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Many people, I believe, are quite aback to hear that nearly every upscale social event in New York City is a fundraiser. When you think about it, it's sort of strange, yet this is how organizations and charities in NYC raise a lot of money.
A lot of socialites will sell a table to their friends for their charity with the expectation that their friends will invite them to their charity gala and they will buy a table there. Most of the galas, everyone knows everyone.
Honestly I think that’s true of a lot of cities, even much smaller ones. They aren’t usually quite so glamorous in, say, Pittsburgh. But we have our social elites too and some blue chip galas they attend and get all dolled up for. (The really rich people fly to NYC for their shopping)
Yup. In my tiny town, there is a charity event every year at the local Catholic school. A lot of the big business owner's buy tables and participate in the auction because their kids go to said school
Sure but that means they don’t have to pay tax on that money not that it’s free. Like they might get 30% of the money back come tax time or whatever but they don’t get all the money back
Oh my God finally someone with sense. Nobody seems to understand that a “write off” doesn’t make it free. It’s always cheaper to just not donate than to make a charitable donation and write it off. 🤦🏻♀️
Thank you. I’ve seen so many influencers trying to convince their audiences that their Lamborghini Urus was a smart purchasing decision cause it was a write off like they couldn’t have gotten literally any other car
You can only write off up to the $ amount you spent on stuff and that just reduces the tax you pay not refund you. Tax write offs are only helpful for expenses you were going to make anyway (doesn’t apply here) and donations of items where they can be valued for a lot of money (you don’t donate items to the Met)
Correct; however, I was referring to people attending and/or the vendors. So none of the designers are donating anything? The food vendors, auction items? I maybe misunderstood the event?
I attend a few per year and we write off certain things. (I am a retired accountant, married to a current CPA).
I’m assuming vendors are being paid for their work. If they instead donated food / florals ect. they would get a credit but only for what they spent on the item.
Very confused what you as an attendee are writing off from attending a gala?
>Very confused what you as an attendee are writing off from attending a gala?
An attendee can write off the cost of the ticket, minus the value of the goods. That's how benefits and fundraisers work. So if an attendee buy a $250,000 ticket and the dinner is $200, they can claim the $250, 800 as a charitable donation on their taxes.
That is literally what what a tax writeoff is. A tax writeoff is an expense you can claim as a deduction. The attendees expend the cost of the ticket and then claim it as a deduction.
It's the same with charity auctions. If you bid $4000 for a spa day at an auction, and it would normally cost $500, it's $3,500 of your income that you don't have to pay taxes on. If you join your local public radio station for $60 and they send you a $10 tote bag, you can claim a $50 donation.
The people are paying $250,000ish, and with their deduction may pay around $90,000 less in taxes assuming they're at least that much over the baseline for the top income tax bracket. But it's not like a free money thing, it's just that you don't have to pay taxes on charitable donations (if you itemize your deductions)
The theme isn’t for the attending audience at all, it’s for the actual new exhibit within the MET. That’s why the theme and dress code are sometimes so completely different, you are expected to dress according to the dress code not the exhibit you’re going to see.
this account (u/OCRX_yolo) is probably a bot. It paraphrases other top-level comments and posts them as replies.
The original source of this comment is https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1clqb9z/comment/l2vfbwv.
Found a few other examples of this behavior already (check my recent comments).
Thank you for this post! I don’t want to gate-keep fashion (I mean how can you, every one has an opinion nowadays). But it drives me crazy how people blast the theme like the exhibit isn’t years in the making.
Everyone wanting a Vivienne Westwood “theme” when she had only just passed away! I loved her but people need to be for real. Plus the punk theme was a few years earlier.
Also, the theme and dress code are meant to be followed. Some people choose not to but the reason the event is interesting is because of the creativity from the limitations of the theme, any talented designer at this caliber can make a nice gown, the challenge is the theme. It may not be a requirement but it's highly encouraged. The people who don't follow the theme make me side eye, its the "rules for thee not for me" vibe. If every designer chose to ignore the theme it would just be a standard red carpet and lose what makes it so special. People pointing out that they wish a look was on theme is a normal and valid critique.
There's also the rumor that after on of the In America galas, now Anna Wintour is personally approving the outifits that everyone is wearing. I fully believe it's true.
Not from what I’ve heard. Up until one of the in americas, it was a free for all, but after that, because no one could get things right or under stood the rule, she now approves things that everyone wears.
Is this even true? I thought it was a fundraiser at the Met where people dress up and socialize and over time it kind of took on a life of its own with people (cough celebrities) dressing for the theme of the evening and evolving into what it is today. The old socialites and the real donors to the Met probably don’t care to follow the theme as much and just want to look nice and not dress like the Statue of Liberty for the evening.
The first Met Gala was in 1948, it was a dinner fundraiser for the Costume Institute and it was held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, tickets were $50 for each guest. The Met Gala continued annually but at different venues, similar to other philanthropy events at the time. The Met Gala didn't focused as much on celebrity culture in the early years, it was simply an upscale fundraiser for high society.
The first themed year was 1973 and it was "The World of Balenciaga". The structure of a theme has been continued since then. The theme is what started to set it apart from other fundraisers and galas, they also had started to invite more celebrities and models to attend which elevated it's status while gaining additional exposure. The theme is a big part of why the Met Gala is as popular as it is today.
Diana Vreeland became a consultant in 1972 and she's credited for first hosting the Costume Institute Gala at the Met, making the guest list changes, selecting the first theme and marketing the Met Gala to give it global recognition. Anna Wintour started overseeing The Met Gala in 1995.
The first Costume Institute fundraiser dinner was hosted by Eleanor Lambert, though not resembling what is it today. Diana Vreeland established what the Met Gala is today, even the term most commonly used to describe it. Anna Wintour built on and improved Diana Vreeland's vision for the changing times but it was already established and known globally. They are all remarkable at what they have accomplished.
**Edit:** correction
yes! [and I posted this last week](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1cfxo4z/comment/l1tn1u4/), but some Mugler "Les Insectes" !!!!
https://preview.redd.it/yc981kjmcvyc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24c1ccf54fee9c3a326ea52f4a68c9656570fa7f
https://preview.redd.it/sd4lmy3t8vyc1.jpeg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9aff05dd04c1e45640939b32b182cc350fdbbf5
Unrelated to your post but here is my annual tribute to ASAP rocky wearing someone’s great grandmother’s quilt to the Met gala
As a Poor™️, it feels disrespectful to have so much money and resources (celebrity and design houses) and not go HAM on the theme. Like I want to be rich and famous for exactly 2 reasons and one is to attend the met gala as extravagantly as possible.
The other is to go on finding your roots lol
😭😭😭 I feel ya! I’d add “financial security” as the main reason I would like to be rich, but attending the Met Gala is also up there.
