The 2024 Met Gala theme, officially titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” has caused confusion due to another dress code called “The Garden of Time.”
If you’re feeling perplexed by these themes, you’re not alone. The complexity of this year’s Met Gala prompted Anna Wintour to issue an apology.
“This exhibition broke my cardinal rule,” Anna said on Today ahead of the Met Gala. “When we came up with the title ‘Sleeping Beauties,’ it’s wonderful and poetic and romantic, but actually, it could be many, many things.”
“I said, ‘What are we gonna say to people to wear to this night?’ And [MET Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton] said, ‘Well, what about ‘Garden of Time?’ So, I fear that we’ve unleashed a lot of confusion out there, and for which I deeply apologize.”
So, what’s the essence of this year’s event? Think springtime blooms, as demonstrated by Anna’s attire. Departing from her usual Chanel ensembles, Anna wore a Loewe tailored wool coat adorned with floral motifs crafted from hand-dyed feathers, tonal beading, and pearl embroidery. She paired it with a white silk dress featuring additional floral embellishments.
While there’s more to explore, the Met’s press release outlines that the exhibition will delve into themes of rebirth and renewal, offering immersive experiences to revive historic garments through sensory activations.
Meanwhile, Vogue said, “The forthcoming show has not to do with the Brothers Grimm or Disney but rather the celebration of clothing and fashion so fragile that it can’t ever be worn again—and are thus sleeping beauties in the scrupulous archives of the Costume Institute.”
