New York City is abuzz as the biggest night in fashion, the Met Gala, returns to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6th, 2024. This year’s theme, “The Garden of Time,” promises a blossoming of creativity on the iconic red carpet.
Aligning with the Costume Institute’s sweeping exhibition exploring 400 years of fashion history, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the dress code invites guests to interpret J.G. Ballard’s metaphysical rumination “The Garden of Time” through botanical and naturalistic ensembles.
Leading the sartorial spectacle as co-chairs are entertainment luminaries Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth, joined by honorary chairs Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
“It is very much an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion,” said Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute exhibition. The immersive showcase will transport visitors through three environments – Land, Sea, and Sky – populated by 250 garments from fashion’s storied archives and present-day visionaries.
Among the historic treasures is an intricately embroidered 17th century English bodice while contemporary highlights include innovative pieces by Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and emerging talent Connor Ives, some animated through projection mapping.
While the official attendee list remains under wraps until closer to the event, the Met Gala’s long-awaited return down the Grand Stair guarantees head-turning looks from style icons, A-listers, and industry powerhouses.
Fans around the world are already placing bets on who will reign as this year’s Gala queen. All eyes are on host Zendaya, a Met Gala veteran known for iconic moments like her light-up Cinderella gown in 2019. The night’s true winners, however, tend to be unexpected stars who perfectly capture the theme’s essence.
Regardless of who walks away with best dressed honors, the Met Gala once again elevates fashion as a living, breathing art form inspired by humanity’s vital connection to nature.
Those unable to snag one of the exclusive golden tickets can experience the night’s high-fashion drama through Vogue’s comprehensive multi-platform live-stream coverage on Vogue.com, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
For fashion’s dedicated followers, dissecting the Gala’s avant-garde looks and identifying the message behind each floral motif or earthly textile is an annual rite of passion. This year’s “Garden of Time” dress code seeds fertile ground for wildly imaginative interpretations blooming with symbolism.
So prepare your viewing parties, dear readers. On the first Monday in May, the entire world watches as the most fabulous figures in style write a new chapter in fashion’s ever-evolving storybook under the Metropolitan’s hallowed roof.
