The first Monday in May is heralded as "The Superbowl" of fashion, with the annual fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art welcoming a plethora of soignee luminaries and celebrities to observe the new costume exhibit. This year's theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashions and the Catholic Imagination;"its corresponding museum exhibition showcases the magnanimous relationship between fashion and various masterworks of religious art.
The guest list includes a wide range of celebrities deriving from different sectors of popular culture; actors, musicians, politicians and social media influencers are usually seated with each other for dinner and performances. The Met Ball's longstanding host, Anna Wintour, creates the guest list with her team of Vogue contributors and sponsors. From there, the invited designers pick their celebrity muses and spend months leading up to the glamorous affair designing one-of-a-kind ensembles.
It is not a requirement to dress accordingly to the gala's current theme, as it is not stated in the given invitation. However, as the event celebrates fashion and it's connection to various aspects of culture and history, there is an unspoken appreciation when a celebrity figure arrives in a gown or suit that perfectly balances the gala's theme and their personal creative interpretation.
So without further ado, here are some Met Gala attendees who decided not to follow the respective theme.
1. Kendall Jenner in Virgil Abloh.
The reality television star has a long history of not following the Met Gala's theme since she has been invited for several consecutive years.
2. Gisele Bündchen in Versace.
The supermodel's silk dress was a stark contrast with all the headdresses, crosses and Catholic imagery.
3. Brooke Shields in Zac Posen.
The legendary model and actress wore a lovely navy gown with beautiful Tiffany jewels.
4. Ming Xi in Prabal Gurung and Tasaki Jewelry.
The Victoria's Secret model wore a hot pink gown with geometric cut-outs.
5. Kylie Jenner in Alexander Wang.
Reality television star and beauty mogul arrived in a jet-black Alexander Wang gown with delicate sunglasses. The gown had a long elegant train with a structured bustier.
6. Liza Koshy in Alessandra Rich.
The social media influencer wore a sheer slip dress embellished with a peter pan collar, ornate detail and crystal buttons. Koshy was invited by Vogue to interview celebrities while they walk into the museum.
7. Gabrielle Union in Prabal Gurung.
Gabrielle Union's gown depicted a bold hue of yellow. Like many other Met Gala attendees, Union's gown included a long flowing train.
While several guests decided not to follow the gala's theme, the event was still a wonderful success. Each celebrity and designer collectively brought worldwide attention to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raising thousands of dollars in donations for the museum to continue.
