The theme for MET GALA is Black Dandy. Superfine: Tapping into Black Style will be front and center on the Mega Red Carpet May 5th 2025 in New York City.
These Black Dandies came from our Pitti Uomo collection.
Tag: met gala
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Met Gala’s Garden
The Met Gala happened yesterday. The ultimate “LOOK AT ME “Red Carpet ceremony went off without a hitch after brokering a last-minute deal averting a strike involving NewsGuild members of Conde Nast employees. Anna Wintour took center stage. The Vogue head has transformed the event into the most important annual fashion ritual on the calendar with global celebrities and business tycoons attending.
This year’s theme “Garden of Time” was inspired by JG Ballard with hosts Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth and Zendaya. The dress code inspiration centered on nature with proceeds going to the Costume Institute.
Admittingly, this year’s looks were striking. The designers got the memo, then went to work.
Way ahead of the pack, Cardi B., the rapper took over the scene with a more means more black strapless look.
Zendaya is the Modern Queen of the Red Carpet, no argument on this end. The Dune star decided to have two looks for the night by Maison Margiela.
According to Vogue Gigi Hadid’s dress White Rose dress took 13,500 hours to create. The Thom Browne creation is a mix of satin and silk moire with thorn appliques and the off the shoulder corset.
Gwendoline Christie in a Masion Margiela black and red ensemble was a subtle stunner.
In the “Only eat one carrot a day” the Sand Dress from Balmain worn by songstress Tyla will rank as a Met Gala standout.
Barry Keoghan’s Burberry three-piece suit with top hat took the Beau Brummell prize for romance and elegance in the menswear category.
Has the Met Gala aged well? Red Carpet bashes feel more ponderous than glamorous. The format comes across as modern as our grandparent’s prom pictures.
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Fashion’s TOPSY TURVY
As the fashion world moves along its topsy turvy twists and turns, the latest news makes a person’s head shake.
MET GALA
The MET Gala is coming up. The New York City Soiree is the Red-Carpet event for the rich and famous. Anne Wintour’s grand showcase is where fashion labels pay a celebrity to show up looking gorgeous. The proceeds from this “charity” go to the Metropolitan Museum. The irony, Vogue, along with parent company Conde Nast is planning to lay-off 100 workers. As the magazine struggles for footing, the fashion powerbrokers are having a ball while saying” No money to pay the workers”. The term “Out of Touch” comes to mind.
Conde Nast staff is taking this laying down. The soon to be ex-employees are planning an action. Workers are planning an action to circulate flyers near the venue with the slogan “Anna wears Prada/Workers get nada.” NewsGuild of New York announced the intention is to bring attention to the ongoing negotiations. While the Queen of Fashion is toasting many of her subject writers may need to open GoFundMe accounts to pay rent.
Reality
In the “Was it ever real” category, luxury online shopping has imploded. Until recently, once the darling of investors, the so called “savior the fashion world” is going out of style faster than bell bottoms. E-commerce sites hit valuations of $25 billions and higher, those days are gone. Matchesfashion went belly up with a heavy debt load owing 200 vendors, including luxe labels Victoria Beckham, Gucci, Max Mara and YSL. Administrators are selling office furniture. Customers will not get refunds or have orders finished.
Farfetch, the Paris base digital shopping giant has fallen on hard times as consumers cut back on high-end spending.
While attending fashion events in January and February buyers from these platforms were going around trying to convince brands all was good, no need to worry. Please keep doing business with us. How did they do this with a straight face?
It is only April.
Karl Lagerfeld took front and center at the Met Gala 2023. KARL LAGERFELD:A LINE OF BEAUTY was the theme of fashion’s biggest Red Carpet. The legendary German helmed the luxury house Chanel for 37 years.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour along with co-hosts Rodger Federer, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel and Penelope Cruz brought the glitz and glamour to the exclusive Red Carpet affair, raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
As with so many other gilded events, this year’s Met Gala came across as awkward. Imagine putting together an IKEA shelf with a 12 degree leftward angle.
Would we go to the most exclusive party in the fashion world? This would be a hard a question to answer. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the club? However, it’s no secret the fashion industry is swerving on a mountain side road. Retailers as well as brands are feeling a hard pinch. Consumers have cut spending on clothing. Weak brands are falling while the strong ones struggle.
Reality? Who Cares!
Conde Nast has not been immune from shifts. The publishing house has fired staff, issued pay cuts and is decamping in Louboutins for newer, speculation is,,,, cheaper, digs.
I was recently speaking to a press agent about the speed of the change. No one knows who is in charge of publications. Email contacts now have a “no longer working here” instant reply. Journalistic quality has become questionable. What is an objective review? Magazines are now platforms for hire where if you do not pay there is no coverage. Press invites are more of a kin to potluck events, bring your own dish. In the past, agent relations were about seduction with Goodie Bag samples, generous catering and a conversation.