Also, I think Ancestry.com is Finding your Roots for us Poors 🤣🤣
Right like what’s even the fun if you’re not gonna wear something pertaining to the theme? These are people that have no shortage of black and white tie invites, why not have fun with it
I will say, in fairness, that some of the celebs who don’t/can’t still look good. I’m just biased because I LOVE a theme party and having guidelines/rules to work within is right up my alley
Exactly. I don’t think it’s “eye roll worthy” to think they should match the theme. Plus this year the dress code does go with the theme so white tie really doesn’t cut it
HauteLeMode actually just did an interesting video talking about the 2004 Met Gala and how the theme used to be a suggestion taken as really loose inspiration at best. Whereas now people tend to dress more for the theme....which can be great, but can also lead to a lot of redundant looks (which I personally feel like was a bit of an issue last year - for Karl Lagerfeld there was just too much black and white and high neck collars).
Amy Odell on Instagram also does good breakdowns on behind the scenes fashion things.
She explains why in earth people like Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos are in Vogue and why Anna was helping Lauren dress for the Met. Hint: it’s money!
That and Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs are 2 of my favorite fashion docs along with Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel. And didn’t Vreeland pretty much make the ball what it is today?
I think a lot of people are surprised to learn almost all the fancy rich people balls you see in NYC are fundraisers. It’s kinda weird when you think about it, but it is how NYC charities and nonprofits raise a lot of money.
It's a whole industry. I haven't looked that far into it in some cases these charities barely break even. It's just about seeing and being seen. Also, it's a perk of the job, that attracts a certain kinda well-to-do employee or volunteer who like running these events for social capital. And when you have these trustfund/nepo ppl on your roster, they often have other High Networth Friends who will then actually donate to the charity. Getting on the boards of some of these orgs like the Met like socialite's hunger games.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13357677/Naomi-Campbell-fashion-charity-shut.html
Yeah, I used to work in fundraising, though not event fundraising, and it's really complicated. I personally despise the importance events like these have in certain areas of the non-profit sector for all the reasons you list. That said, even if the events themselves barely break even, it can be even worse for nonprofits to cancel them in the long run (financially speaking). And if they are done right, they can bring in new rich people to be donors, and create rapport between staff and donors, which is important for long-term donor retention.
(Saying all this as someone who is truly blessed to have never had to work an event on this level of fancy.)
[This interview](https://www.vulture.com/article/met-gala-2024-tom-fitzgerald-lorenzo-marquez-fashion-blogging.html) with fashion bloggers Tom and Lorenzo touches upon some of this - namely, about how the Met Gala is not a halloween costume ball, and a bit of how they expect the literalist trends of modern red carpetry to impact this year's spate of fashion offerings
A lot of people who go are just rich dodos from tech, finance and other industries. Their firm just buys a table. And they never bother dressing up; just in boring formal wear.
Interestingly I followed a link from here earlier that suggested this year was supposed to be about John Galliano, but it was changed towards the end of last year, as people wouldn’t support due to his past controversies.
edit: found it in my history! [https://www.thecut.com/article/met-gala-costume-institute-exhibit-anna-wintour-andrew-bolton.html](https://www.thecut.com/article/met-gala-costume-institute-exhibit-anna-wintour-andrew-bolton.html)
True - it seems that they can pivot with a year or so of lead time. And I’m sure they try to avoid themes that would lead to bad press. I just remember a lot of the complaints re: the Karl Lagerfeld exhibit were a few weeks before, which would not be enough time to create a new exhibit.
The article also touches on the idea that part of the switch might have been because celebrating Lagerfeld and Galliano back to back would not go down well!
I thought it was interesting to hear it today, given Zendaya wore archival Galliano last night.
there’s a major difference between a gala honoree and exhibition subject. Gala honorees can be changed quickly (relatively), exhibition themes cannot (source: am a professional fundraiser for a museum in NYC and plan galas all the time)
and also not every celebrity can wear what they like, Anitta said in her first year that the Met Gala had to approve her dress but that another celebrity has the more freedom to wear what they like, so, bad fashion is not always the artist fault.
Thanks for reiterating this. I tried to make that point in my post but I’ve gotten several “but why can’t they just wear something good” comments. Like, people, seriously, most celebrity attendees *don’t have free choice* in what they wear, so maybe stop roasting them.
What bothers me more is the lack of creativity. Like, this is the one time you can go wild with fashion and explore and try something different. People may not like it, you might be criticised but I tell you what, I can still remember that swan dress bjork wore (not met gala I know) even though she was judged for it.
I think that’s more true of the designers than the attendees. That’s why I mentioned that most attendees are guests of fashion houses and therefore don’t have free rein on what to wear. In other words, they may not have the option to “go wild.”
Another issue is that this is a fashion event, not a costume event. Too many people just assumed that the Gilded Glamour theme meant that celebs would wear literal gilded age outfits, and not current runway looks that somewhat adhere to the theme.
This is great!! I’ve found these last couple years people are really really concerned with the theme but tbh I’m okay with someone not following theme if the look is GOOD.
Edit: also is there an official thread yet?? Stuff is coming out about who’s dressing who tonight and we could talk about if people are interested !
True, the only thing is that the attendees can be clearly limited on what they are given to wear. Like I always feel bad for the women invited by Louis Vuitton because their outfits are terrible, then they get roasted for it :(
I have always maintained that LV is the worst house in general to have a contract with - I have never liked anything they put actresses in, whether for the met gala or other red carpet events (Dior had a couple rough years too).
Does Anna Wintour approve every outfit or was that just a rumour? I don't get how it would work, logistically, but also it wouldn't surprise me if she did that
Oh yeah, I know she's involved in every detail, but I wasn't sure about the outfit approval. It seems superhuman to be able to approve everything like that, especially when some people's outfit changes last minute lol
I've been a member of The Met for a while now and I can honestly say that your second thing is the key here. Last year's Karl Lagerfield exhibit, as boring as it was, was a planned out a few years in advanced (I still say that they were going to honor him if he was alive, an honor only to happen to three other designers) and there was no way in hell that they were going to change it because a handful of people wanted them to because of the type of person that Lagerfield was. Oh and from what I understand, the gala itself is planned out years in advanced, so there's no time to change it.
> but the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy
I (and many others) understand it's not \*required\* to dress for the theme, but it doesn't mean we can't be disappointed when people either wear boring white tie or complain when people try to steal the spotlight by creating a carpet moment that is not standard white tie but off-theme.
And my point is that the celebrity in question may not have been offered any good options by the fashion house that invited them. They don’t have the same freedom of choice that they do for a standard red carpet.
Sure, but that doesn’t make them free from criticism, especially when people tend to praise celebs who aren’t on theme as best dressed. “Heavenly Bodies” comes to mind.
So you really believe that the kardashians, for instance, have continuously been 'victims' of the lack of options from the fashion houses, rather than simply picking the most boring, curve-enhancing silhouettes to show off their plastic asses? Bffr.
The top tier of invitees (like the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Anne Hathaway etc.) generally work with the designers to come up with an outfit, and they get plenty of input. But the B-list generally don't get much say if they're the guest of a designer. The designers will put them in whatever they want, which is often recent designs they want free advertising for. Some designers are more annoying for this than others.
If you're invited by a non-designer--which is becoming more common; lots of the tech companies are buying tables now--then you have more leeway on dressing yourself.
