Florals in Spring? Could be groundbreaking!
Yet another year and yet another Met Gala on the way; and this time the theme references a sordid tale of Count Axel and the Countess in their utopian abode with a garden of crystalline flowers, embodying beauty amidst dystopian challenges, where preserving paradise is as elusive as holding onto every grain of sand. The theme might seem like its lacking levity, which was ever so present in the 2019 theme ‘Camp’. Or the almost gothic and subtly macabre tale might feel like a grim starting point, but with attendees in the past being able to put their own twist on it, we're sure to see some sartorial visions on the red carpet.
Decoding the theme
Spoiler alert: Ultimately, J.G. Ballard's story concludes with an encroaching mob destroying the once-tranquil villa, leaving behind a derelict property with a neglected garden, featuring a statue of the entangled Count and Countess amidst thorny belladonna plants. So can we imagine underlying themes such as ‘Lovers in distress’ or ‘Misunderstood elitists’ in the garbs chosen by celebrities? It's definitely high brow, as some critics have pointed out. And given that the majority of the male attendees show up in just clean tuxedos with a hint of the theme peeking through, it's the girls and the gays who might have to do the heavy lifting. And even them, simply putting on a fluffy floral gown and call it a day. Stylists and makeup artists will have to take artistic freedom to newer levels with this theme. After all, the heroine of the story is known to be a great beauty!
The co-chairs & the exhibit
The Met Gala goes hand in hand with a curated fashion exhibit by the Met Museum. Titles, ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’, this year's exhibit is a fusion of cutting-edge curation and technology, showcasing around 250 items from the Costume Institute's permanent collection, some rarely displayed publicly, in an innovative presentation.
Spanning 400 years of history, the core exhibit will feature items ranging from a 17th-century English Elizabethan-era bodice to contemporary acquisitions by designers such as Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Connor Ives. In addition to these, designs from iconic creators like Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, and others will contribute to a curation aiming to unravel and illuminate our perception of the natural world through the lens of dress and textiles.
Vogue's Anna Wintour, who plays the role of Chairwoman for the Met Gala as well, picked Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny as the co-chairs. Each of the four entertainment powerhouses have their own relationship with fashion and it's perceptions around it. While the fashion girlies as getting ready to be gagged by Mother Zendaya, many are also looking forward to Bad Bunny's eccentric blend of style and flamboyance to have some effect on the dress codes. May 6 couldn't come any sooner!