The Met Gala: Denim, Football Jerseys, and Glittering Gowns
By: Mallika Saoji
Every year the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a fundraiser for the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition which decides the theme for the Gala. Known as “fashion’s biggest night out,” it is a time for stars to dress up in extravagant looks and celebrate the art of fashion.
After being canceled in 2020 and delayed the year after, the Met Gala finally made its return on September 13th, 2021. The Met Gala is held to fund the Costume Institute, and allows the general public a glimpse into the fashion scene of the time through pop culture icons that many people follow. As an avid viewer of past Met Galas, I was very excited to see what would be on the red carpet this year. This year’s theme was based on the exhibit opening September 18th, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” with the specific dress code being “American Independence.” To many, the theme was seen as confusing and untimely, considering the events that have happened in the US over the last eighteen months.
So, why this theme? As stated by Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute, “the American fashion community has been supporting us for 75 years… so I wanted to acknowledge its support, and also to celebrate and reflect upon American fashion” and additionally stated, “I really do believe that American fashion is undergoing a renaissance. I think young designers, in particular, are at the vanguard of discussions about diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainability and transparency.” It seems as though this theme is meant to celebrate past American fashion while shifting focus onto the up-and-coming designers of the decade and the increased awareness of the importance that inclusivity and sustainability should have in the fashion industry.
The beauty behind this theme is that it is open to many interpretations, as people have unique connections to American fashion and identity that can be expressed in many different forms. However, its openness for interpretation may have also been its downfall. While some outfits missed the mark, some celebrities interpreted and executed the theme perfectly. While this is not a comprehensive list, here are some of the Met Gala looks I thought were the most on theme and grand enough for one of fashion’s biggest nights.
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Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson’s uniquely structured dress was beautiful, and the perfect complement to her quintessentially American black cowboy boots and hat. There was a perfect contrast between the glamour of the dress and the ruggedness of the boots and hat.
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Lili Reinhart
Arrayed on Lili Reinhart’s pink dress are the fifty state flowers; a beautiful nod to the theme. While the base pink dress is a little simple, the flowers and train make it both stunning and Met Gala worthy.
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Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o wore a dress that showcases a staple of American fashion: denim. Although jeans did not originate in America, they gained popularity with the miners of the Gold Rush due to their durable quality when Levi Strauss brought the material west. James Dean wore the material in the 1955 movie, Rebel Without a Cause, popularizing the material with the general public, and now jeans have been a staple in American closets for decades. The common material is elevated in a unique way, creating a stunning gown with a pleated, short train, beaded details, and a unique structure.
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Quannah Chasinghorse
Quannah Chasinghorse wore a flowing gold gown accented by beautiful Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry from her aunt and former Miss Navajo Nation, Joceyln Billy Upshaw’s, collection. Historically, Native American culture has been misrepresented and squashed down in America for centuries. Native Americans were pushed out of their homes and forced to stop many cultural practices, while children were being taken away to residential schools. Quannah Chasinghorses’ celebration of her culture, which has been pushed down for generations, is so important. She was perfectly on theme by representing Native American fashion, a huge part of American culture and its history that has been forced to the sidelines for too long.
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Nikkie de Jager
In this homage to Marsha P. Johnson, who was an extremely important figure in the Stonewall Uprisings and a LGBTQ+ rights activist, Nikkie de Jager wore a flower crown, and a turquoise dress with a banner stating “Pay It No Mind,” which was Marsha P. Johnson’s slogan. When people asked her about the P in her name, she would say that it stood for “Pay it no mind.” Marsha P. Johnson was a groundbreaking and influential transgender woman, and as a transgender woman herself, Nikkie de Jager’s homage was very meaningful. This tribute was an amazing interpretation of the theme.
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Barbie Ferreira
Barbie Ferreira looks absolutely stunning in this gown that is dripping with pearls. This dress is so unique and a great choice for the Met Gala, as it is not only different and fancy, but it takes inspiration from the flappers of the 1920, a great representation of the theme. The 1920s was an iconic time in American fashion, as after the horrors of World War One women began to express themselves more and fashion became more daring and freeing with the relaxation of social norms.
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Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan’s outfit was a tribute to Anna May Wong, a famous Chinese-American actress. Her dress was dazzling, with the silver dragon pattern standing out against the simple black dress, and the pastel green train behind her accenting the dress beautifully. The outfit also celebrated Anna May Wong, who fought against prejudice in Hollywood and paved the way for those who came after her. Gemma Chan’s look celebrated the history of Asian Americans in history by honoring trailblazer Anna May Wong.
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Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X gave us three looks on the carpet; definitely Met Gala worthy. He began in a huge beaded, flowing gold robe, then revealed a gold suit of armor underneath it, and finally ended in a black and sparkly gold catsuit, which, to me, was reminiscent of the fashion of the 60s and 70s.
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Kendall Jenner
Inspired by Audrey Hepburn, Kendall Jenner wore a sheer, jeweled dress modeled on the stunning white dress worn by Hepburn in My Fair Lady. The detailing on the sleeves of this dress is beautiful, and drawing inspiration from an icon like Audrey Hepburn is perfect for the theme.
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Anok Yai
There were so many great looks incorporating stars, but Anok Yai’s was by far my favorite. Besides the symbol of stars, the outfit was inspired by American icon Josephine Baker, a great interpretation of the theme. The sparkling beading of stars, moons, and flowers contrast beautifully with the black dress, which was paired with a black feather boa.
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Ciara
Ciara’s sequined gown was inspired by a football jersey and the lime green color is a nod to the Seattle Seahawks, which is her husband’s team. I thought this dress was ideal for the theme, as it represented football, a sport that developed in America and became ingrained in American culture. Additionally, the outfit was unique and memorable, which is what the Met Gala is all about.
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Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish’s stunning pink gown was inspired by both old Hollywood, specifically Marilyn Monroe, and the Holiday Barbie. The gown’s flowing train and draping off-the-shoulder sleeves were beautiful and did the theme justice.
References:
https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-we-know-about-met-gala-2021
https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/met-gala-2021-red-carpet-live-celebrity-fashion
https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/met-gala-2021-on-theme-looks
https://www.insider.com/met-gala-celebrities-who-dressed-like-hollywood-icons-2021-9
https://www.sunrise-nutrition.com/blog/2020/8/21/the-erasure-of-native-america
As a fashion luddite, I appreciate the analysis of the different looks and learned something. Thanks!