The Good Ole Days are gone. What happens now is more similar to a used car salesman in a polyester plaid suit trying to close a deal before the buyer becomes aware. As many press agents have lost clients, so have their kissing on the cheeks budgets decreased. Only the “In Crowd” may get a trinket. Food, maybe, is a croissant from a corner supermarket, if the lowly overworked intern has time to grab them. Call me adaptable, these days I pack a protein bar with a bottle of water for fashion press events.
Which brings me back to the Met Gala. Sure, it looks great, gilded circus food, cotton candy on a stick. But how long can you eat cotton candy?
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A Low Octane Met Gala
Of course I reviewed the Red Carpet fashion looks from the 2022 MET GALA. The big event raising money for the Costume Institute in New York City. Vogue Global Editorial Director Anna Wintour reigns over the biggest night in fashion. The theme this year “Gilded Glamor” raised a few eyebrows. The theme was either a stroke of insensitivity, pr genius or random luck given the growing wealth gap. Let’s face facts, how many of us can afford the $35.000 ticket? Only the rich and famous need apply for the First Monday in May dress up.
Funny, given the over top promotion on the Conde Nast platforms for millionaire party, a person would not think many of the publishing house employees have formed a union for better salaries, working conditions and security. Under the banner “Prestige does not pay bills”. Perhaps, a fundraiser for Vogue staff should be organised.
Relevant
Desperate to stay relevant, let’s face it, Vogue’ mountain top tastemaker status is under threat from platforms and content makers. The MET GALA is a cash cow for the aspirational publication with income streams from sponsors to high media value. According to the Business of Fashion, the 2019 MET GALA generated over $16 million.
The Red Carpet Gold Medal: Kim K stole the limelight channeling old Hollywood Glamour in a nude dress inspired by Screen Goddess Marilyn Monroe, hardly keeping with the theme of the night, but the reality star mogul understands the optics. For the other attendees, their A-Game fell short, lacking spectacle. As if invitees were unsure. In other words, “I’ll go, but make a social political woke statement at an elite event during a global pandemic in a world on the brink of World War 3.” I hope the food was good.
The Met Gala for 2019 took place on Monday. The annual event has evolved into an A list media fashion event in New York City. This years theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” from an essay by Susan Sonntag seemed broad for interpretation. Co-Chairs Harry Styles and Lady Gaga approached the benefit from Gender and theater. Styles’ Gucci black sheer pants suits with pearl earrings. The megastar singer follows the modern trend of challenging modern notions of masculine style. Meanwhile on red carpet center stage, co hostess Gaga decided not on a single look, not enough, showed off 4 in one.
This year judging the best looks became an impossible task. The pageantry overtook the fashion aspects.
Mainstream has embraced a sub-culture. There were many reports of people asking “what is camp?” Defined as tacky, over the top, exaggerated. As a gay male that questions is easy to answer. Drag queens have been “camping it up for decades”. Television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a weekly homage to camp culture.
As I looked over the attendees styled, Grace Jones came to mind many, many times. Capes, dramatic entrances, headpieces, androgyny has been her style for over four decades.
Proceeds from the Met Gala benefit the Metropolitan Museum’s Met Costume Institute. It was in fun. This year all lived up to the occassion.
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Met Gala Review 2
Met Gala Review part 2
I had a chance to go over the final images from the event. There were more looks I liked and ones I did not like.
LIKES
Natasha Poly
Liu Wen
Isabelle Huppert
DID NOT LIKE
Jessica Chaistain-The color tone and dress reminded me of a medicine bottle.
J-Lo-Blue Maleficent
Selma Hayek-Boring Balenciaga!
The spectacle that was the Met Gala 2017 theme was Rei Kawakubo, the Avant grade designer and founder of Comme des Garcons. Known for conceptual designs, Kawakubo has been at the forefront of edgy, sometimes surreal looks since 1969.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s curator Andrew Bolton and Vogue US Editor in Chief Anna Wintour have called “Rei a major influence in the world of fashion.” This writer would agree. Comme des Garcons advances fashion design in ways few other brands would even dare to try. Kawakubo advanced the colors, shapes and materials in unusual ways that were later filtered through to mainstream fashion.
There was no knockout look this year as A-list celebrities were challenged to merge Red Carpet with Vanguard style. Some did well; some should deserved honorable mentions, while others went over the cliff in failure.
Hit the Mark-Lily Collins, Sofia Sanchez, Ashley Graham, and Cynthia Erivo
Best Suits-Rami Malek, Cara Delevinge, and Aymeline Valade
Ralph Lauren Bedroom Collection from Bloomingdales in the form of a dress-Lena Dunham
Naked and too much sharing in all the wrong places-Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid
Bride of Dracula-Katy Perry
Misunderstood the invitation-Emma Roberts and Katie Holmes
Beetlejuice-Grace Hartzel
Surprisingly Demure-Kim Kardashian and Niki Minaj
Please buy a mirror-Madonna