The Met Gala Announces A Magical Theme for 2024

FTF - From The Feed

Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion is the official theme of 2024.

It’s official, the Met Gala has announced their theme for the 2024 Spring Exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. While the exhibition will be shown from mid-May through early September, The Costume Institute Benefit (aka the Met Gala) will be on May 6th, 2024.

The Exhibition will feature approximately 250 rare and historical pieces that “can no longer directly interact with the body”. Which essentially means that they are no longer able to be worn to preserve the history and integrity of the garment. The goal is to create an immersive experience that conveys the smells, sounds, textures, and motions of these pieces.

The collection will span across four centuries and include designs by iconic designers like Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Saint Laurent and Hubert de Givenchy. One of the more fragile pieces that will be showcased is a ball gown from 1877 by Charles Frederick Worth.

The Met Gala even which has become known as the Oscars of fashion started back in 1948 as a fundraiser for Costume Institute. When the gala was taken over by Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour in 1995 it transformed into one of the “it” events of the year, raising millions of dollars, and showcasing some of fashions most historical moments. This year the gala is sponsored in part by TikTok, Loewe, and Condé Nast. It will be interesting to see how the social platform impacts the reach of the event, and what TikTokers we may see making an appearance this year.

There are suggestions that this years theme may be a dig at Kim Kardashian’s choice of attire for the 2023 Gala. Kim wore Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress and was heavily criticized for the decision. No official statement has been made (obviously) that this year’s theme has anything to do with Kim’s outfit choice, we can’t help but notice the correlation.

Despite her best efforts to fit into the dress there were images shared of the dress at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Hollywood, California that show she was unsuccessful. The dress has tears and fallen crystals which many viewed as disrespect of the historical garment.

We completely understand original designer Bob Mackie, and many others for their criticisms of wearing this piece of history. However, it’s difficult to believe that Kim spent a significant amount of time dieting and dyeing her hair to pay homage to Marilyn but at the same time low key wanted to wreck the dress. We weren’t at the Met Gala - we are accepting invites for 2024 if you’re reading this Anna - but unless she was intentionally being careless with the garment the damage that resulted was likely by accident. Perhaps a back-up option would have been a smart idea on her part.

Regardless of what the rules are this year, we are excited to see the what, and who, is worn on May 6th this upcoming year.