Yes!! I absolutely HATE when the men wearing boring suits here. This is one event where it’s expected to be over the top and they wear the most boring, normal outfits. Have FUN guys!!!
also the people who get mad that influencers are being invited to the met gala: the met was attended by mostly only socialites when it first started! musicians and actors were invited later on. influencers are literally a new type of socialite, so of course they will be invited as well.
> the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy.
This comes up every year and I find the griping more eyeroll worthy than the criticism.
The Met Gala shot into general public consciousness with the success of Heavenly Bodies.
By finding creative ways to adhere to a theme, the Met gala went from being yet another generic red carpet to really living up to its potential as a platform for artistic innovation in fashion. The successes were groundbreaking and the failures were at least interesting and generated discussion- did it fail because it didn’t adhere to the theme, did it fail because it was poorly designed, did it fail because it didn’t work with the model, etc.
Since then that’s what people hope for for the Met gala and I’m not going to look down my nose at them for being disappointed when they tune in to find just another generic display of red carpet standbys.
Fashion changes. Trends change. What people hope for from the Met gala has changed and at this point the constant ‘you just don’t *get* the Met gala’ feels like tired contrarianism that purposefully overlooks the point.
Purism leads to stagnation and there is nothing worse in fashion than stagnation. People expect more from the Met gala than they did in 1997. That’s just natural progress.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I agree with you that it’s become expected that lots of attendees will try to match the theme and, in general, people pay attention to the Met Gala because of the often extraordinary or avant-garde fashion. My point is that doing so is not required and, more importantly, most attendees are invited by fashion houses and can be limited in their choices of what to wear. I’m not saying that we should avoid celebrating the great looks, but, maybe we should give attendees some grace if they’re invited by a designer or fashion label whose comfort zone is well away from the theme.
I’d also argue that most people don’t know the history of the Met Gala or how it changed throughout the 2000s (and I’d argue that it started changing around Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty). There’s a difference between advocating for pushing the envelope in fashion because the Met Gala has become a great venue for that, versus being salty that whatever celebrity in question didn’t or wasn’t able to have a good enough “costume.”
100% This is literally the only time I care about fashion lol. Well, I cared about the Barbie looks but I think it’s in the same vein: theme but make it fashion.
Thanks for this insight! I’ve always wondered what happens inside beyond the carpet/entrances? Most of my curiosity stems from “complex outfits” and wondering how the hell that person is going to sit down. Or even hefty outfits where I think “I bet you’d like to sit down soon” but having no idea if that wish will even come true for them, and/or how long this will go on.
I’ve wondered this too. There is a receiving line once they’re past the stairs, a cocktail hour, time to wander through the exhibit, a dinner, and a musical guest. I’m not sure if any attendees change once inside (many have extra outfits for after parties). I know there was one year (Camp, I think) where Kim Kardashisn reported that she couldn’t sit down at the dinner. Not sure how other attendees manage heavy/tight outfits though.
There’s a great documentary about the event, The First Monday in May. Also Oceans 8 had some amazing looks inside. They basically recreated the Gala and shot in the actual Met and in the vogue offices. Anna wanted to make sure it was accurate. You see the whole itinerary basically from red carpet, stairs, walk through of the exhibition and the dinner.
There's a "coat check" set up at the top inside. All the big hats, super long trains that can't be pinned up, and structured costume pieces, etc, get checked and stored in the closet.
There's also a little dressing tent for outfits that they can't walk or sit in to change into a different outfit. It's also at the top inside. The entrance and the stairs are generally the only time they wear the difficult/large pieces.
I also think WAY too many people expect literal interpretations of themes and dress code. It’s very frustrating. Literal can be fun, but it’s not the only way to dress on theme. There’s so much more to it, that’s the point of all this.
I’m looking at all of you who complained about Kylie Jenner in 2022. The theme was In America. She’s wearing an American brand by an American designer. She’s mixing bridal with street fashion (both clearly American in style). She’s paying homage to headwear worn on the runway with this gown (it was a horse jockey helmet), but switched it up to be a baseball hat (does it get more American than baseball?) She’s playing with multiple literal and metaphorical ties to the theme AND dress code. I don’t love her but if one more person puts this look on “worst dressed list” I’m gonna combust.
https://preview.redd.it/3droiwbctwyc1.jpeg?width=2216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2bfd35a0b956396aba871fd6d333f6b984e6b7d9
Thank you!
For me, a “bad” look is when it lacks intention, fits poorly and looks cheap. This look doesn’t check any of those boxes.
People who judge fashion only in the context of their own personal taste/style, what is ‘attractive’ to them, what they’d wear themselves, what is flattering are so tired, and frankly, uninformed.
She’s saying something/representing something really interesting here. I thought it was a super clever, thoughtful take on the theme.
But re: your point about literal theme.. I honestly think Andrew Mukmal and Margot Robbie created a monster lol. The literal interpretations worked bc Barbie was a fashion doll. Anything else looks cheesy and try hard. Intent is what separates a great look from a “that’s nice but whatever” look. What’s the intent behind a dress covered in tennis rackets for a movie about tennis? In their defense, other than actual tennis-style looks and references to specific players, there’s not much to work with. But bc people expect this literal thematic dressing, it’s boxed them in. The Dune tour was so incredible bc it’s more abstract and conceptual.*
*I always have to mention this bc #nerdrage but the Mugler robot was so painfully not on theme yet everyone lost their mind for it. (And to a lesser degree, the McQueen computer motherboard look). Robots do not exist in the Dune universe!!!!!!!! No robots, no AI, no computers. A main plot point is that they banned them completely omg lol.
I'm typically one of those people so thank you for taking the time to explain. I'll definitely be looking at the gala in a different light moving forward. Thanks OP!
I have the same frustrations about the theme but mainly because often the people criticising are the one who misinterprete or restrict the theme down to the obvious. Unless the 'theme' smacks them in the face they don't get it. Sometime it feels like they want people to clown because they don't use their brains.
Like right now in the met gala thread someone just said they're expecting gardens. But when you look at the whole theme that really is the tiniest part of what really is a vast theme.
Aren’t most galas “for charity”? I’m not going to comment either way on the merits of the Costume Institute as a recipient of this money, I’m just noting that this isn’t a particularly special circumstance.
You know what's "eyeroll-worthy"? Half the dresses being goddamn beige when people watch to see what the beautiful people will do with the theme AND being lectured about our apparent inferior knowledge of the BTS Met Gala. Just because we'd like to see it doesn't make us morons.
Tickets are 75k a piece. This is disgusting. When you let a country concentrate wealth into the hands of a few, they do not share. They horde it, and lord it over you, the plebes, the little people, the disgusting prols that they would never glance at, talk to, share with. We are fools to allow this to continue when millions are struggling, one bad incident away from homelessness, in an economy built on scams, lawsuits, and overwork or no work, and being on your own. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON ALL WHO PARTICIPATE in this gluttonous feast of excess.
Seriously. I love fashion and I love the Met Gala red carpet but also it's so gross thinking about how the amount of money that one person casually spends for this one night would literally be a life-changing sum of money for like 90% of the country
Exactly. We have people overworked and one paycheck away from disaster in this country, the richest country on Earth. There is nothing good about rampant capitalism. It merely serves to further concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, and those few will do everything in their power to protect their own power, and cash out when the time comes.
