The 2022 Met Gala “Gilded Glamour” Theme Explained
The Met Gala is upon us! On May 2, our favorite celebrities will be walking the glamorous carpet into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, wearing the best and brightest fashion has to offer. It’s no question the Gala has become one of the biggest events in modern pop culture with spectators all over the world eagerly waiting to see how celebrities show up to the “Super Bowl of fashion.”
Gilded Glamour
Each year, the Gala hosts its extravagant party in conjunction with the museum’s newest exhibit from its fashion department, The Costume Institute. This year’s theme, “Gilded Glamour,” features the Gala’s first white tie dress code since 2014. The theme highlights iconic fashion from the Gilded Age in American history, which spans from 1870 to 1899. Guests are asked to “embody the grandeur—and perhaps the dichotomy—of Gilded Age New York.”
As the period represented growth and prosperity, the costumes are meant to be extravagant, complete with frills, ruffles, bows, formal attire, and more. In the late 1800s, electric looms resulted in faster fashion so it is expected that this year’s costumes will feature a mix of textiles like silk, velvet, and satin. Bustles, statement hats, and fine jewelry were must-haves and hopefully will be revisited or re-interpreted on the red carpet.
In terms of beauty, following the turbulent economic growth of the era, hairstyles at the time were striking and highly elaborate. Braids, complicated updos, and curls were favored by women, who usually grew their hair long. Toward the beginning of the period, the pompadour was particularly popular, so we can expect attendants to reference key points of the iconic hairstyle. Additionally, make-up opportunities are aplenty. In sync with the opulence that the theme invites, there’s the revival of beauty statements on the runways. Lavish embellishments, glitter, and jewels would make for a perfect modern-day interpretation of the excesses of the era.
American Fashion Part 2
Gilded Glamour was chosen in celebration of the second portion of The Costume Institute’s two-part exhibition on American fashion. Last year’s portion, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” explored the expression of fashion in modern American society. This year’s installment, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” explores American fashion throughout history, showcasing fashion artifacts dating from the nineteenth century to the present. The exhibit opens to the public on May 7.
This year’s co-chairs are American Actress Regina King, actor and Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, and acting power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, along with the Counsel of Fashion Designers of America president and designer Tom Ford and Vogue Magazine‘s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.
How to Watch
The Met Gala live stream will begin at 6 PM EST and will be available to watch live across Vogue’s digital platforms as well as their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The broadcast will be hosted by Vogue editor Hamish Bowles, singer and actress Vanessa Hudgens, and TV personality La La Anthony who will be interviewing talent on the red carpet steps as they arrive at the event.
Be sure to check out the star-studded event on Monday night!
Want more fashion? Check out Dior’s Fall 2022 collection here!
