Everyone knew where they were last year when they were watching the Met Gala unfold. I, myself, was on a bus full of teenage girls on the way to the careers festival. Watching the live streams on their phones, all gasping in shock, astounded when we saw Doja Cat arrive as a cat. Fellow Blitzians as it inches closer to the first Monday in May, I am here to help your superiority complex as a not-quite fashion expert. Explaining this year's Met Gala theme and providing predictions so you can judge celebrities like it’s your full-time job.
The dress code all harks back to, believe it or not, the metropolitan museum itself. As its exhibition typically inspires the dress code for the night. E.g. Heavenly Bodies Exhibition = The most iconic theme of all time in Heavenly Bodies. This year’s exhibition explores the concept of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”. Referring to the fragility of couture clothing, as sleeping beauties that can never be worn again due to its fragility and fear of destruction. As a result, many archival pieces from esteemed designers like Tenure and Maison will be coming out of storage and displayed in the museum.
However, how does that transpire to the dress code? The dress code of the 2024 Met Gala is ‘The Garden of Time.’ Sourced from the novel by J. G. Ballard, the story reflects on the endless cycle of creation and destruction from humankind. This means fashion inspiration can range from either going to have bright florals or dark satins, allowing celebrity designers to develop looks that push beyond the bounds of contemporary fashion. With our brief in mind, here are my completely accurate, evidence-based predictions as a Met Gala stylist on what I believe the four co-chairs will be wearing to the 2024 Met Gala.
Co-Chair #1: Jennifer Lopez
I can already see Jennifer Lopez attempting to have an iconic fashion look that tops the forever iconic Grammy’s Dress from Versache.
As JLo is attempting to solidify her status as Pop Culture Royalty, I can see her trying to transcend her previous image. For JLO, I was pulling inspiration from designers such as Iris van Herpen as she pushes the boundaries with her 3-D printing technology to create these stunning and almost unrealistic garments. For this, I can see Lopez making a statement alongside her husband, Ben Affleck, in which she transcends her long-established 'Jenny from the Block' persona.
Co-Chair #2: Chris Hemsworth
I can see, one million per cent, Chris Hemsworth adorning a replica of the archival men's fashion couture. I think the sheer lace top from Gucci S/S 2000 Menswear Milan Fashion Week is perfect for Hemsworth and completely on theme!! As well as the Tom Ford Spring 2022 collection. To be honest, I think I’ll be ecstatic if Chris Hemsworth turns up in anything other than a black suit and tie. And no, a bold departure from black to charcoal grey does not count as revolutionary fashion.
Co-Chair #3: Bad Bunny
How cool is this Rolf Ekroth Copenhagen Spring 2024 runway look? I think it perfectly builds upon the Garden of Time theme and completely matches Bad Bunny’s style. Or even pulling a ‘sleeping beauty’ from Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 1994 fashion show would shine in front of the paparazzi.
Co-Chair #4: Zendaya
I would love love love for Zendaya to take a more metaphorical approach to the ‘Garden of Time’ theme and hark back to the original garden of Time; the Garden of Eden. She possesses such a transcendent, heavenly and ethereal aura (I could go on.) Meaning that every outfit she adorns feels otherworldly to us mere mortals. With the first dress by designer Sohee Park, she could have a Blake Lively moment from last year and begin the carpet with a lively flower at the beginning of time and then later transform and decay into the destruction of time.
Similarly, I can see Zendaya and Law Roach take inspiration from one of their frequent muses, Mugler, specifically from the Spring/Summer 1997 show or Fall/Winter 1999-2000 show. Paying homage to the late designer as well as presenting his ‘sleeping beauty’ couture pieces, as they have previously at the Dune Premiere.
Regardless of where I am in the world on the first Monday of May, I can assure you I will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of the hottest celebs on the planet and judging their fashion thoroughly.
Madeline Kahl is a student from Sydney studying for a double degree in Commerce and Media. As an avid reader, she is most likely accidentally ghosting all her friends while crying about fictional characters.