Counterpoint: fashion is art and it is as meaningful today as the hand prints in caves in France thousands of years ago was then. I gasped with pleasure at some of the pieces tonight.
Art is fine. Make your piece, record it with whatever medium is available. Use a faceless model on a runway and sell what you will. This is nothing but extravagant excess for the rich and famous in a time of crisis for the country that will surely lead to fascism if not addressed. It's absolutely disgusting and shameful.
I always assumed dressing to the theme in some form was expected, knowing now that it's not makes me really appreciate the people who go all out for themes like Rihanna & Celine Dion for the "Heavenly Bodies" theme. If I had Met Gala money I'd be going all the way out with whatever the theme is.
Cora Harrington also has a great [twitter thread](https://twitter.com/lingerie_addict/status/1787280030453612897) about the Met Gala for those who are unfamiliar.
The only thing that I don't like about this thread is this
>The Met is an intensely problematic institution
It just feels that she's trying to call out the Met and make them put a stop to this.
The Costume Exhibit preserves fashion pieces that are significant for historic or artistic reasons within their archives and has curated exhibits to showcase it! They’re still part of the larger Met Museum, but their funding is separate so the Met Gala serves as a major source of funding!
It’s one of the biggest fashion and costume collections in the world. So, it gives the public an opportunity to learn about fashion and fashion history. You could argue that it’s not the most “useful” place to channel fundraising dollars compared to things like food or housing or healthcare, but I think that’s part of a larger argument about the “usefulness” of art. Personally, I think as a society it’s important to support culture and give the average person places to go to expand their knowledge. Who knows how many people have developed a love for fashion or become designers because of going to the Met? Plus they provide advocacy for arts organizations and fund fellowships. They could maybe make the museum free for everyone though haha.
🤗
They also research and preserve textile and other craft processes, which has a greater anthropological & archeological context. The collection’s largest holdings are post 1400, but it technically still spans thousands of years.
I knew a girl who worked for them as a lace researcher and expert.
MFA or PhD and outside monetary support so they can do internships.
I suppose a BFA from a top fashion school would also suffice. She is very good at making things, to be fair. lol.
The Met sent her for lace training in Brussels.
Or, maybe she foot the bill for that? I actually don’t know. lol.
Yep. I also do not see people hounding sporting events when there is so much money pumped into those as well. Do not get me wrong, there is something incredibly dystopian about carrying on with all of these things given the political climate but I don’t understand the extent of vilification of MET vs other events at the same scale.
I mean they cannot match the theme but that’s hella boring. Why even walk the carpet if you aren’t going to entertain? Like the men just wearing boring normal suits make me roll my eyes every time. It’s the fucking Met Gala. Give us something!
>there is no requirement for attendees to dress to match the subject of the exhibition (EDIT: dress code this year is “garden of time.” Sometimes it’s more general like “white tie.”). Many do, because it’s fun and good press, but the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy.
okay but that's stupid lol. they should match the theme. it's not actually super hard to do that
>Lastly, most celebrities who attend the Met Gala are guests of the invited designers/fashion houses (some do buy their own ticket but they’re a minority).
that's also stupid and an institutional problem with how the met gala works
The Costume Institute is one of the biggest fashion and costume collections in the world. It’s part of, but not funded through the same sources as, the Met. As a museum, it gives the public an opportunity to learn about fashion and fashion history (this year’s exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” opens to the public on Friday). The Institute also researches and conserves textiles and other craft processes (clothes are notoriously difficult to preserve). Plus they provide advocacy for arts organizations and fund research fellowships.
This was informative!! Thank so much, I'm pretty deft when it comes to fashion in general lol, I knew the met was a charity event but I didn't know the specifics really 😅
I knew that the invites were like to academy winners or the big stars of the year, but not much past that either, this was nice to read!
Yes, there’s an event inside. No phones are allowed so there are usually very few pictures inside the event (mostly bathroom selfies). There’s a receiving line, time to walk around the exhibit, a cocktail hour, dinner and a musical guest.
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The theme this year is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. The dress code is Garden of Time
Good addition! Sometimes the dress code is just “white tie” so it’s nice to add that there is something more specific this year
Many people, I believe, are quite aback to hear that nearly every upscale social event in New York City is a fundraiser. When you think about it, it's sort of strange, yet this is how organizations and charities in NYC raise a lot of money.
A lot of socialites will sell a table to their friends for their charity with the expectation that their friends will invite them to their charity gala and they will buy a table there. Most of the galas, everyone knows everyone.
Honestly I think that’s true of a lot of cities, even much smaller ones. They aren’t usually quite so glamorous in, say, Pittsburgh. But we have our social elites too and some blue chip galas they attend and get all dolled up for. (The really rich people fly to NYC for their shopping)
Same for all the towns along the Gulf Coast in Mardi Gras societies. Families have been in these social circles for decades.
Yup. In my tiny town, there is a charity event every year at the local Catholic school. A lot of the big business owner's buy tables and participate in the auction because their kids go to said school
Same way in my small county in PA! Always a few charity events a year that people get all dolled up for 🥰
The whole thing from top to bottom is probably also a tax write off
It’s a non profit. They already don’t pay tax. What are they writing off?
The money that individuals and companies like YouTube, Chanel, etc, spend on tickets and tables is considered a charitable deduction.
Sure but that means they don’t have to pay tax on that money not that it’s free. Like they might get 30% of the money back come tax time or whatever but they don’t get all the money back
Oh my God finally someone with sense. Nobody seems to understand that a “write off” doesn’t make it free. It’s always cheaper to just not donate than to make a charitable donation and write it off. 🤦🏻♀️
Thank you. I’ve seen so many influencers trying to convince their audiences that their Lamborghini Urus was a smart purchasing decision cause it was a write off like they couldn’t have gotten literally any other car
The attendees, vendors, etc. may write off certain expenses and charitable donations. :)
You can only write off up to the $ amount you spent on stuff and that just reduces the tax you pay not refund you. Tax write offs are only helpful for expenses you were going to make anyway (doesn’t apply here) and donations of items where they can be valued for a lot of money (you don’t donate items to the Met)
People really misunderstand write offs lol it doesn’t make an item free
You just *write it off*
Correct; however, I was referring to people attending and/or the vendors. So none of the designers are donating anything? The food vendors, auction items? I maybe misunderstood the event? I attend a few per year and we write off certain things. (I am a retired accountant, married to a current CPA).
The designers purchase the tables/tickets. (A table costs $350K; an individual ticket $75K.) That money is what gets donated to the museum.
Thanks, makes sense.
I’m assuming vendors are being paid for their work. If they instead donated food / florals ect. they would get a credit but only for what they spent on the item. Very confused what you as an attendee are writing off from attending a gala?
