An evening of glitz, glamor, and iconic fashion moments, the Met Gala, held annually on the first Monday of May, is nothing short of a pop culture spectacle. An annual fundraising ball to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the event has evolved from a dinner for donors to a major media moment, where haute-couture red carpet outfits often go viral. In an interview with the Costume Institute, American Vogue editor-in-chief and Met Gala co-chair Anna Wintour described the night as “one of the rare occasions where movie stars, models, designers […] and not to mention a cultural icon or two, come together to celebrate fashion”, and fashion enthusiasts, including many BCA students, often tune in to see the looks of their favorite stars.
This dress code for the event is dedicated by the theme of the Costume Institute’s exhibit, which was announced Wednesday, October 9th, to be “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, and the event’s co-chairs include contemporary icons in Black menswear, from actor Colman Domingo, rapper A$AP Rocky, F1 racer Lewis Hamilton to artist, and producer Pharell Williams. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Met Gala, from the meaning behind its theme, the background of its hosts, and how to tune in.
The Theme:
This year’s costume exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” has been described by author Monica L Miller as a project “exploring the
indelible style of Black men in the context of dandyism from the 18th century through present day.” Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity served as inspiration in curating the exhibit, and defines dandyism as “dressing wisely and well”, as well as a tool for Black Americans to “really push a boundary on who and what counts as human.” Miller will serve as a guest curator for the show, working alongside Costume Institute Curator in Charge Andrew Bolton, compiling paintings, photographs and clothing that explore the style.
The official event dress code will be announced in early 2025, and is always related to the exhibit. Last year’s theme “The Garden of Time” accompanied the costume institute’s last exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, and included garments too fragile to ever be worn again. Celebrities often take themes in various directions, with many donning looks incorporating floral motifs, and playing with the concept of time. Vogue reported that this year’s gala will “illustrate how Black people transformed from being enslaved and stylised as luxury items, acquired like any other signifier of wealth and status, to autonomous self-fashioning individuals who are global trendsetters.” This is also the first time since 2003 when a theme was dedicated to menswear.
The Hosts & Guests:
Every year, several co-chairs are chosen to help American Vogue Editor in Chief and Met Gala host Anna Wintour plan the event. This year’s chairs are Pharrell Williams, acclaimed producer and musician; Coleman Domingo, actor and playwright; Lewis Hamilton, Formula One champion;; and A$AP Rocky, renowned rapper. They are joined by honorary co-chair LeBron James. Domingo was a newcomer to the carpet in 2024, while Hamilon, Williams and A$AP Rocky have been attending the event since 2015, 2021 and 2017 respectively. All are known for their iconic street style and carpet looks, and many fans are excited to see how they’ll advise the planning of the event. The Met Gala also hosts around 450 attendees each year, from established celebrities to up-and-coming designers and pop culture stars. Regular attendees include artist and beauty mogul Rihanna, actresses Blake Lively and Zendaya, the Kardasian family, and many more. Many designers have also historically attended the gala, like Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs.
The Event:
The gala, which always takes place the first Monday of May, takes place at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Although the red carpet is filled with press, no photographers are allowed inside of the actual event. However, the event typically involves an upscale dinner and performance, as well as the unveiling of the exhibit. Last year’s performance was delivered by Ariana Grande, who stunned in a fairy-tale inspired look by Maison Margiela.
How to Tune In:
BCA Students can catch the Met Gala livestream at 6:00 PM ET and will run until 9:00 PM. The red carpet will be streamed on Vogue’s website, as well as TikTok and YouTube, where influencer and special correspondent Emma Chamberlain will be conducting interviews. The livestream will also be available on ABC, CNN, Discovery, E!, MSNBC and more.
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