Celebrities in extravagant and expensive outfits flood social media websites every year. The pictures of the celebrities at the Met Gala in costumes ranging from beautiful and intricate to complicated and weird flood social media websites and are always turned into a meme.
The hosts of this year’s event were Naomi Osaka, Amanda Gorman, Billie Eilish and Timothée Chalamet.
This year’s Met Gala, held on Sept. 13 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was much smaller and intimate in comparison to years prior. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, there were fewer participants in person at the event.
Although the event was much smaller than usual, there were big statements made with the outfits that were worn and the messages various celebrities publicized.
According to Vogue magazine, those attending had to show proof of vaccination and were required to wear masks inside unless they were eating or drinking. However, some viewers were not overjoyed about the lack of masks on the red carpet.
“I am surprised that none of them masked up since we are in a pandemic,” said Jordan Snipes, a junior political science and psychology major.
The theme of the Met Gala was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” It was a tribute to American fashion, history and independence.
Alongside independence is freedom of speech, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used this freedom at the event. Ocasio-Cortez wore a white dress with the words “tax the rich” in bright red fabric on the back of her dress.
Since Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the Met Gala making this profound and controversial statement, there has been debate on whether this was the place for her to make this statement or if she should have waited for a different opportunity.
“I was not impressed by the political stance that some were trying to make,” Snipes said.
In opposition, Jayda Scheper, a sophomore psychology major, said she liked that the representative seized the opportunity to make a statement.
“I liked the fact that AOC placed a political statement on her dress. It is freedom of speech, so I think she should have that platform to freely express,” Scheper said.
Ocasio-Cortez’s dress was not the only outfit that caught people’s attention this year. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles made her appearance wearing a white and black gown that, according to Vogue magazine, weighed 88 pounds.
Chloe Pearson, a senior educational studies major, compared the outfits from the night to the garish costumes worn by Effie Trinket and the citizens of the fictional upper class described in Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games.”
“I must say this year’s Met Gala outfits made it seem like we were in ‘The Hunger Games’ with the Met Gala being The Capitol because of ridiculous and horrendous outfits,” Pearson said. “The designers were really thinking outside of the box this year.”
At this year’s Met Gala, history was made as Blackpink’s member Rosé was the first K-pop star to attend the event. At the event, Rosé was seen alongside her director Anthony Vaccarello, wearing a black dress that was accented with a white piece of fabric crossing the top.
Each year it is exciting to anticipate which celebrities will be attending the event and getting to see both what and who they are wearing. As time goes on, hopefully, next year’s event will be closer to normal allowing more people to attend.
