The Met Gala, the charitable event supporting the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, concluded yesterday. A record $31 million was raised before the event began, with around 450 celebrities invited and tickets priced at $75,000.
The theme for the event is based on the spring exhibition of the Institute, which this year is titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The exhibition explores the evolution and contribution of Black men’s fashion to culture from the 18th century to the present day.
It is the first Met Gala theme in over 20 years to focus on men’s fashion and the first in history to highlight non-white designers.
The exhibition is based on Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity and focuses on the historical concept of the dandy—a man highly concerned with his appearance—and how this concept was embraced by Black people, allowing Black men’s style and the work of Black designers to leave a lasting impact on fashion history.
It is the first Met Gala theme since 2003 to focus on men’s fashion and the first in history to spotlight non-white designers. The editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine highlighted the “top” trends of the night: black-and-white outfits, striped clothing, suits, and hats.
