When the first Monday in May rolls around, the RUSSH team; alongside millions of other fashion-obsessed eyes across the globe tune in for the 'Superbowl of fashion'. Yes, we're obviously talking about the Met Gala. A night where everyone who is anyone walks the instantly recognisable red carpet that leads into New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for an exclusive night that we subsequently watch take place on social media in the days that follow. Following the eventual cancellation of last year's soiree, we've been waiting eagerly to find out whether the new year would present a different outcome. Thankfully, there is hope; with news breaking overnight that the Met Gala is reportedly making a return for 2021.
After plenty of discussion and speculation around this year's theme; the details have finally been announced. Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have announced the Galas official comeback with the news that there will be two separate exhibitions resulting in two separate Met Galas, and two. sets. of. looks. As for the theme? Wintour and Bolton are being decidedly patriotic this year, with exhibition number one titled In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, which will open on September 18, and aims to explore the “modern vocabulary of American fashion”.
Think newcomers like Kerby Jean-Raymond, Eckhaus Latta, and Collina Strada. The second gala, In America: An Anthology of Fashion, marks a return to the Met’s usual scheduling on May 2, 2022, and will look back at the history of American fashion icons like Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg, and Carolina Herrera.
Originally, last year's Met Gala red carpet theme was titled About Time: Fashion and Duration. As far as hosts go, we are still speculating that the ethereal Amanda Gorman and CFDA chairman Tom Ford will act as hosts.
Considering the COVID-19 restrictions still in place, 80 percent of the clothes on exhibition will reportedly come from the Met’s own vaults, with a single garment originating from outside the US. “We very consciously wanted this to be a celebration of the American fashion community, which suffered so much during the pandemic,” Bolton told The New York Times.“I think American fashion is undergoing a renaissance, with young American designers at the vanguard of discussions around diversity, inclusion, sustainability and conscious creativity. I find it incredibly exciting.”
Although last year's Met Gala event didn't come to fruition, it didn't stop some of our favourite sartorial trendsetters from celebrating. A YouTube livestream, titled A Moment With The Met allowed everyone to participate in the festivities; with performances by Florence + The Machine and a DJ set by Virgil Abloh setting the tone. To replace the red carpet, the fabulous Billy Porter hosted a #MetGalaChallenge. Fans were invited to recreate their favourite Met Gala looks from past years on Instagram; and the results were more than impressing.
After a year on hiatus, we have no doubt that the 2021 Met Gala looks will be here to serve. Bring on September 18 – ASAP.
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