RAISING MILLIONS FOR A GOOD CAUSE, THE STORY BEHIND THIS YEAR’S MET GALA FUNDRAISER
By: Jemicah Colleen Marasigan
After having a weekend to indulge, Mondays are often dreaded knowing that it is the beginning of another long work week. However, the first Monday of May is always an exception. The fashion world will be buzzing all weekend as red carpets roll out for the 2024 Met Gala held at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 6 2024.
The Met Gala has built a reputation for inviting the most iconic celebrities making a grand entrance debuting extravagant and often avant-garde looks trying to outdo each other by matching the theme of the event. Paparazzi, industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts alike are never disappointed.
This year's gala will be held with the theme ‘The Garden of Time’, inspired by J. G. Ballard’s short story and spotlighting the Costume Institute's exhibition Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. We can expect a mesmerizing blend of history, innovation, and style born from a mix of botanical motifs and futuristic twists on vintage silhouettes.
The star-studded event will be co-chaired this year by A-listers Zendaya, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth and Jennifer Lopez. Instagram feeds will be flooded for days by attendees in their jaw-dropping looks ranging from moody odes to nature, to romantic yet bold floral extravaganzas.
Spearheaded by Met Trustee and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the gala has continued to be become a global symbol of style and philanthropy. Behind all the fashion frenzy is a very good cause.
Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky via Shutterstock
The Met Gala is one of the most coveted invitations - but not without a hefty fee. Last year, tickets reportedly sold for $50,000 - $75,000; it is considered one of the top fundraiser events in New York City.
Through Wintour’s leadership, to date, the Gala has raised more than $223.5 million in support of The Costume Institute. The initiative is a testament to Wintour's devotion to preserve and promote fashion as an art, a form of storytelling and cultural expression.
The Costume Institute is a collection within the Met showcasing more than thirty-three thousand objects representing seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.
The gala serves as the main source of annual funding for the Costume Institute’s exhibitions, acquisitions and capital improvements. Each May, the gala celebrates the opening of the spring exhibition.
While the theme this year may sound like a fairy tale, it’s not exactly the Disney story many know and love. Acting as a metaphor for Ballard’s short story, the exhibition reflects on the evolution of human history and the endless cycle of creation and destruction. Spanning more than 400 years of fashion history, the selection of pieces is a celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile that they can never be worn again, thus known as the ‘Sleeping Beauties’ of the Costume Institute's archives.
Curated by Andrew Bolton, the exhibition challenges traditional museum norms while maintaining utmost respect for the exhibits. Shaped around three main zones ‘Land, Sea, and Sky’, the exhibit is an ode to nature and fashion.
Among the stellar displays are nods to Alexander McQueen's creations, including a 1995 jacket paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Burton's butterfly dress, immortalized by Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games.
One notable piece, an embroidered women's British waistcoat from the 17th century, delicately displayed under glass, features a lush motif of strawberries replicated as textured wallpaper for attendees to touch.
Bolton's innovative approach to the ‘Sleeping Beauties’ is a collection of 14 delicate pieces displayed flat in glass cases akin to coffins. Engaging all senses was key to Bolton's vision. Visitors are also treated to the sounds of rustling silk, recreated from a circa-1740 robe, capturing the unique ‘scroop’ sound prized in 18th-century gowns. An echo chamber also produces authentic garment sounds, enhancing the immersive experience.
CGI projections are also used to reveal the inner construction of select dresses, while floral aromas greet visitors in a section dedicated to hats adorned with flower motifs by renowned designers like Cristobal Balenciaga and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Such an exhibit and event will not just highlight a night of glamour, but also serve as a celebration of fashion's enduring allure, cultural resonance, and artistic evolution. It is also a strong reminder that fame and fortune can be a leading force behind social responsibility. The glitz, glam and notably the deep pockets of today’s fashion icons are ultimately preserving fashion’s history and making it accessible to everyone who wants to appreciate it.
The Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition will run from May 10 to September 2, 2024 at the Met.