THE MET GALA, Why Fashion Matters

Every year the first Monday in May is reserved for the hottest ticket in town, The Met Gala. And like all enthusiastic watchers of red-carpet walkers, we gird our loins for the wildest fashion event this side of the Atlantic. Unfortunately, May morphed into September this year, so to speak, as the gala was strategically rescheduled due to the pandemic. 

For over six decades, the auspicious Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has held a spectacular display of the fruits of fashion’s labor. Once you pass by all the pomp and circumstance and enter the exhibit, you can expect nothing less than a mind-altering experience that will rekindle your desire for the art of fashion. 

Some might wonder why this matters at all, especially since the world seems to be falling apart around us. But to that point, fashion, like all art forms, is one of life’s greatest pleasures of personal expression, cultural significance, and human connection. Fashion is a positive force and should be embraced as such. 

This year’s theme is a conversation on the exploration of American fashion and a two-part exhibit for the first time ever. In metaphoric terms, it is depicted as a multi-faceted American quilt, a symbolic patchwork of identity, diversity, expression, history, inclusion, and creativity. The Costume Institute’s extraordinary team led by their brilliant curator Andrew Bolton divided the works into twelve sections that explore the emotional qualities of American fashion. 

The Met Gala held on Monday, September 13th, was, if nothing else, a patchwork of fashion statements. From the classic to the cool and kooky, attendees gave their all. While some looks were thematically hanging on by a thread, others had significant substance, beautifully executed, capturing this weighty moment in time and in our very own American history. 

Like the Oscars, the Met Gala always gives us a bolster of inspiration and excitement for dressing up. There are wonderful takeaways for brides and grooms that range from big, juicy ball gowns to slinky, barely-there slips, beaded top to toe. And how much do we love that it’s not just about the ladies! The guys were full-on in classic tuxedos, velvets, dramatic opera coats, and diamonds galore. Here are some of our favorite trends and looks from the gala to put a pin in for your big moment. 

IN AMERICA: A LEXICON OF FASHION, September 18, 2021 – September 5, 2022   

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2021/in-america

TREND: THE COUPLE THAT STYLES TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER

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MR. & MRS. BEIBER, 

JUSTIN IN LA MAISON DREW & HAILEY IN SAINT LAURENT

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ALICIA KEYS IN AZ FACTORY & HUSBAND SWIZZ BEATZ 

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PHARRELL WILLIAMS & HELEN LASICHANH TWINNING IN CHANEL

TREND: GO BIG OR GO HOME

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NORMANI IN VALENTINO

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KAIA GERBER IN OSCAR DE LA RENTA

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ALLYSON FELIX IN FENDI COUTURE

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BILLIE EILISH IN OSCAR DE LA RENTA 

TREND: DIAMOND DRESSES

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KENDALL JENNER IN GIVENCHY

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ZOE KRAVITZ IN SAINT LAURENT

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EMILY BLUNT IN MIU MIU

TREND: GLAMORAMA

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ANOK YAI IN OSCAR DE LA RENTA

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YARA SHAHIDI IN DIOR

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GIGI HADID IN PRADA 

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ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTES IN BROTHER VELLIES WITH AURORA JAMES 

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TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET IN HAIDER ACKERMANN & RICK OWENS

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SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER IN TOM FORD

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