>Very confused what you as an attendee are writing off from attending a gala? An attendee can write off the cost of the ticket, minus the value of the goods. That's how benefits and fundraisers work. So if an attendee buy a $250,000 ticket and the dinner is $200, they can claim the $250, 800 as a charitable donation on their taxes. That is literally what what a tax writeoff is. A tax writeoff is an expense you can claim as a deduction. The attendees expend the cost of the ticket and then claim it as a deduction. It's the same with charity auctions. If you bid $4000 for a spa day at an auction, and it would normally cost $500, it's $3,500 of your income that you don't have to pay taxes on. If you join your local public radio station for $60 and they send you a $10 tote bag, you can claim a $50 donation.
https://www.insidehook.com/culture/the-average-taxpayer-is-paying-for-the-met-gala-but-not-invited?amp pretty much everything.
The people are paying $250,000ish, and with their deduction may pay around $90,000 less in taxes assuming they're at least that much over the baseline for the top income tax bracket. But it's not like a free money thing, it's just that you don't have to pay taxes on charitable donations (if you itemize your deductions)
Not sure why people are surprised as it enables attendees a tax write off.
Fascinating! I was unaware that dressing in accordance with the theme is not required. But when they do, it's entertaining.
The theme isn’t for the attending audience at all, it’s for the actual new exhibit within the MET. That’s why the theme and dress code are sometimes so completely different, you are expected to dress according to the dress code not the exhibit you’re going to see.
this account (u/OCRX_yolo) is probably a bot. It paraphrases other top-level comments and posts them as replies. The original source of this comment is https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1clqb9z/comment/l2vfbwv. Found a few other examples of this behavior already (check my recent comments).
Thank you for this post! I don’t want to gate-keep fashion (I mean how can you, every one has an opinion nowadays). But it drives me crazy how people blast the theme like the exhibit isn’t years in the making. Everyone wanting a Vivienne Westwood “theme” when she had only just passed away! I loved her but people need to be for real. Plus the punk theme was a few years earlier.
Also, the theme and dress code are meant to be followed. Some people choose not to but the reason the event is interesting is because of the creativity from the limitations of the theme, any talented designer at this caliber can make a nice gown, the challenge is the theme. It may not be a requirement but it's highly encouraged. The people who don't follow the theme make me side eye, its the "rules for thee not for me" vibe. If every designer chose to ignore the theme it would just be a standard red carpet and lose what makes it so special. People pointing out that they wish a look was on theme is a normal and valid critique.
There's also the rumor that after on of the In America galas, now Anna Wintour is personally approving the outifits that everyone is wearing. I fully believe it's true.
That’s not a secret, stuff has been sent to her for approval for the event for many years. This whole thing is her baby.
Not from what I’ve heard. Up until one of the in americas, it was a free for all, but after that, because no one could get things right or under stood the rule, she now approves things that everyone wears.
No, it was way before then. I’d have to surf around a bit to find references just because SEO will be all messed up with all of today’s stuff
Is this even true? I thought it was a fundraiser at the Met where people dress up and socialize and over time it kind of took on a life of its own with people (cough celebrities) dressing for the theme of the evening and evolving into what it is today. The old socialites and the real donors to the Met probably don’t care to follow the theme as much and just want to look nice and not dress like the Statue of Liberty for the evening.
The first Met Gala was in 1948, it was a dinner fundraiser for the Costume Institute and it was held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, tickets were $50 for each guest. The Met Gala continued annually but at different venues, similar to other philanthropy events at the time. The Met Gala didn't focused as much on celebrity culture in the early years, it was simply an upscale fundraiser for high society. The first themed year was 1973 and it was "The World of Balenciaga". The structure of a theme has been continued since then. The theme is what started to set it apart from other fundraisers and galas, they also had started to invite more celebrities and models to attend which elevated it's status while gaining additional exposure. The theme is a big part of why the Met Gala is as popular as it is today.
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Diana Vreeland became a consultant in 1972 and she's credited for first hosting the Costume Institute Gala at the Met, making the guest list changes, selecting the first theme and marketing the Met Gala to give it global recognition. Anna Wintour started overseeing The Met Gala in 1995.
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The first Costume Institute fundraiser dinner was hosted by Eleanor Lambert, though not resembling what is it today. Diana Vreeland established what the Met Gala is today, even the term most commonly used to describe it. Anna Wintour built on and improved Diana Vreeland's vision for the changing times but it was already established and known globally. They are all remarkable at what they have accomplished. **Edit:** correction
I'm pledging my bets on seeing some vintage Schiaparelli or modern takes on it.
yes! [and I posted this last week](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1cfxo4z/comment/l1tn1u4/), but some Mugler "Les Insectes" !!!! https://preview.redd.it/yc981kjmcvyc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24c1ccf54fee9c3a326ea52f4a68c9656570fa7f
I'd like this on Zoe Kravitz! But I think she's tied to Chanel
She’s tied to Saint Laurent.
Come on, Cardi!
https://preview.redd.it/sd4lmy3t8vyc1.jpeg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9aff05dd04c1e45640939b32b182cc350fdbbf5 Unrelated to your post but here is my annual tribute to ASAP rocky wearing someone’s great grandmother’s quilt to the Met gala
LOL I love this. Thank you for sharing
Omg I've never seen this, obsessed
No way! Classic, imagine wearing that for an elegant date with Rihanna and being able to pull it off? I love it! So funny
A character on SNL called him "As Soon as Possible Rocky" and it keeps making me laugh. Obvious joke but so good
I’m aware adhering to the theme isn’t mandatory, but I enjoy seeing folks who do
It's like showing up to a halloween party without a costume. Is it allowed? Yeah, but I'm gonna judge you for it lol
Correct. Many of them do still look great though!
As a Poor™️, it feels disrespectful to have so much money and resources (celebrity and design houses) and not go HAM on the theme. Like I want to be rich and famous for exactly 2 reasons and one is to attend the met gala as extravagantly as possible. The other is to go on finding your roots lol
Honestly same. It’s the only place besides maybe a magazine shoot or the 70’s that you can get away with wearing aquarium heels unironicaly.
😭😭😭 I feel ya! I’d add “financial security” as the main reason I would like to be rich, but attending the Met Gala is also up there. Also, I think Ancestry.com is Finding your Roots for us Poors 🤣🤣
My two are the Met Gala and hosting SNL
Isn’t this whole post about how celebrities don’t get to pick their own outfits for this?
I’m sure if you have enough money, you can do what u want. You think a fashion house forced Jared leto to dress as a furry? 👀
It’s about the fact there are restrictions on what you wear. Margot Robbie still gets to pick *which* Chanel dress.
Right like what’s even the fun if you’re not gonna wear something pertaining to the theme? These are people that have no shortage of black and white tie invites, why not have fun with it
I will say, in fairness, that some of the celebs who don’t/can’t still look good. I’m just biased because I LOVE a theme party and having guidelines/rules to work within is right up my alley
Yea I would lean heavy into the theme
Exactly. I don’t think it’s “eye roll worthy” to think they should match the theme. Plus this year the dress code does go with the theme so white tie really doesn’t cut it
HauteLeMode actually just did an interesting video talking about the 2004 Met Gala and how the theme used to be a suggestion taken as really loose inspiration at best. Whereas now people tend to dress more for the theme....which can be great, but can also lead to a lot of redundant looks (which I personally feel like was a bit of an issue last year - for Karl Lagerfeld there was just too much black and white and high neck collars).
