2021 Met Gala
In this pop culture article, Naia Olivier will explain what the Met Gala is, who goes, and what happens at the annual celebration get-together, The Met Gala.
The 2021 Met Gala
By Naia Olivier
Are you a celebrity? Did you attend the 2021 Met Gala on Sep. 13? I assume that all of you just said no to both of those questions. You are probably asking yourself, “What even is a ‘Met Gala’?”, “What is a ‘Met’ and why do celebrities go to it?”. Most people (a) didn’t go to the gala, (b) are not celebrities, and (c) do not even know what the Met Gala is. If you fall into those categories or are interested in some Pop Culture to start off the day, stay here and enjoy the next few paragraphs where you will learn: what is, who goes, and what happens at the Met Gala.
Once a year, nearly 600 of the biggest celebrities, designers, and models are invited to attend the Met Gala, which Vogue magazine describes as “Fashion’s biggest night of the year.” This night, which usually happens in May, is a ‘Gala’ held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Although the Gala is a large fashion show and party for anyone and everyone who is rising to the top in pop culture, it is also a fundraiser and celebration for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and exhibits. Each year is different and no one knows who will show up until the exhibit starts, but it is certain that at least a few favorite celebrities will make an appearance.
A common denominator found in most areas of Hollywood fame is fashion, and with fashion comes expression. The main point of the Met Gala is how all of the attendees express the theme of the night through their outfits. This year’s theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” and, from this, many amazing outfits were created.
Some students at GPHS discussed all the outfits and senior Allison Robinson compiled a list of the top 3 best looks of the night. Starting off strong at number 1, was Billie Eilish sporting an Old Hollywood Marilyn Monroe-inspired dress. According to an article by Will Richards in NME, a pop culture website, “Billie Eilish... revealed that she struck a deal with the designers of her dress for last night’s (Sep. 13) Met Gala, saying she would wear their brand if they made their future clothes completely fur-free.” Eilish is a Vegan and she hopes that she can start convincing more and more brands to go down the road of fur-free fashion.
Next, at number 2, comes Timothee Chalamet, who wore a pair of dirty converse, sweat pants, and a tuxedo top. Although some may call his outfit lazy, fans and critics see it as a true interpretation of American culture, thus following the theme perfectly. His designer, Haider Ackermann, said in response to the vision of the outfit, “Whenever I visit America, I am always struck by the wonderful clash of uptown and downtown cultures, of music and sports, and all of this energy just mixing together,”
Finishing strong for number 3 is American activist and politician, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Cortez wore a white mermaid cut wedding-type dress with “Tax the Rich” written on the back in huge red letters. Cortez talked about the meaning behind her dress and said, "When we talk about supporting working families and when we talk about having a fair tax code, oftentimes this conversation is happening among working and middle-class people (on) the senate floor. "I think it's time we bring all classes into the conversation," This outfit took a different approach to the theme compared to others, but she and her bold statement were highly praised and admired throughout the night.
The next Met Gala will be in May of 2022, less than a year away. Each year will bring new discussions, new outfits, and new exhibits. With pop culture and popularities always changing, it is sure that the next Gala and year will be filled with excitement just like this one. There will always be exciting news on the famous role models of the century, so keep your ears and eyes open, and enjoy the show.
