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On May 6th, the Met Gala is returning to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the New York City with the theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” With an exclusive guest list and expensive dresses, the Met Gala is the perfect exhibition for all things art and fashion. However, many viewers and social media users have expressed confusion for the event and have compared it to the Hunger Games due to its pretentious nature. There is heavy discourse on the Gala being created solely for the upper class to flaunt their wealth. Despite the answer looming in plain sight, many still ask the question: what is the purpose of the Met Gala?
Created in 1948, the Met Gala fundraises for the costume department of the MET museum. Having hundreds of celebrities in one area with extravagant outfits not only gains the museum recognition and traction, but the content made about the event raises money. Instead of being a display of wealth and prestige, the Gala’s purpose is humanitarian and is necessary to preserve art in the museum. The 2024 Met Gala raised $26 million for the costume institute that enables the museum to hold collections of thousands of fashion objects.
“Influencers on social media like rating the outfits of the Met Gala which is pretty funny because the main idea of the event should be about the fundraising,” junior Elliana Nan said.
The MET has gone under heat throughout the years for releasing themes that audiences deemed “not good enough.” This year’s theme is a tribute to the African American influences in art and fashion and draws inspiration from the “black dandy” style. The black dandy style is characterized by European menswear like suits and formal wear but with a distinct African influence and aesthetic.
Expect to see attendees dressed to the nines and co-chairs A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Anna Wintour and even Lebron James on your television screen with unique, never-before-seen outfits. The arrivals of the Gala can be watched through the Vogue website and on cable.
