The Met Gala; the ultimate red carpet where fashion finatics flock. Vogue called it “fashion’s biggest night out,” and they’re right. With over 182 celebrities in attendance, with cochairs Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka, it was easy to be star struck. Especially since the 2021 Met Gala is the first to be live streamed, viewers worldwide can get a taste of fame for a night. Designers did not particularly stay on theme, which was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, but were not afraid to make a statement. Keeping with the theme, there was a lot of red, white and blue, so let’s talk about some looks! Matilde Murteira ‘22 says, “The theme itself was good, but the outfits were not matching the theme. They were just weird.” Aleija Johnson ‘22 followed up with, “It was a really strong theme, but I feel like if they put more guidelines to it [The Met Gala] could have been a little better. It was just American fashion, and that was it. That’s so broad!” They both agree their favorite ensemble is Black Lively’s red and gold gown from 2018 Met Gala themed Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Their favorites this year include Grimes and Kendall Jenner. When questioned, Johnson says, “My favorite: Kendall Jenner.”  Murteira confirms, “Yeah. Kendall Jenner.” Johnson explains, “I like how she paid homage to Audrey Hepburn, because that’s American fashion, even though she wasn’t American, which is interesting.” Then quickly says, “Did you see Grimes?! She was the one who had the knife. So good! I felt like that was the perfect look. I saw a TikTok talking about that. It was talking about how she brought a sword to an event where you didn’t need a weapon. That’s American. Bringing a weapon somewhere you don’t need it. See, that’s what I’m saying. Her fashion is speaking for itself.” When asked about their least favorite they agree again. “Least favorite: Lil Nas X.” says Murteira. Recalling Lil Nas X’s three tiered gold outfit, Johnson adds, “He did a lot of things. I give him credit for that, but none of them were good.”

Of course, it’s not all about fashion. The event is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although, fashion fans and activists are concerned about the truth behind the money. Murteira expressed her concern stating, “We just don’t know if that is true. We don’t know if the money is going to the museum or somewhere else.” Johnson is more hopeful, with an art trip to New York City soon. She comments,“We’re going to The Met. So that’s going to be cool to see and maybe talk to someone there about the money they fundraised.” Left with dissatisfaction and unanswered questions, fans look ahead to the next Met Gala on May 5, 2022.

Quotes

Aleija 

“It was a really strong theme, but I feel like if they put more guidelines to it [The Met Gala] could have been a little better. It was just American fashion, and that was it. That’s so broad!”

“He did a lot of things. I give him credit for that, but none of them were good.”

“I got to say it. I love Timmy. It was good, but it wasn’t his best. He could have done a lot better.”

“My favorite: Kendall Jenner.” “I like how she paid homage to Audrey Hepburn, because that’s American fashion, even though she wasn’t American, which is interesting.”

“Iman! She was the one that wore the big, gold [outfit]. That just reminds me of America: big and bright. That’s America.”

“I feel like there were people who had good outfits, but it wasn’t on theme. Then there are people who fit the theme, but it was like ‘ew.’”

“You have to let the fashion speak for itself, and you can’t put words on and expect that to be the message. That’s not how it works.”

“A lot of people stuck to old Hollywood, and I like that a lot.”

“Did you see Grimes?! She was the one who had the knife. So good! I felt like that was the perfect look. I saw a TikTok talking about that, it was talking about how she brought a sword to an event where you didn’t need a weapon. That’s American. Bringing a weapon somewhere you don’t need it. See that’s what I’m saying. Her fashion is speaking for itself.”

“We’re going to The Met. So that’s going to be cool to see and maybe talk to someone there about the money they fundraised.”

Matilde

“The theme itself was good, but the outfits were not matching the theme. They were just weird.”

“Least favorite: Lil Nas X.”

“Yeah. Kendall Jenner.”

“We just don’t know if that is true. We don’t know if the money is going to the museum or somewhere else.”

Emma Chamberlain 

“And it truly encapsulates pop culture in a way I don’t think any other event does.”