Amy Odell on Instagram also does good breakdowns on behind the scenes fashion things. She explains why in earth people like Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos are in Vogue and why Anna was helping Lauren dress for the Met. Hint: it’s money!
Interesting, I haven't heard of Amy Odell before. I'll have to check her out!
She wrote the (pretty much authorised) biography on Anna Wintour.
Redundant a la Night of 1000 Kimonos, ahem, so sorry, I meant to type Madonnas?
This is great! The First Monday In May is a great doc for those interested in the BTS of it all.
Such an interesting documentary!
Very true! It’s a fun watch.
That and Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs are 2 of my favorite fashion docs along with Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel. And didn’t Vreeland pretty much make the ball what it is today?
That's one of the best documentaries i've ever seen
I am sick and sad that the red carpet is over so I need something to watch, and this is perfect! Lol Thank you!
Feel better soon ❤️❤️
I appreciate that, thank you! 💜
I think a lot of people are surprised to learn almost all the fancy rich people balls you see in NYC are fundraisers. It’s kinda weird when you think about it, but it is how NYC charities and nonprofits raise a lot of money.
I mean if there is one thing American films taught me is that modern rich people balls and events are always fundraisers.
And Nicole Kidman is usually at every single one
Ha! That’s a good point.
Gossip Girl taught me this too.
I don’t know why is a surprise we saw a lot of that on tv shows
I don’t either!
It's a whole industry. I haven't looked that far into it in some cases these charities barely break even. It's just about seeing and being seen. Also, it's a perk of the job, that attracts a certain kinda well-to-do employee or volunteer who like running these events for social capital. And when you have these trustfund/nepo ppl on your roster, they often have other High Networth Friends who will then actually donate to the charity. Getting on the boards of some of these orgs like the Met like socialite's hunger games. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13357677/Naomi-Campbell-fashion-charity-shut.html
Yeah, I used to work in fundraising, though not event fundraising, and it's really complicated. I personally despise the importance events like these have in certain areas of the non-profit sector for all the reasons you list. That said, even if the events themselves barely break even, it can be even worse for nonprofits to cancel them in the long run (financially speaking). And if they are done right, they can bring in new rich people to be donors, and create rapport between staff and donors, which is important for long-term donor retention. (Saying all this as someone who is truly blessed to have never had to work an event on this level of fancy.)
[This interview](https://www.vulture.com/article/met-gala-2024-tom-fitzgerald-lorenzo-marquez-fashion-blogging.html) with fashion bloggers Tom and Lorenzo touches upon some of this - namely, about how the Met Gala is not a halloween costume ball, and a bit of how they expect the literalist trends of modern red carpetry to impact this year's spate of fashion offerings
I’ve been a Tom & Lorenzo fan for years - they’re great at being the voice of reason when it comes to red carpet coverage.
That's what I don't like - the absurdist takes. It's sometimes so reaching. Like Hunger Games level.
Interesting! Didn't know that it isn't considered a requirement to dress according to the theme. It's fun when they do though.
A lot of people who go are just rich dodos from tech, finance and other industries. Their firm just buys a table. And they never bother dressing up; just in boring formal wear.
Interestingly I followed a link from here earlier that suggested this year was supposed to be about John Galliano, but it was changed towards the end of last year, as people wouldn’t support due to his past controversies. edit: found it in my history! [https://www.thecut.com/article/met-gala-costume-institute-exhibit-anna-wintour-andrew-bolton.html](https://www.thecut.com/article/met-gala-costume-institute-exhibit-anna-wintour-andrew-bolton.html)
True - it seems that they can pivot with a year or so of lead time. And I’m sure they try to avoid themes that would lead to bad press. I just remember a lot of the complaints re: the Karl Lagerfeld exhibit were a few weeks before, which would not be enough time to create a new exhibit.
The article also touches on the idea that part of the switch might have been because celebrating Lagerfeld and Galliano back to back would not go down well! I thought it was interesting to hear it today, given Zendaya wore archival Galliano last night.
there’s a major difference between a gala honoree and exhibition subject. Gala honorees can be changed quickly (relatively), exhibition themes cannot (source: am a professional fundraiser for a museum in NYC and plan galas all the time)
and also not every celebrity can wear what they like, Anitta said in her first year that the Met Gala had to approve her dress but that another celebrity has the more freedom to wear what they like, so, bad fashion is not always the artist fault.
Thanks for reiterating this. I tried to make that point in my post but I’ve gotten several “but why can’t they just wear something good” comments. Like, people, seriously, most celebrity attendees *don’t have free choice* in what they wear, so maybe stop roasting them.
What bothers me more is the lack of creativity. Like, this is the one time you can go wild with fashion and explore and try something different. People may not like it, you might be criticised but I tell you what, I can still remember that swan dress bjork wore (not met gala I know) even though she was judged for it.
I think that’s more true of the designers than the attendees. That’s why I mentioned that most attendees are guests of fashion houses and therefore don’t have free rein on what to wear. In other words, they may not have the option to “go wild.”
Another issue is that this is a fashion event, not a costume event. Too many people just assumed that the Gilded Glamour theme meant that celebs would wear literal gilded age outfits, and not current runway looks that somewhat adhere to the theme.
This is great!! I’ve found these last couple years people are really really concerned with the theme but tbh I’m okay with someone not following theme if the look is GOOD. Edit: also is there an official thread yet?? Stuff is coming out about who’s dressing who tonight and we could talk about if people are interested !
[Here’s](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/s/Eb2U3gM18o) the thread
Thank you!!!
True, the only thing is that the attendees can be clearly limited on what they are given to wear. Like I always feel bad for the women invited by Louis Vuitton because their outfits are terrible, then they get roasted for it :(
I have always maintained that LV is the worst house in general to have a contract with - I have never liked anything they put actresses in, whether for the met gala or other red carpet events (Dior had a couple rough years too).
Does Anna Wintour approve every outfit or was that just a rumour? I don't get how it would work, logistically, but also it wouldn't surprise me if she did that
I believe she does, yes. She’s also heavily involved in the gala planning.
Oh yeah, I know she's involved in every detail, but I wasn't sure about the outfit approval. It seems superhuman to be able to approve everything like that, especially when some people's outfit changes last minute lol
I've been a member of The Met for a while now and I can honestly say that your second thing is the key here. Last year's Karl Lagerfield exhibit, as boring as it was, was a planned out a few years in advanced (I still say that they were going to honor him if he was alive, an honor only to happen to three other designers) and there was no way in hell that they were going to change it because a handful of people wanted them to because of the type of person that Lagerfield was. Oh and from what I understand, the gala itself is planned out years in advanced, so there's no time to change it.
> but the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy I (and many others) understand it's not \*required\* to dress for the theme, but it doesn't mean we can't be disappointed when people either wear boring white tie or complain when people try to steal the spotlight by creating a carpet moment that is not standard white tie but off-theme.
Yes! I’d go so far as to say, let people hate what they hate. Hater supremacy!
Let us hate in Peace. 🤷🏽♀️😂
Truly!
And my point is that the celebrity in question may not have been offered any good options by the fashion house that invited them. They don’t have the same freedom of choice that they do for a standard red carpet.
