by: Chloe Wilson
Culture Editor

The Met Gala, an annual event for celebrities to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was held on May 4. The theme this year was Fashion is Art, with many celebrities dressing in creative outfits that various designers engineered, featuring all types of imaginative interpretations of art.

Eleanor Lambert first created the Met Gala in 1948 to raise money for the museum. Now, Anna Wintour, global chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, has chaired the event since 1999. Wintour shared in a press conference about the Met Gala: “Years ago, this was a very small event, and honestly, we sometimes had to chase people to attend. Fashion, we were a bit of a curiosity. Now fashion is everywhere and belongs to everyone.”

The co-hosts of this year’s event were Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. All categories of celebrities attend, from sports players to singers and actors. Many of the outfits reflected traditional forms of art. For example, Emma Chamberlain, who has attended the Gala six times, stunned fans with a beautiful gown that drew inspiration from a watercolor painting. She also returned as an interviewer this year, interviewing celebrities like Hailey Bieber, the founder of Rhode Beauty, Doja Cat, and Bay Area native, Alysa Liu. Another notable attendee, Heidi Klum, model and Project Runway host, left viewers in awe with an intricate, full-body statue inspired by a marble sculpture by Raffaele Monti. She played pranks on guests inside the museum, explaining, “I would stand perfectly still as guests walked by, convinced I was part of the décor. Then, when I moved, they were surprised.”

Additionally, for the gala’s performance aspect, singers Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks performed together. The duo sang Landslide and Don’t Stop collectively. Carpenter also performed some of her own hits like Espresso, Please, Please, Please, and House Tour. For the red carpet portion, Carpenter wore a dress made out of film reels from the 1954 romantic comedy Sabrina, featuring Audrey Hepburn.

Additionally, many couples attended the Met Gala with creative outfits from various stylists. A$AP Rocky and Rihanna surprised fans with their elaborate looks. Rihanna wore a metallic outfit with 3D aspects while A$AP Rocky wore a light pink suit. Furthermore, Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral and Marcello Hernandez impressed with their all-black looks: a custom Thom Browne tuxedo and an Oscar de la Renta gown

Overall, the Met Gala was an amazing display of creativity as celebrities exhibited their art and continued the tradition of the fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

(Sources: The New York Times, Vogue, Washington Post)