The only Monday I ever look forward to is the first Monday of May; The Met Gala! This year's theme of the exhibit was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. It was designed to create a dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art in the Met’s holdings.
The show included extraordinary inspired pieces from top designers, from Versace to Balenciaga, alongside actual papal robes and accessories from the Sistine Chapel sacristy in Italy! Needless to say this was a Gala for the books.
If you aren't familiar with the Met Gala I will give you a quick rundown. Often dubbed the “Oscars of the East Coast” the Met Gala is a charity fundraiser to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It's used to celebrate its latest exhibition opening and is by far the social event of the year. The guest list, since 1995, has been carefully presided over by Vogue editor Anna Wintour and her team. Only 700 people make the guest list each year. So yes, you have to be pretty well known to get this invitation!
However, if you have money to spend (and I mean more than just $20 in your bank account like I do) you can buy tickets and a table. Tickets are around $30,000 per person and tables cost around $250,000-$275,000. In other words, if you’re not an A-list celebrity or a multi-millionaire, chances of you attending this event are very slim.
Celebrities such as Rihanna dressed to impress and in my opinion nailed this year's theme. She wore a pope-inspired ensemble. It included a white beaded Margiela corset mini dress under a full skirt, with a beaded bishop’s hat to match. The outfit was accessorized with a pearl anklet and a bejeweled crucifix necklace.
Other celebrities followed suit with these year's theme such as Lily Collins. Her look, though decidedly revealing in fabric, silhouette, and style, seemed inspired by the traditional look of the nun. She wore a halo of a crown that was made of a metallic black metal and was placed on top of her slick-back hairstyle.
Ariana Grande’s dress really caught me by surprise. The singer may not be known for her edgy and risk-taking style but she for sure captured this year's theme. The dress was stunning: long and flowing with water color-tinged Sistine Chapel prints all over it. This dress, made by Vera Wang, was inspired by Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement,” a painting inside the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. She took this year's theme and ran with it.
There are many other celebrities that killed this year's theme but these were the top three that stood out to me. This year's Gala was one for the books and I am already looking forward to next year; only 363 days left!
