By Joan Carol
On the first Monday in May, celebrities and socialites walk the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in outlandish and one-of-a-kind designs by the world’s most impressive designers. But, the Met Gala is not just about the dress code; it is also about the unique and exclusive theme of the exhibition. This year’s exhibition titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”’ features “garments and accessories spanning four centuries, visually united by iconography related to nature, which serve as a metaphor for the fragility and ephemerality of fashion.” With intricate beauty and rich historical significance, the pieces are too delicate to be worn, adding a layer of exclusivity to the event.
This exhibition goes hand-in-hand with the dress code of this year’s gala, “The Garden of Time,” a short story by JG Ballard about a couple living in a beautiful home in a villa on the top of a hill surrounded by gardens. Their life is perfect until a mob grows in the distance, bringing destruction. Every time a flower is cut from their garden, the mob recedes behind the hill, but eventually, the garden no longer grows flowers, meaning that the mob will destroy their lovely home. The story is a metaphor that life is inevitable; the end is getting closer.
With themes of beauty and destruction, the Met Gala set up a perfect stage for the stars to shine with their outfits. Some celebs tried to depict the light of a couple trying to save their home, while others represented the mob with darker tones.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Hemsworth arrived at the Met Gala as a co-chair of the event. Alongside Elsa Pataky, the couple wore matching cream tones that can be interpreted as a reference to Count Axel and his wife, the main characters in “The Gardens of Time.” Hemsworth chose an off-white cream suit by Tom Ford, while Pataky shined with a golden long-sleeved Tom Ford gown. The actress chose a golden laurel headpiece and arm cuffs as accessories, while the actor slyly peeked at a golden chain on his open chest.
Zendaya
Staying with “The Garden of Time” references, Zendaya represented the destructive mob and even her attitude was mischievous. She returned after five years without being at the Gala as a co-chair with Hemsworth. She arrived at the Gala with a Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano, a creation based on a 1999 Dior dress. In true Zendaya fashion, she even had a surprise for the end of the night. She reappeared later at the bottom of the Met stairs wearing a marvelous black gown, a 1996 piece from John Galliano’s Givenchy era.
Jennifer Lopez
JLO was also one of the co-chairs for this year’s event. The star shined with a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown inspired by butterfly wings. Her dress took over 800 hours of hand work to craft and was made with 2,500,000 silver foil bugles and beads. From the “The Garden of Time” point of view, Jennifer Lopez was the living image of the beautiful gardens surrounding Count Axel's villa.
Bad Bunny
The Puerto Rican artist, also known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, was the fourth co-chair of this year’s gala. Bad Bunny went entirely to the dark side of the story with a custom Maison Margiela Artisanal Collection by John Galliano. Bad Bunny’s outfit, a reminder of the shadow menace of the mob, included a black satin corset under a navy jacket with black grosgrain lapels. Benito crowned his look with a dark blue foam hat and the Kuboraum Z14 sunglasses, a signature of the Italian brand. His straightforward reference to ‘The Garden of Time’ was the bouquet of black flowers he carried.
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