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Towards the end of 2023, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the theme for the Costume Institute’s annual Spring exhibition, the sartorial showcase that serves as the theme for the Met Gala.
Come the first Monday in May, the Met’s famous staircases will play host to legions of A-listers, all gathering for the exclusive opening of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”.
Curated by Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu curator responsible for The Costume Institute, the exhibition will explore 250 pieces from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. Some of which have never been displayed to the public before. The exhibition is poised to bring forth the “sensory elements of fashion masterworks” in what is described as “an entirely new way”.
Rumblings in Manhattan have already been ruminating on the potential dress code guests will be asked to adhere to, but only now have we officially received confirmation. Ahead of the 2024 Met Gala, reacquaint yourself with the official Met Gala proceedings and uncover the meaning behind the theme below.
What Is The Theme Of The 2024 Met Gala?
Come May 2024, The Met will hold the Spring exhibition themed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”. This concept will be the theme of the 2024 Met Gala, an annual beneficiary ball held to raise funds for The Met’s Costume Institute.
Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, described that “Sleeping Beauties” will “push the boundaries of our imagination and invite us to experience the multisensory facets of a garment”.
“Sleeping Beauties’ will heighten our engagement with these masterpieces of fashion by evoking how they feel, move, sound, smell, and interact when being worn, ultimately offering a deeper appreciation of the integrity, beauty, and artistic brilliance of the works on display,” he added.
Bolton added that the exhibition will be structured around three distinct zones: land, sea, and sky. These tentpoles will group the expertly crafted works per their assimilation with facets of the natural world.
“It is very much an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion,” Bolton noted.
What Pieces Will Be On Display At The 2024 Met Gala?
As per reports, the exhibition will centre on “15 historically significant and aesthetically beautiful pieces from the collection that are far too fragile ever to be worn again.” The exhibition will span 400 years of artistry, featuring iconic works from Schiaparelli, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Conner Ives.
A glimpse of the exhibition confirms that Monsieur Dior’s breathtaking Venus and Junon ball gowns from the late couturier’s Fall 1949 collection will be included in the collection. An exact replica of the latter was worn by Natalie Portman at the premiere of May December at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
LVMH-owned Spanish house LOEWE will also prominently feature, with the Costume Institute confirming the label has provided support for the exhibition. Gen-Z social media app TikTok is the primary sponsor of the exhibition and gala, meaning that a bigger emphasis could be placed on short-form video content and younger content creators for the star-studded soirée.
What Is The Dress Code Of The 2024 Met Gala?
As in previous years, the dress code will always relate to the exhibition’s theme. For instance, the theme of the 2023 exhibition was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty”, with guests asked to dress “In honour of Karl”.
The dress code of the 2024 Met Gala has now been revealed as ‘The Garden of Time’, inspired by a short story of the same title written by J.G. Ballard in 1962. The story follows two aristocrats, Count Axel and his wife, who remain besieged by an advancing mob in an exquisite castle with a special garden from which they pluck to survive another day. Its theme plays on the idea that one cannot hold onto time forever, which ties into these pieces on display, which are too delicate to wear but preserved for their beauty nonetheless.
Given the focus on aesthetically relevant and historically significant garments, we can expect maisons to delve into their archives to recreate pieces that adhere to that brief. After the palaver of Kim Kardashian wearing—and subsequently damaging—Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 Bob Mackie dress at the 2022 Met Gala, it’s assumed that guests will be deterred from borrowing any heritage gowns.
Who Are The Co-Chairs Of The 2024 Met Gala?
With the Costume Institute’s dress code announcement, we’ve also heard news of who will take up the honoured co-chair positions. This year, Zendaya, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour will welcome guests to the museum.
Previously, co-hosts have included Dua Lipa, Penelope Cruz, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet and Blake Lively, meaning that any fashionable personality across the arts, entertainment and culture could be eligible for the role.
Who Will Attend The 2024 Met Gala?
Only a few names have been shared from the 2024 Met Gala guest list. Without an invite from a designer or fashion house, celebrities can expect to pay around $50,000 USD ($77,600 AUD approx.) to attend the exclusive event—and still require approval by Wintour.
Of the few confirmed invitees, there is Gisele Bündchen, Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone, The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, Uma Thurman, Sarah Paulson, and Cara Delevingne. Kendall Jenner has also made the list, but it’s unclear whether her famous sisters will join her just yet.
Given TikTok’s event sponsorship, we can expect a younger crowd to be invited to sit at their table. Previously, TikTok star Addison Rae attended the 2021 and 2022 Met Galas.
Other social media stars, including Emma Chamberlain and Dixie D’Amelio, have also become mainstays at the event. While the 2023 Met Gala lacked internet personalities, it’s clear TikTok’s patronage will quell this short-lived hiatus.
GRAZIA will continue to update our guide to the 2024 Met Gala as more news is announced.
