The fashion industry’s equivalent of the Oscars happens on the first Monday of May of each year. However, the effects of Covid-19 had put a pause on this highly anticipated event which just returned for the first time in over a year on September 13.

The Met Gala is an annual event that raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institution in New York City. Famous celebrities attend this event with iconic designers in support of the MET’s new exhibit. 

The Met Gala is known for its extravagant costumes and unique themes including “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” in 2018 and “Camp: Notes on Fashion” in 2019. This year the Met Gala theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” which was influenced by the inclusivity and fluidity implemented by American designers. 

The broad description of the theme of this year’s Met Gala led to a variety of interpretations by designers. Many saw looks paying homage to Hollywood icons, like Billie Eilish wearing a dress inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Kendall Jenner wearing a dress inspired by Audrey Hepburn. Some were inspired by legendary American figures, like Yara Shahidi dressed in a look inspired by Josephine Baker who was a civil rights activist, while others paid honor to American culture like indigenous model, Quannah Chasinghorse, who arrived dressed in a look inspired by her Native American heritage.

Other celebrities in attendance were Timothée Chalamet, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, and Olivia Rodrigo.

The outfits of the celebrities spark conversations throughout news outlets and all platforms across social media. People rave about their favorite looks of the night while criticizing the less popular looks. The Met Gala allows a time for people to talk about the eccentric styles and creations coming from the fashion industry. 

Despite the controversy surrounding some looks from the Met Gala, it provides a time for people to appreciate the art of fashion. Fashion is a prominent way of self expression and allows people to experiment with different styles. 

Bold fashion choices should be encouraged in order to allow people to feel confident and comfortable in what they are wearing.

The Met Gala will be a continued tradition for many years to come and will always be an iconic event in the fashion industry.