The Met Gala, the most anticipated fashion event each year in New York, has established itself as a space where glamor and exclusivity come together under the strict rules of Anna Wintoureditor of Vogue and organizational brain of the gala.
During an appearance at CBS This MorningWintour and the Met curator, Andrew Boltonhighlighted the fundamental rules for guests: smoking and touching the works of art are prohibited.
In 2017, public figures such as Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson and Mark Jacobs were photographed smoking cigarettes in the bathroom during the Met Gala. This incident caused discontent among the event’s board members and donors, who considered it “disrespectful to the art collection.”
Page Six later reported that, following complaints, attendees at the 2018 Met Gala were notified that it was “illegal to smoke inside the museum”. This warning was included in the event invitations, specifying the strict ban on tobacco consumption.
The ban on smoking indoors in New Yorkwhich includes office buildings, bars and theaters, was implemented in 2003 by order of the then mayor Michael Bloomberg. This underlines compliance with public health regulations and the protection of artistic heritage.
Beyond the discarded personalities, is there a process for selecting guests? “It depends on the year. Depends on the theme of the exhibition. “There really isn’t a clear answer to that,” explained the editor-in-chief of American Vogue since 1988. “We are always interested in trying to reflect a cultural moment and what we believe is happening in the world at any given moment.”
Although the absence of an invitation may bother some celebrities, Anna urges them to consider that there will be new editions in the future: “There is always another year,” she said. “Every year we try to make it different, have different people come.. So obviously there’s always another year.”
It should be noted that Anna Wintour He publicly stated which people he would not invite to the meeting again. Met Gala. During an appearance at The Late Late Show in 2018, when consulted by James Corden Regarding celebrities she would exclude, Wintour directly named donald trump. The former American president and his wife Melania Trump They were regular attendees and last appeared on the red carpet in 2012.
In a similar vein, Tim Gunnformer mentor of Project Runwayclaimed that he was banned from the event by Wintour after sharing an anecdote considered unflattering about her in ThePost. Gunn described the incident as triggering “an open war” since then, during his appearance in Fashion Police from E! in 2016.
The Met Gala It is not only a fashion event, but also a significant fundraiser for the Costume Institute, reaching almost 22 million in the previous edition. Tickets cost USD 30 thousand dollars per person. and USD 275 thousand dollars per tablealthough some guests, especially emerging designers and celebrities selected to wear specific creations, are exempt from payment.
Despite the high price, there are waiting lists To secure a place at this exclusive meeting, limited to between 500 and 800 attendeesseeking to maintain an intimate and select atmosphere.
Event planning is a detailed process that begins right after the current year’s gala, involving approximately 100 people, with 10 full-time Vogue employees. Anna Wintour meticulously oversees every aspect, from tablecloths to lighting, ensuring that every detail contributes to the event’s unique experience.
The theme of each edition seeks to reflect a significant cultural moment, being “The Garden of Time” the leitmotiv of 2024, inspired by the author’s story J. G. Ballard and complementing the exhibition of the Costume Institute, “Sleeping Beauties: The Rebirth of Fashion” (Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion).
This year’s co-hosts include Latin music stars Bad Bunny and Jennifer LopezAmerican actress Zendaya and the Australian actor Chris Hemsworthwho collaborate with Wintour not only in promoting the event but in defining its central theme and organizing the dinner.
The guest list, always a jealously kept secret saved until the last moment, promises to bring together prominent figures from entertainment, fashion and music, demonstrating once again why the Met Gala It is considered the most important night of the year in the fashion world.
