consumers have unparalleled access to the luxury vintage resale market. Consignment shops are becoming increasingly popular by the day.
So, what do these rare pieces mean for the Met Gala?
With this year's theme being “Sleeping Beauty…”, stars are expected to delve deep into the archives of various iconic fashion houses. We have high hopes that stylists like Law Roach will deliver exceptionally. For example, Zendaya, who is co-chairing this year’s Met Gala, recently caused a stir when she appeared in the Mugler Robot Suit from 1995 during her Dune press tour, a brilliant archival pull by Law.
Designers and stylists are likely to go all out for fashion's biggest night, potentially recreating and pulling rare and unexpected (or expected?) pieces. We are excited to see archival pulls, including pieces from John Galliano’s time at Givenchy and Dior, especially the Dior Fall 2010 Haute Couture show. We also anticipate seeing pulls from Lee McQueen’s and Sara Burton’s collections for Alexander McQueen, with our favorite collections being Fall 1997, Spring 1999, Fall 1999, Fall 2000, Fall 2003, Fall 2006, and Spring 2007 (there are so many to choose from!). We also anticipate many pieces from Lilly Pulitzer, Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Mugler, Maison Margiela, Schiaparelli, and Thom Browne to make an appearance.
Gone, But Never Forgotten
Raf Simons sent shockwaves through the fashion world and beyond with the announcement that his successful eponymous brand would be halted. In a social media post, the now-creative director of Prada expressed, “I lack the words to share how proud I am of all that we have achieved.”
Raf Simons has a cult-like following, which includes musician and fashion icon ASAP Rocky. The ASAP Mob even debuted a song on their album “Cozy Tape Volume 2: Too Cozy” dedicated to him. Tonight’s red carpet presents the perfect opportunity for stars to showcase their fashion heritage by donning designs from brands that have since been shuttered, paying homage to their influence and legacy.
We wouldn't be surprised to see some of Raf Simons' designs from his eponymous brand and his work for other brands appear on the carpet, such as his 2012 collection for Dior.
Contemporarily, LVMH unexpectedly shut down Fenty by Rihanna despite its grand launch in Paris in May 2019. Less than two years after its debut, LVMH dissolved the company. Rihanna isn't the only fashion designer to face the discontinuation of a beloved fashion house. Maybe we’ll see some of her pieces pop up tonight?
Christian Lacroix, a revered French designer in the luxury fashion world, witnessed his brand reach its pinnacle, reportedly worth $145 million, before eventually selling it.
The '70s brand Gunne Sax, despite the honor of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wearing one of its designs for her wedding dress, couldn't stand the test of time and ultimately faced closure.
Other brands such as Jacques Faith, Thea Porter, etc. have also been dissolved. Tragically, many fashion houses have been lost along the way. Tonight’s theme would be a perfect opportunity to show some love for brands that are long gone. There's no better way to "reawaken" fashion than by showcasing vintage discontinued lines.
Beauty Trends
Lastly, we HIGHLY anticipate Path Mcgrath’s viral “glass skin” makeup look to grace the red carpet tonight.
Indeed, there's a tremendous amount of planning that goes into fashion's biggest night. These predictions only scratch the surface of the full creativity and brilliance that unfold at the Met Gala Ball every year. Get ready to witness an extraordinary display of fashion, art, and creativity!
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