MET Gala: Celebrate the return with these iconic themes over the years

Who doesn’t love a good Met Gala? Since the coronavirus pandemic, we had to say farewell to this extravagant occasion. But today, our prayers have officially been answered as we’ll get to witness some high top fashion on the red (or even pink) carpet very soon! As a matter of fact, Harper Bazaar reported that we can look forward to a two-part event. 

According to the publication, the Met Gala’s first event will begin on September 18th with the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”. And if you thought that theme is excellent, wait until May 5th 2022 when we see our favorite celebs go totally gaga with the second theme “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. 

Not every Met Gala has showcased Hollywood actors’ & actresses’ best looks, but we have to admit – it’s always super exciting to see what they’re going to wear, and more important, what the theme means to them! Let’s celebrate by taking a look at some of the best Met Gala themes of the 2010s! 

Punk: Chaos to Couture

Let’s face it fashion has never been the same, but at the Met Gala in 2013, the “Punk” theme was definitely for all the punk rockers out there! (Yes, we’re looking at you Pink). 

Elle magazine noted that the event’s theme was actually to “celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2013 exhibit “Punk: Chaos to Couture”. However, we must mention that a certain Queen B definitely took the crown in her gold & black Givenchy Haute Couture gown by the infamous Riccardo Tisci – Beyoncé. 

Charles James: Beyond Fashion

The 2014 Met Gala went off without a hitch! According to Vogue, the theme of the annual event was inspired by the highly-impressive couturier Charles James. 

Thankfully, the event showcased only the finest works from fashion designers like Ralph & Russo Couture, Prada, Rodarte, and many more. 

Who was the best dressed? Well, why don’t you ask Sarah Jessica Parker in her stunning Oscar de la Renta floral-like gown . . . no for real, the gown was known as the “Petal Dress” according to Entertainment. 

Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology

Not only was the iPhone 7 released in 2016, but the Met Gala’s theme, “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”, was out of this world! According to Vogue, the both nostalgic & futuristic theme represented “(traditionally) the distinction between the haute couture and the prêt-à-porter was based based on the handmade and the machine-made.” 

And since we’re going back in time, let’s applaud the former One Direction band member Zayn Malik and supermodel Gigi Hadid for their Tommy Hilfiger & Versace look. 

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination

Despite some people’s hesitation, the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme didn’t just work, it truly exceeded our expectations. Time noted that the theme was “to create a dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art”. 

Though we can’t pick one best dressed celeb, we can acknowledge some of the most iconic looks like Ariana Grande in a very angelic custom gown created by Vera Wang, Blake Lively slaying in custom Versace & Christian Louboutin heels, and lastly, Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn & Christian Louboutin heels. 

It looks like Christian Louboutin shoes were definitely the pick of the night! 

Camp: Notes on Fashion

You might remember one of the best themes of all – “Camp: Notes on Fashion”. But did you know that the Met Gala theme was to pay tribute to Susan Sontag’s essay on aesthetic? Vox reminds us that the writer actually described Camp as the “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.” 

So what did Lady Gaga do? Well, she only gave us the best Met Gala performance of our lives by wearing a number of phenomenal pink & black outfits by Brandon Maxwell. Not only were her four outfit changes a big surprise, but Gaga also paired her looks with an extravagant cellphone bag by Judith Leibor. Did someone call the fashion police? Because those heels definitely made a fashion statement! 

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Which Met Gala theme is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.