My project highlights the Met Gala’s significant role in New York City, emphasizing that fashion is more than aesthetics—it reflects identity and contributes to community culture. As depicted on my poster, I featured several individuals’ attire. To start with, Cher’s 1974 Met Gala look, created by Bob Mackie, was beaded and feathered, embodying her theatrical style and showcasing fashion as a form of performance art. Cher’s bold fashion encouraged others to step out of their comfort zones, as seen in Blake Lively’s 2018 dress. Lively’s outfit blended vibrant colors and intricate details, merging historical and modern elements. This illustrates the Met Gala as a fusion of history and creativity. Conan Grey’s red carpet appearance shows how men proudly express their unique styles, emphasizing the Gala’s inclusivity and encouragement for bold, outside-the-box fashion choices.
Christy Turlington’s outfit from 1992 was defined by a minimalist black slip dress. The simplicity of the dress reflects the influence of the early 90’s style and represents how NYC can be characterized by elegance. This is similar to Alia Bhatt’s first Met Gala appearance in 2023. She wore a stunning Prabal Gurung gown embellished with 100,000 pearls, showcasing her Indian heritage. People worldwide bring their unique styles, making it a diverse and global celebration of art and fashion in New York City. NYC embraces a wide spectrum of styles and aesthetics.
At the 2018 Met Gala, Chadwick Boseman and Alek Wek not only showed great style but also highlighted their cultural identity. Boseman wore a white Versace suit with gold embellishments but most importantly demonstrated how NYC is a place for expressing and blending cultural heritage. Alek Wek’s mosaic-inspired H&M dress looked stunning and showed how fashion can express culture positively. As an H&M ambassador, Alek supports causes like education and women’s rights, connecting art, fashion, and social change in NYC. In 2021, Cara Delevingne and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used their Met Gala outfits to make strong political statements, proving that fashion can challenge norms and push for meaningful change beyond just looks. Their choices highlighted how clothing can speak volumes about important social and political issues.
Overall, The Met Gala is more than just a fashion show. It turns into a lively form of art and self-expression. Each outfit becomes a canvas, telling stories of creativity, culture, and personal identity. It’s an occasion that creates a lasting impression, strengthening the identity of New York City.
Samiha-HaqueCited:
All Met Gala 2018 Dresses – Met Gala Red Carpet Celebrity Looks – Elle, ELLE magazine, 7 May 2018, www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/g19738646/all-met-gala-2018-celebrity-dresses-red-carpet/.
Burga, Solcyre. “Met Gala 2023: Here’s Everything You Need to Know.” Time, Time, 30 Apr. 2023, time.com/6275873/met-gala-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/.
McClelland, Megan. “Alia Bhatt Dons 100,000 Pearls in Her Met Gala Debut Look.” Grazia Middle East, ITP Media Group, 2 May 2023, graziamagazine.com/me/articles/met-gala-2023-alia-bhatt/.
Ostberg, René. “Met Gala.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 15 Nov. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/Met-gala.
Peppin, Hayley. “Seven Socially Conscious Style Statements at the Met Gala.” Harper’s Bazaar Australia, 10 May 2022, harpersbazaar.com.au/met-gala-fashion-political-statements/.
