On Monday, May 5, the annual Met Gala occurred at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Formally known as the Costume Institute Gala, the event is a fundraiser that benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In addition, it is an opening celebration for the museum’s yearly fashion exhibit.
The Met Gala is considered to be one of the most exclusive social events in New York, and one of the biggest fundraising nights within the city. The event hosts guests ranging from personalities within the arts and fashion to film and music.
Each year, Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief and chair of the event since 1995, chooses the dress code or “theme” of the affair. This year, the theme was “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,”which celebrates the late fashion designer, Charles James and his famous “Clover Leaf” dress that was recreated for the exhibit.
Along with choosing a theme, Wintour and her staff are in charge of producing a guest list. For those who wish to attend but are not included on the exclusive list, tickets for the 2014 gala cost approximately $25,000.
The red carpet at the Met Gala is by far the most eye-catching moment of the night, as all of the guests reveal their extravagant ensembles. While some invitees don looks influenced by Charles James’ designs, others simply dress to impress the public with their grandiose gowns and suits.
There are always countless fashion highlights at the gala, and the day after the event there are endless discussions on the “best dressed” and “worst dressed” of the evening. For the 2014 affair, it seemed as though there were more “worst dressed” than “best dressed” guests, but a number of stars managed to come out on top.
Emma Stone in a pink crop top and skirt combination by Thakoon, Blake Lively in a glittery Gucci gown, and Suki Waterhouse in a ruffled, princess-inspired frock by Burberry, were named as some of the best dressed of the evening.
Guests who did not quite match up to the Met Gala’s expectations included Lena Dunham, Lupita Nyong’o and Kate Upton.
The Met Gala has been held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1971, and continues to influence art in the fashion industry and around the world. Each fundraiser raises an increasing amount of money, with this year’s bringing in up to 12 million dollars. Now that the 2014 event is over, preparations have already begun for the celebration that will take place next year.