From Rihanna serving boujee priest, to Jared Leto’s severed head and Kim Kardashian dressing head to toe (literally) in black, the Met Gala has given the world some truly iconic moments.
And this year is no different. The first Monday in May has now been and gone – and the most anticipated red carpet of the year did not disappoint.
Queen Zendaya served us not one – but two – looks, Doja Cat rocked up in a towel and Kim K looked oh-so-cosy (and stunning) in a rather confusing cardigan.
Anyone who follows Anna Wintour’s annual celebrity bash will know that each year, the Met Gala, which takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, has a theme.
While each is more vague and confusing than the last, the A-listers attempt to do their best to look the part.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Met Gala theme, who graced the red carpet – and just how long it actually is.
What is the Met Gala?
Since 1948, the Met Gala has been held every year (apart from one break in 2020 due to the pandemic). Known as the ‘fashion Oscars’, it’s actually a fundraising event, to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York.
The event marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition. Each year, the exhibition has a theme – hence the themed outfits we love to see on those now-famous stairs.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour is the lead chairperson of the event, and oversees the guest list – but just because you’ve been invited, it doesn’t mean it won’t cost you.
Tickets for the Met Gala this cost a reported $75,000 per person – that’s $25,000 up on 2023. Typically, designers or brands will buy tickets themselves, and invite celebrities who, in exchange for a ticket, will have to wear that brand’s clothes.
And even then, every guest has to be approved by Anna, of course.
When is the Met Gala?
The event takes place on the first Monday in May every year, which means the 2024 Met Gala was held on Monday, May 6.
The museum itself is closed on that day to allow everyone to get ready for the festivities.
In 2020 the event was cancelled due to Covid, before returning in 2021, albeit four months late, when it was held in September.
What is the Met Gala theme?
The theme this year is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.
According to Vogue, Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute, said the exhibit will span 400 years of fashion history and focus on 50 historically significant pieces that are to delicate to be worn again. ‘These are the ‘Sleeping Beauties’ of the title,’ he said.
Pieces on display include an Elizabethan bodice and a satin silk ball gown. Many of the fragile exhibits will be shown along with the help of AI, CGI and light projection.
Designers featured will include: Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Dior, among others.
This however, is not to be confused with the dress code, which is ‘Garden of Time’, inspired by the J.G. Ballard short story of the same name. A dystopian fiction, according to Vogue, the book (as well as the theme, and dress code) is about ‘fleeting beauty’.
Is this year’s theme controversial?
Last year, the Met Gala theme was Karl Lagerfield: A Line of Beauty, which paid homage to the late creative director of Chanel.
However, many disagreed that he should have been honoured in such a way, given various contentious comments made throughout his life.
From the #MeToo movement to the Syrian refugee crisis and all things female bodies – there were many that disputed the fact Lagerfeld is a figure to honour on such a global scale.
This year, while far less controversial, the theme did raise a few eyebrows among some.
Many will remember that in 2023, Kim Kardashian arrived at the event in a vintage gown that Marilyn Munroe wore to sing Happy Birthday to JFK in 1962.
Critics questioned why the reality star had been allowed to wear a piece of fashion history, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not, who lent Kim the dress, was widely criticised for allowing her to don the fragile gown.
After the event, images were circulated by various sources which seemed to show damage to it, including stretched fabric and missing crystals.
However, these claims were refuted by Ripley’s vice-president of publishing and licensing, Amanda Joiner: ‘From the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in.’
Given that this year’s theme is all about preserving and displaying historical fashion garments, some question whether Anna Wintour is having a little dig at Kim.
Who is on the guest list?
Each year, the gala has co-chairs, who host the event along with Anna Wintour. The 2024 Met Gala hosts were Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth – meaning the were all in attendance. Sadly, we didn’t see Tom Holland or Ben Affleck join their spouses.
Zendaya hasn’t been seen on the Met Gala red carpet since 2019, when she turned up looking incredible in a Cinderella-esque outfit, complete with a fairy godmother (her stylist) a wand, and a light-up gown. This year, she wore two stunning gowns – the first, a dramatic blue gown with a veil and smoky eye. The second, was a vintage all-black Givenchy number, with a floral headpiece.
Rihanna recently confirmed we’d be seeing her on the red carpet, telling Vogue she would be wearing ‘Fenty something’, but she was a surprise no show, with reports of the star coming down with a bout of the flu.
Met Gala newcomers for 2024 include Ambika Mod, Lily Gladstone, Ayo Edebiri, famous for her role in The Bear, and Saltburn star Barry Keoghan, who made his red carpet debut with girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter.
The who’s who of Hollywood also came to the event, including Sarah Paulson, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Campbell, Lana Del Ray and Greta Gerwig.
There were some Met Gala regulars too: Sarah Jessica Parker (she’s been 12 times), Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and mum Kris, and Cara Delevingne.
There are some A-listers however who have publicly denounced the Met Gala. Tina Fey described it as a ‘jerk parade’ in 2010 and in 2013, Gwyneth Paltrow told USA today: ‘I’m never going again. It was so un-fun,’ but was left eating her words when she did in fact accept an invite in 2019. Comedian Amy Schumer has said that going to the Met Gala was ‘punishment.’
Anna Wintour has also reportedly banned some celebrities, these include Jameela Jamil and Lena Dunham.
And it’s bad news for Swifties, as we didn’t see Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their red carpet debut. Despite being invited, they have both declined.
What actually happens at the Met Gala?
In short, nobody really knows.
After the guests disappear up the steps, it’s a bit of a mystery. We know there’s a dinner, and that there’s an opportunity to wander around the exhibition. And, there’s high profile performances – Lenny Kravitz, Madonna and Blondie have all showcased their talents in the past.
But invitees have to abide by a strict no phones policy, so bar official BTS photographs released by Vogue photographers, we remain in the dark.
How long is the Met Gala red carpet?
Anyone who watched the red carpet arrival in real time last night (thanks to Vogue’s live stream) will look at those famous steps and feel exhausted. In fact, singer Tyla didn’t bother with climbing all the way up, and got carried instead.
Last year, the 2023 red carpet (which was actually a beige) was made by the brand Nyett. Speaking to Vogue, the designers said: ‘We were asked to make 58 rolls, 30m by 4m which is 6,950 square metres. It took us 60 days to make.’
To put that into perspective, last year’s Met Gala red carpet was a little smaller than a football pitch, which averages around 7,140 square metres.
It’s safe to assume that this year’s carpet, which was green, in keeping with the ‘Garden of Time’ dress code, was probably on a similar scale.
The Met Gala red carpet has actually not been red in colour for the past eight years, but instead reflects the theme of the event. For example, for 2019’s Camp: Notes on Fashion, it was Barbie pink, while for 2022’s In America: An Anthology of Fashion, it was red, white and blue, a subtle nod to the USA’s flag.
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