On the first Monday of May, the important and the influential descend on New York to attend the illustrious Met Gala. It has been this way since 1948, hosted by Eleanor Lambert and then by Anna Wintour, the Met Gala has been a non-moving staple in the fashion calendar for over 70 years. In its 70 year history, this year (2020) is only the second time that the Met Gala will not be going ahead.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Met Gala was postponed ‘indefinitely’ back in March. People speculated that they may just postpone the date but personally, I cannot see Anna Wintour or the Metropolitan Museum deviating from the long-standing tradition of the first Monday in May.
This year’s theme was “About Time: Fashion and Duration.” Andrew Bolton, the curator of the Costume Institute drew inspiration from a 1992 Sally Potter film ‘Orlando’, which was based on a Virginia Woolf novel of the same name. The curated exhibition will celebrate both fashion history and the cyclical nature of the industry and was created with making us think differently about fashion history in mind. The Met Institute says that “The primary work represents the linear nature of fashion and the secondary work its cyclical character. Each pair will be connected through shape, motif, material, pattern, technique, or decoration.”
“It’s a reimagining of fashion history that’s fragmented, discontinuous, and heterogeneous.” – Andrew Bolton
Joining Anna Wintour this year as co-chairs were Nicolas Ghesquière, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep and Emma Stone. I was looking forward to this year’s red carpet, as the theme allows for some remarkable silhouettes and elevated designs, paying homage to fashion history.
As I mentioned in my post about the 2019 Met Gala, I was disappointed with the turnout on the night. Plenty of pretty dresses but few of them meeting the theme Camp: Notes on Fashion‘s, criteria.
Rather than sit and ponder about what might have been, let’s rewind the clocks and take a look at some of my favourite looks from the Met Gala over the years.
Until next time,
Ashleigh x
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I love the met gala – the outfits are always so amazing. I loved the Heavenly Bodies year and Rhianna’s outfil!
My favourite year was Manus x Machina but Heavenly Bodies is a close second!
Wow, so many incredible outfits, they are all so creative and stunning. Thank you for sharing these amazing photos! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Ah, thank you for the nostalgia trip – you can always rely on Rhianna for a showstopping outfit, can’t you? I think my favourite is Blake Lively’s outfit, although that woman could make a hessian sack look stylish! Lisa x
Blake Lively always looks gorgeous. The blue feather Versace is one of my all time favourites! x
It hurt me badly when they cancelled it this year. Obviously the right decision, but it’s definitely one of the cancelled events I’ll miss the most this year. Totally agree with you as well, I cannot see Anna Wintour breaking the sacred first Monday in May tradition. Blake Lively 2018 is my favourite look here, closely followed by Blake in 2017 and Nicole Kidman 2016 x
Sophie
It’s definitely one of the red carpets I religiously tune in for. Blake Lively has had some stunning looks over the years. What I found interesting during my research is that Versace ready-to-wear is never something I’m particularly in love with but so many of my favourite looks were Versace creations. x
I LOVED Nicole Kidman’s dress in 2016. It was STUNNING!!
I’m heartbroken that we aren’t going to see this year’s outfits, but you’re right – I don’t see it happening on a different day.
That Alexander McQueen collection was one of my favourite, she looks stunning in it.
Such a shame it’s not going ahead this year – I always look forward to seeing the outfits. Claire Danes dress was something else! Probably one of my favourites x
Clare Danes’ dress is the one I automatically think of when talking about the Met Gala, it’s out of this world! X