May 9, 20223 min read

the problem with the first monday in may

Updated: May 16, 2022

The most important night of the year for fashion just took place, this past Monday. As always, there is a wide array of opinions. From the guest list, to the theme, to the looks everyone was anticipating, there’s a lot to dive into…so here we go.

The notorious Met Gala is a benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. The guest list is handpicked, the theme is announced, and the attendees show up to the red carpet wearing their interpretations of said theme. The theme for the 2022 Met Gala was “Gilded Glamour.” Now when this was first announced, I think many of us saw where this was going…..somewhere between ironic and an absolute fucking mess. The Gilded era from 1870-1900 was a period of income inequality for the majority, but extreme wealth for very few.

Naturally, we expected to see the most obvious, dare I say, *lazy* interpretation of the theme with gold and silver everywhere, people adorned in jewels, extravagantly expensive pieces, etc. I don’t necessarily have a problem with this because it is on theme, which is honestly all we can hope for after what happened at the Met in 2021. But digging a little deeper would not….hurt. As expected from those on theme, we also saw traditional corsets, dresses with boning, and silhouettes exclusive to that era.

As a disclaimer, what makes the Met Gala really cool is that the theme is open to interpretation. As a creative and an artist myself, I think it’s important to remember that art is art. It will be received and praised by some, and disliked by others. Regardless of my or anyone else’s opinions on The Met looks, it’s pretty cool to see so many different creative takes on the theme. But as a fashion snob…..I must dissect.

Moving on.

Aside from the theme, the guest list is very important. For years the Met Gala would’ve been known as one of the most exclusive events….ever? It seems in recent years the exclusivity of the event has dwindled & the guest list is looking very similar to that of many other award shows, gala events, or really just anything A-List related. Allow me to say, I am a firm believer in equal opportunity for creatives to be able to step into any room, in any space, and be received. I don’t think athletes should just stick to being athletes, I don’t think actors should just stick to being actors, etc. Which means I am open to people who aren’t necessarily just in that space, attending the event. I understand the role that influencers and A-listers play in getting buzz for events and I understand how beneficial it might be to have some of them in attendance.

With all that being said, I still believe that at the “biggest night in fashion,” it would be nice to see influencers or celebrities who are at least known for their style or have at least dipped a toe into the industry in attendance. There are a number of people who were on the seating chart in 2021 & 2022 that made a lot of say…”why??” I would honestly attribute the lack of dedication to theme or even an understanding of the theme to this, in part. My issue with this is that there are many influential people in the industry who have still yet to receive an invitation. I would just like to, in the future, see many more designers and creators in that space who know a bit about what we’re at the Met for, instead of people there exclusively just for buzz or because their follower count has surpassed a certain threshold.

All that being said, The Met Gala has always been one of my favorite events to talk about and divulge into. I love seeing the interviews about interpretations and I love seeing the creativity that it showcases. So now that I’ve gotten a couple chips off my shoulder, here are some of my favorite looks of the night.

Hailey Beiber in Saint Laurent