Held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the prestigious Met Gala unites the world’s most influential celebrities to inaugurate the Costume Institute’s exhibition. The 2024 Met Gala is no different. The event will tie into the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” 

Set to take place on Monday, May 6, the gala will be co-chaired by American actress Zendaya and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny. Other co-chairs include Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and, of course, Vogue editor in chief and perma-host Anna Wintour. Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew will serve as the 2024 honorary chairs. 

A Rich History

Every year, the first Monday in May marks the opening of The Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. Hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the night reunites A-listers across fashion, culture and entertainment for a fundraiser, best recognized as the Met Gala. The event — also known as the Costume Institute Benefit or the Met Ball — provides the Costume Institute with funding for annual exhibitions, operations, acquisitions and preservation of pieces. 

What first began as a $50 midnight-dinner in December 1948, has now been christened as the biggest night in fashion. Publicist Eleanor Lambert founded the Met Gala to fundraise for the Costume Institute and celebrate the “Party of the Year” with the best-dressed of New York’s society. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that the gala adopted themes, a suggestion implemented by former Vogue editor in chief Diana Vreeland.

The Garden of Time

This year’s Met Gala dress code, “The Garden of Time,” was inspired by J.G. Ballard’s short story of the same title.  A psychologically expansive tale with an emphasis on human evolution and history, The Garden of Time encompasses themes of life, nature, death and decay. 

Not only does “The Garden of Time” serve as a reflection of the inevitability of aging, but the theme also parallels the high standards and fast-paced nature of the fashion industry. With the juxtaposition of the fleeting and the timeless. the spectacle and the spectator, and the spiritual and the material, designers are sure to create looks inspired by the pure essence of time.

Sleeping Beauties

Open from May 10 through September 2, the Costume Institute’s exhibition will showcase an amalgamation of fashion history across 400 years. From Elsa Schiaparelli to Hubert de Givenchy, the Met’s newest exhibition will feature over 250 historical sleeping beauties — fashion items too precious to be worn again due to their extreme fragility.

As per the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition will also feature sensory experiences. Andrew Bolton, in charge of curating The Costume Institute, shared “When an item of clothing enters our collection, its status is changed irrevocably. What was once a vital part of a person’s lived experience is now a motionless ‘artwork’ that can no longer be worn or heard, touched, or smelled. The exhibition endeavors to animate these artworks by re-awakening their sensory capacities through a range of technologies, affording visitors sensorial ‘access’ to rare historical garments and rarefied contemporary fashions. By appealing to the widest possible range of human senses, the show aims to reconnect with the works on display as they were originally intended — with vibrancy, with dynamism, and ultimately with life.”  

How To Watch

While this year’s attendants are still under wraps — ICYMI, the guestlist is meant to be a top secret until the day of the event  — with sponsorships from TikTok, Loewe, and Condé Nast, this year’s Met Gala is set to be an A-list affair. 

Vogue’s Met Gala livestream will begin at 6 PM EST and will be available to watch live across the magazine’s digital platforms including YouTube and TikTok. The broadcast will be hosted by star Gwendoline Christie, model Ashley Graham and TV personality La La Anthony. YouTube sensation Emma Chamberlain will reprise her role as Vogue’s special correspondent and will be interviewing talent on the steps of the Met.

Additionally, you can catch the event on the E! network’s Live From E!: 2024 Met Gala. The broadcast will start at 6 PM EST, showcasing images from both the stars’ departures from the Mark Hotel and the Pierre Hotel, as well as their arrival at the Met. 

Be sure to check out the star-studded event on Monday night!


Interested in more fashion content? Check out Jennie’s collaboration with Gentle Monster here.

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