The Met Gala, the annual fashion extravaganza that raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, has revealed its theme for 2024: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”.
The theme, announced on Wednesday, November 8, is inspired by the museum’s spring exhibition, which will showcase 50 historically significant garments that are too fragile to be worn again. These are the “Sleeping Beauties”, which will be brought to life through innovative display technologies, such as video animation, light projection, soundscaping, artificial intelligence, and CGI.
The exhibition, which will span 400 years of fashion history, will also feature nearly 250 pieces from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, highlighting the natural materials and motifs that have shaped the art of dress. The exhibition will be divided into three zones: land, sea, and sky, each representing a different aspect of nature and its influence on fashion.
The exhibition’s curator, Andrew Bolton, said that the theme aims to celebrate the “emotional poetics of fashion” and its connection to the body and the senses. “Fashion is one of the most emotional artistic forms because of its connection to the body,” he said. “It is imbued with memory and emotions, and we relate to it very much via our senses. One thing I hope this show will activate is that sensorial appreciation of fashion.”
The theme also reflects the growing awareness and importance of sustainability in fashion, as the industry faces the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. By emphasizing the natural world and its beauty, the exhibition hopes to inspire a more conscious and responsible approach to fashion production and consumption.
The Met Gala, which will take place on Monday, May 6, 2024, will be co-chaired by a yet-to-be-announced group of celebrities, who will be expected to dress according to the theme. The event will be sponsored by Loewe, the Spanish luxury fashion house led by Jonathan Anderson, who is known for his eclectic and experimental designs.
The Met Gala is widely regarded as one of the most glamorous and influential events in the fashion calendar, attracting the biggest names from the worlds of entertainment, art, and culture. The event is also a major fundraiser for the Costume Institute, which relies on the gala’s ticket sales and donations to support its exhibitions and acquisitions.