Since the first Monday of May 1984, there have been 38 annual Met Galas, each one meant to draw in the donations of A-list celebrities for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute.

Beginning almost a century ago, the Costume Institute was a foundation established by theater producer Irene Lewisohn and stage designer Aline Bernstein.

It wasn’t until 1948 did fashion publicist Eleanor Lamber create the Costume Institute Benefit. The event was centered around a midnight dinner and quickly became the party of the year.

By 1970, once the gala was taken over by Vouge, first with editor in chief Diana Vreeland and now Anna Wintour, it became the event it is today.

After close to 100 years of costume funding and 38 years of fashioned partying, the Metropolitan’s event is on of the most renowned nights for fashion.

Included in each gala is a long list of guests and a long line of paparazzi.

Every year the Met Gala debuts a new exhibit at the museum. The gala’s coordinators then brainstorm a theme for the attendees to dress to. No matter what however, they must uphold a black-tie dress code.

Some memorable themes from past years included “Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” presenting the Met’s exhibit Heavenly Bodies from 2018 and “Fashion in an Age of Technology” representing exhibit Manus x Machina in 2016.

It seems the older the tradition becomes, the more extravagant the fashion becomes. It’s a night for iconic outfits and is expected to meet high standards of critics and the public.

This year however, the theme, attendees, and gala overall received some negative feedback, reaching a low the Met Gala hasn’t seen in years.

This year’s exhibit presented American fashion over the decades, the title being “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” However, the theme referenced a specific time period with it being “Gilded Glamour.”

The gilded age spanned from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and marked rapid growth and development in America.

With this year’s theme, gala anticipators were expecting the return of the bustle, vibrant and rich tones, structured bodices, luxurious fabrics, and modern twists or historical references.

Some celebrities were spot on.

“Thank you, Bad Bunny,” fashion analyst Luke Marr said with relief in a Met Gala review from Haute LeMode. Wearing Burberry, Bad Bunny captured an element of the 1890s with his outfit being somewhat reminiscent of a gilded age bicycle suit.

Many critics, along with Marr, were satisfied and grateful for Bunny’s fashion forward and historically accurate representation. Especially after looks such as Kim Kardashian.

Kardashian donned the infamous “Happy Birthday Mr. President” Marilyn Monroe dress. Not just a replica, but the real artifact borrowed from “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”

“In my opinion, it’s an abomination,” Marr began with. Similar reviewers agreed, “It would have been great if she could have done this look for the September Met Gala,” reviewer Mina Le said, “But we’ve moved on [From Kim].

Kardashian’s look was by far one of the most controversial of the night. Firstly, it did not meet any aspects of the gilded era. And secondly, it disrespected and risked damage of the historic outfit.

This Met Gala look was one among many others that just weren’t popular. Between the missed prompt and the uncreative sets, this event did not live up to the standards of its millions of fans.

Notable outfits that only further contributed to this downfall were Sebastian Stan’s all hot pink Valentino track suit, Kylie Jenner’s Off-White wedding dress and backwards baseball cap, and Cara Delevigne’s Dior statement piece.

Despite this night being the Oscars of fashion. There’s an undeniable pattern of viewers, both professional and unprofessional, asking “why can no one follow the theme?”

Sources:

Vouge:

https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/met-gala-2022-red-carpet-live-celebrity-fashion?state={%22redirectURL%22:%22/slideshow/met-gala-2022-red-carpet-live-celebrity-fashion%22}

https://www.vogue.com/tag/event/met-gala

https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-to-know-met-gala-guide#intcid=recommendations_vogue-verso-hp-trending_7e85c50d-1642-4b0c-96ec-09eaf3e0a53f_popular4-1

https://www.vogue.com/article/the-met-gala-2022-dress-code-gilded-glamour

https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-met-gala-video

https://www.vogue.com/article/met-gala-themes

Vanity Fair:

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/photos/2022/05/the-2022-met-galas-american-theme-winners-who-did-it-best#:~:text=May%202%2C%202022,the%20decades%20and%20the%20fashion.

National Park Service:

https://www.nps.gov/elro/blogs/gilded-age-fashion.htm

People:

https://people.com/style/met-gala-2022-sebastian-stan-neon-maison-valentino-pink-look/