May 4, 2020
By Caila Barreiros
Staff Writer
For the past 72 years, the MET Gala has been one of the most iconic fashion events in the world. However, due to the coronavirus, the elaborate themed party that has become synonymous with the first Monday in May has been called off.
In past years, at the invitation-only event, which is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to raise money for the museum’s Costume Institute, designers have chosen a celebrity to model for them and wear their dress or suit.
Celebrities including Beyonce, Gigi and Bella Hadid, the Kardashian sisters and Blake Lively have been in regular attendance. Some stars wear the same designer every year and others wear different designers. Among the designers and brands who have become synonymous with the gala are Chanel, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton.
This year’s theme was planned to be “About Time: Fashion and Duration” in honor of the 150th anniversary of the museum. Attendees were meant to draw inspiration from the MET’s exhibit by the same name, which contains 160 fashion items and was set to open to the public on May 7. Now, the exhibit’s debut has been postponed until Oct. 29.
The “Fashion and Duration” theme takes on a special significance now, as it speaks to the endurance of fashion through difficult times and its ability to capture the spirit of the moment.
During World War II, for instance, skirts became shorter to save material. Pleats and extra pockets were deemed too extravagant for the war and “utility” fabrics produced in large quantities were popularized. During this era of hardship, designers conveyed to the public the message that an outfit could be simple and functional while being sophisticated and fashionable.
This year’s theme was planned to be “About Time: Fashion and Duration” in honor of the 150th anniversary of the museum.
Likewise, designers are now merging function and fashion by releasing high-end face masks and instructions for creating face masks at home.
Gala coordinator and fashion icon Anna Wintour has not issued any comments about a new date for the event, which takes almost an entire year to plan, and the museum has been closed since March 13.
Wintour is famously known for her quote: “It’s all about timing. If it’s too soon, no one understands. If it’s too late, everyone’s forgotten.” This quote is quite fitting for this occasion since the gala may need to be pushed back for so long that people lose interest in it entirely. For that reason, the organizers may decide it is best to cancel the fundraiser altogether, which is a frightening thought for fashion lovers who so very much look forward to the one-of-a-kind event.
