As dawn broke on the first Monday in May, the 2024 Met Gala red carpet (this time a blend of lime green and cream) roused from its yearly slumber, ushering in the arrival of fashion’s most anticipated night. This year, the gala celebrates the exhibit, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, co-chaired by Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya , and Anna Wintour. The exhibit showcases over 200 pieces, intricately woven with links to nature’s canvas, with its pièce de résistance lying in its “sleeping beauties” garments. These delicate creations, too fragile for conventional display, are housed within ethereal glass cases, inviting viewers to marvel at their fragile beauty. Meanwhile, the green carpet’s theme drew inspiration from J.G. Ballard’s dystopian 1962 short story, “The Garden of Time,” which served as a rich metaphor for the cycles of creation and destruction that define humanity and clothing. As usual designers and their muses created their own interpretations ranging from archival finds to botanical inspirations; Gigi Hadid donned a Thom Browne creation adorned with roses and petal details, its lower half mimicking a jacket, a look requiring over 5000 hours of craftsmanship. Zendaya shut down the carpet in two pieces; a Maison Margiela ensemble in emerald and sapphire, reminiscent of Galliano’s time at Dior with a recreation of a S/S 1999 couture look, complemented by a hat from the iconic milliner Stephen Jones. Her second look was a vintage pull from John Galliano’s debut haute-couture line for Givenchy, adorned with a Philip Treacy for McQueen S/S 2007 bouquet hat. Lana Del Rey, returned to the Met Gala channeling the evening’s mystical theme, appearing in a sinister tree look by Alexander McQueen’s Seán McGirr that paid homage to its founder, while Anok Yai shimmered in Swarovski crystals, blending the hues of the sea in an ornate jumpsuit. Below, we delve into our favorite looks from the 2024 Met Gala red carpet.