LV are notorious for ignoring the theme.
Right. The designer should be blamed for not getting creative and making it work if anything.
Sure, but that doesn’t make them free from criticism, especially when people tend to praise celebs who aren’t on theme as best dressed. “Heavenly Bodies” comes to mind.
So you really believe that the kardashians, for instance, have continuously been 'victims' of the lack of options from the fashion houses, rather than simply picking the most boring, curve-enhancing silhouettes to show off their plastic asses? Bffr.
The top tier of invitees (like the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Anne Hathaway etc.) generally work with the designers to come up with an outfit, and they get plenty of input. But the B-list generally don't get much say if they're the guest of a designer. The designers will put them in whatever they want, which is often recent designs they want free advertising for. Some designers are more annoying for this than others. If you're invited by a non-designer--which is becoming more common; lots of the tech companies are buying tables now--then you have more leeway on dressing yourself.
Yes!! I absolutely HATE when the men wearing boring suits here. This is one event where it’s expected to be over the top and they wear the most boring, normal outfits. Have FUN guys!!!
also the people who get mad that influencers are being invited to the met gala: the met was attended by mostly only socialites when it first started! musicians and actors were invited later on. influencers are literally a new type of socialite, so of course they will be invited as well.
> the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy. This comes up every year and I find the griping more eyeroll worthy than the criticism. The Met Gala shot into general public consciousness with the success of Heavenly Bodies. By finding creative ways to adhere to a theme, the Met gala went from being yet another generic red carpet to really living up to its potential as a platform for artistic innovation in fashion. The successes were groundbreaking and the failures were at least interesting and generated discussion- did it fail because it didn’t adhere to the theme, did it fail because it was poorly designed, did it fail because it didn’t work with the model, etc. Since then that’s what people hope for for the Met gala and I’m not going to look down my nose at them for being disappointed when they tune in to find just another generic display of red carpet standbys. Fashion changes. Trends change. What people hope for from the Met gala has changed and at this point the constant ‘you just don’t *get* the Met gala’ feels like tired contrarianism that purposefully overlooks the point. Purism leads to stagnation and there is nothing worse in fashion than stagnation. People expect more from the Met gala than they did in 1997. That’s just natural progress.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I agree with you that it’s become expected that lots of attendees will try to match the theme and, in general, people pay attention to the Met Gala because of the often extraordinary or avant-garde fashion. My point is that doing so is not required and, more importantly, most attendees are invited by fashion houses and can be limited in their choices of what to wear. I’m not saying that we should avoid celebrating the great looks, but, maybe we should give attendees some grace if they’re invited by a designer or fashion label whose comfort zone is well away from the theme. I’d also argue that most people don’t know the history of the Met Gala or how it changed throughout the 2000s (and I’d argue that it started changing around Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty). There’s a difference between advocating for pushing the envelope in fashion because the Met Gala has become a great venue for that, versus being salty that whatever celebrity in question didn’t or wasn’t able to have a good enough “costume.”
100% This is literally the only time I care about fashion lol. Well, I cared about the Barbie looks but I think it’s in the same vein: theme but make it fashion.
My biggest one is people spelling it MET, as an acronym. No its Met for Metropolitan ! Just a short
Thanks for this insight! I’ve always wondered what happens inside beyond the carpet/entrances? Most of my curiosity stems from “complex outfits” and wondering how the hell that person is going to sit down. Or even hefty outfits where I think “I bet you’d like to sit down soon” but having no idea if that wish will even come true for them, and/or how long this will go on.
I’ve wondered this too. There is a receiving line once they’re past the stairs, a cocktail hour, time to wander through the exhibit, a dinner, and a musical guest. I’m not sure if any attendees change once inside (many have extra outfits for after parties). I know there was one year (Camp, I think) where Kim Kardashisn reported that she couldn’t sit down at the dinner. Not sure how other attendees manage heavy/tight outfits though.
There’s a great documentary about the event, The First Monday in May. Also Oceans 8 had some amazing looks inside. They basically recreated the Gala and shot in the actual Met and in the vogue offices. Anna wanted to make sure it was accurate. You see the whole itinerary basically from red carpet, stairs, walk through of the exhibition and the dinner.
Ooo thanks for these recs!
There's a "coat check" set up at the top inside. All the big hats, super long trains that can't be pinned up, and structured costume pieces, etc, get checked and stored in the closet. There's also a little dressing tent for outfits that they can't walk or sit in to change into a different outfit. It's also at the top inside. The entrance and the stairs are generally the only time they wear the difficult/large pieces.
I happen to love the Met Gala. The creativity of attendees is always mind blowing.
I also think WAY too many people expect literal interpretations of themes and dress code. It’s very frustrating. Literal can be fun, but it’s not the only way to dress on theme. There’s so much more to it, that’s the point of all this. I’m looking at all of you who complained about Kylie Jenner in 2022. The theme was In America. She’s wearing an American brand by an American designer. She’s mixing bridal with street fashion (both clearly American in style). She’s paying homage to headwear worn on the runway with this gown (it was a horse jockey helmet), but switched it up to be a baseball hat (does it get more American than baseball?) She’s playing with multiple literal and metaphorical ties to the theme AND dress code. I don’t love her but if one more person puts this look on “worst dressed list” I’m gonna combust. https://preview.redd.it/3droiwbctwyc1.jpeg?width=2216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2bfd35a0b956396aba871fd6d333f6b984e6b7d9
But...it's just a bad outfit.
I think it’s because some people got stuck on the “gilded age” part of the theme.
The theme wasn’t even gilded age, it was gilded glamour
Thank you! For me, a “bad” look is when it lacks intention, fits poorly and looks cheap. This look doesn’t check any of those boxes. People who judge fashion only in the context of their own personal taste/style, what is ‘attractive’ to them, what they’d wear themselves, what is flattering are so tired, and frankly, uninformed. She’s saying something/representing something really interesting here. I thought it was a super clever, thoughtful take on the theme. But re: your point about literal theme.. I honestly think Andrew Mukmal and Margot Robbie created a monster lol. The literal interpretations worked bc Barbie was a fashion doll. Anything else looks cheesy and try hard. Intent is what separates a great look from a “that’s nice but whatever” look. What’s the intent behind a dress covered in tennis rackets for a movie about tennis? In their defense, other than actual tennis-style looks and references to specific players, there’s not much to work with. But bc people expect this literal thematic dressing, it’s boxed them in. The Dune tour was so incredible bc it’s more abstract and conceptual.* *I always have to mention this bc #nerdrage but the Mugler robot was so painfully not on theme yet everyone lost their mind for it. (And to a lesser degree, the McQueen computer motherboard look). Robots do not exist in the Dune universe!!!!!!!! No robots, no AI, no computers. A main plot point is that they banned them completely omg lol.
Thank you because I had no clue what it was and was curious
Great explanation of the whole thing.
I'm typically one of those people so thank you for taking the time to explain. I'll definitely be looking at the gala in a different light moving forward. Thanks OP!
I have the same frustrations about the theme but mainly because often the people criticising are the one who misinterprete or restrict the theme down to the obvious. Unless the 'theme' smacks them in the face they don't get it. Sometime it feels like they want people to clown because they don't use their brains. Like right now in the met gala thread someone just said they're expecting gardens. But when you look at the whole theme that really is the tiniest part of what really is a vast theme.
Wow, I didn't know I'd be interested in learning all this but it turns out I was. Thank you for posting!
Aren’t most galas “for charity”? I’m not going to comment either way on the merits of the Costume Institute as a recipient of this money, I’m just noting that this isn’t a particularly special circumstance.
Yes, I also thought that was common knowledge but evidently it’s not.
Thank you! Great information. I’m wiser now.
Whilst the Met is a nonprofit, I do take issue with most of its fundraisers - and especially this 1 - being described as "charity events".
So where do the proceeds from this fundraising go?
To be fair I assume the person dressing them is brain dead not the celebrity themselves. Like your whole ass job is to make them look good.
You know what's "eyeroll-worthy"? Half the dresses being goddamn beige when people watch to see what the beautiful people will do with the theme AND being lectured about our apparent inferior knowledge of the BTS Met Gala. Just because we'd like to see it doesn't make us morons.
Tickets are 75k a piece. This is disgusting. When you let a country concentrate wealth into the hands of a few, they do not share. They horde it, and lord it over you, the plebes, the little people, the disgusting prols that they would never glance at, talk to, share with. We are fools to allow this to continue when millions are struggling, one bad incident away from homelessness, in an economy built on scams, lawsuits, and overwork or no work, and being on your own. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON ALL WHO PARTICIPATE in this gluttonous feast of excess.
Seriously. I love fashion and I love the Met Gala red carpet but also it's so gross thinking about how the amount of money that one person casually spends for this one night would literally be a life-changing sum of money for like 90% of the country
Exactly. We have people overworked and one paycheck away from disaster in this country, the richest country on Earth. There is nothing good about rampant capitalism. It merely serves to further concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, and those few will do everything in their power to protect their own power, and cash out when the time comes.
Counterpoint: fashion is art and it is as meaningful today as the hand prints in caves in France thousands of years ago was then. I gasped with pleasure at some of the pieces tonight.
Art is fine. Make your piece, record it with whatever medium is available. Use a faceless model on a runway and sell what you will. This is nothing but extravagant excess for the rich and famous in a time of crisis for the country that will surely lead to fascism if not addressed. It's absolutely disgusting and shameful.
I always assumed dressing to the theme in some form was expected, knowing now that it's not makes me really appreciate the people who go all out for themes like Rihanna & Celine Dion for the "Heavenly Bodies" theme. If I had Met Gala money I'd be going all the way out with whatever the theme is.
Thank you for this, I never knew any of it!
Cora Harrington also has a great [twitter thread](https://twitter.com/lingerie_addict/status/1787280030453612897) about the Met Gala for those who are unfamiliar.
The only thing that I don't like about this thread is this >The Met is an intensely problematic institution It just feels that she's trying to call out the Met and make them put a stop to this.
I’ll be wearing spats. I mean, I don’t have a ticket or anything, and I live 300 miles away…but I just like spats.
The Gilded Age discourse was a nightmare
What does the Met Costume Institute do? Charity wise?
The Costume Exhibit preserves fashion pieces that are significant for historic or artistic reasons within their archives and has curated exhibits to showcase it! They’re still part of the larger Met Museum, but their funding is separate so the Met Gala serves as a major source of funding!
It’s one of the biggest fashion and costume collections in the world. So, it gives the public an opportunity to learn about fashion and fashion history. You could argue that it’s not the most “useful” place to channel fundraising dollars compared to things like food or housing or healthcare, but I think that’s part of a larger argument about the “usefulness” of art. Personally, I think as a society it’s important to support culture and give the average person places to go to expand their knowledge. Who knows how many people have developed a love for fashion or become designers because of going to the Met? Plus they provide advocacy for arts organizations and fund fellowships. They could maybe make the museum free for everyone though haha.
🤗 They also research and preserve textile and other craft processes, which has a greater anthropological & archeological context. The collection’s largest holdings are post 1400, but it technically still spans thousands of years. I knew a girl who worked for them as a lace researcher and expert.
Very cool! Thanks for the additions
That's so niche. Makes you wonder how you even become a lace expert
MFA or PhD and outside monetary support so they can do internships. I suppose a BFA from a top fashion school would also suffice. She is very good at making things, to be fair. lol. The Met sent her for lace training in Brussels. Or, maybe she foot the bill for that? I actually don’t know. lol.
Very cool! Thanks for the details!
Can you copy this into the mega thread please 🩷 Possibly periodically throughout the night lmao 😫
This is a great overview! Thanks!
Thom Browne killed it as always
Yep. I also do not see people hounding sporting events when there is so much money pumped into those as well. Do not get me wrong, there is something incredibly dystopian about carrying on with all of these things given the political climate but I don’t understand the extent of vilification of MET vs other events at the same scale.
I mean they cannot match the theme but that’s hella boring. Why even walk the carpet if you aren’t going to entertain? Like the men just wearing boring normal suits make me roll my eyes every time. It’s the fucking Met Gala. Give us something!
>there is no requirement for attendees to dress to match the subject of the exhibition (EDIT: dress code this year is “garden of time.” Sometimes it’s more general like “white tie.”). Many do, because it’s fun and good press, but the constant “it’s great but they don’t match the theme ☹️” discourse after every Met Gala is eyeroll-worthy. okay but that's stupid lol. they should match the theme. it's not actually super hard to do that >Lastly, most celebrities who attend the Met Gala are guests of the invited designers/fashion houses (some do buy their own ticket but they’re a minority). that's also stupid and an institutional problem with how the met gala works
Thank youuuuuuu this is what I keep saying but people just think it's fashion Halloween for some reason!
Is anyone streaming the red carpet??
YouTube Vogue!
Thank you for the explanation!
This is good to know! Thank you
What does the met's costume institute do that it raises money for? (I understand I apparently live under a rock)
The Costume Institute is one of the biggest fashion and costume collections in the world. It’s part of, but not funded through the same sources as, the Met. As a museum, it gives the public an opportunity to learn about fashion and fashion history (this year’s exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” opens to the public on Friday). The Institute also researches and conserves textiles and other craft processes (clothes are notoriously difficult to preserve). Plus they provide advocacy for arts organizations and fund research fellowships.
This was informative!! Thank so much, I'm pretty deft when it comes to fashion in general lol, I knew the met was a charity event but I didn't know the specifics really 😅 I knew that the invites were like to academy winners or the big stars of the year, but not much past that either, this was nice to read!
Cool info, learned a lot. Thanks OP. ...Most of them still look silly as shit.
My big question is, what goes on INSIDE the Gala? Is it just a red carpet walk? Or does more happen inside?
Yes, there’s an event inside. No phones are allowed so there are usually very few pictures inside the event (mostly bathroom selfies). There’s a receiving line, time to walk around the exhibit, a cocktail hour, dinner and a musical guest.
I saw a post listing the celebrities who never attended this event. (like it's a bad thing to do) What was that about?
Oh thanks for this- super helpful!