Among the Superfine: How the Met Gala Curates Culture Through Couture

The Met Gala guest list—carefully curated by Anna Wintour and her Vogue inner circle—is one of the most elusive, envied, and tightly controlled invitations in the fashion world, where designers, celebrities, and influencers ascend the Met steps for a night of spectacle, symbolism, and style.

On the first Monday in May, New York City transforms. The Metropolitan Museum of Art becomes the beacon of fashion’s grandest fantasy. Cameras click to life, anticipation builds, and the carpet—its color reimagined each year to match the theme—unfolds like a whispered invitation into another realm. 

And just like that, the clock strikes couture.

This isn’t merely an event. It’s a cultural coronation, where ensembles are crafted with every stitch in mind — not just worn, but performed. A story is brought to life in movement, the theme interpreted through the singular lens of each designer. Jewels speak in gestures, and every entrance lands somewhere between myth and spectacle. But before the custom corsets and archival silks take their place in fashion history, there’s the million-dollar question on everyone’s mind:

How does one actually get invited to the Met Gala?

via The New York Times

A (Perfectly Dressed) History

The Met Gala began in 1948—not with a bang, but with a benefit. Organized by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the original event was a quiet, elegant fundraiser for the newly formed Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Intimate. Charitable. Less spectacle, more exhibition—fashion shown, not yet performed.

That changed in the 1970s, when former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland reimagined the evening as a full-scale production. Themes were introduced. Couture met theater. The Gala became a place where fashion told stories—and designers, muses, and cultural icons stepped into them.

via CBS

By 1995, Anna Wintour took the reins and transformed the Gala into what it is today: fashion’s most exclusive, influential, and meticulously choreographed night. The guest list is not just made—it’s composed. Every name, look, and placement is chosen with surgical precision, designed to serve the theme, the narrative, and the moment. No one walks the carpet without her sign-off. Not a donor. Not a designer. There are no plus-ones—every invitation is individual, deliberate, and earned.

Wintour doesn’t just host the evening. She curates it—conducting the Met Gala like a symphony, where couture is the score and each guest plays their part.

via V Mag

So… how does one actually get in?

It’s not just about fame. It’s about fashion resonance. You have to be part of the cultural conversation—not simply for who you are, but for how you show up.Whether you’re pushing boundaries like Rihanna—arriving late and unbothered with A$AP Rocky—or lighting up the carpet like Zendaya, in a custom Cinderella gown by Tommy Hilfiger, your entrance has to be a moment. And the one holding the wand? Law Roach—her fairy godfather and the genius behind every iconic step.

via CBS

Designers don’t just bring guests—they bring visions. Whether it’s a singular muse or an entire table of talent, these invitations are deeply intentional. Months of planning go into every look, every placement. A celebrity might be cast to embody a brand’s aesthetic, echoing the theme while also furthering the house’s legacy. Fashion houses often treat their tables like curated collections—each guest a living extension of the brand’s identity, each ensemble a visual thesis. The result is not a red carpet—it’s a runway of meaning, performed in real time.

In 2024, Zac Posen made his debut as Gap Inc.'s Creative Director by designing a custom denim gown for Oscar-winning actress Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The gown, inspired by Gap's classic 1969 denim, featured references to 18th-century silhouettes and the natural beauty of San Francisco. The look was more than just fashion—it was a statement of legacy, signaling a new chapter for the brand under Posen’s direction.

via RAIN Mag

Only the storytellers make the list. From Thom Browne’s sculptural drama—Cardi B’s crimson quilted gown in 2019 blooming into a theatrical train, to Jared Leto and Alessandro Michele. Leto arriving in custom Gucci, cradling a replica of his own head, blurring fashion with performance art—these are looks that tell stories without saying a word. Anok Yai turned heads in 2024 wearing a custom Swarovski catsuit, her body covered head to toe in 98,000 crystals—even her hands and toes shimmered. Yai accessorized with a one-of-a-kind necklace from Swarovski’s Galaxy collection, featuring 1,050 lab-grown diamonds totaling 156.62 carats. And who could forget Balenciaga turning anonymity into spectacle with Kim Kardashian’s all-black, face-shielded look in 2021? The Met Gala becomes their gallery—and the carpet, their canvas.

via What Eva Wears // Fashionista // Vogue

Of course, there are patrons and corporate sponsors—those who support the museum year-round or help fund the event itself. But even then, money doesn’t guarantee access. In 2024, individual tickets reportedly started at $75,000, up from $50,000 the previous year, while tables began at $350,000 . Yet, every guest must still receive Anna Wintour’s personal approval. You could fund an entire museum wing and still be left off the list. This is not a transaction. It’s an aesthetic decision, reviewed with the same precision as the exhibition itself.​

via Vogue

And increasingly, that narrative includes influencers. In 2021, the Met Gala opened its doors to a new type of celebrity—the internet-born kind. Dixie D’Amelio arrived in custom Valentino, and Addison Rae made her debut in vintage Tom Ford for Gucci. Their presence marked a turning point. The inclusion of social media stars sparked backlash from traditionalists, but Anna Wintour had a strategy: keep the Gala young, fun, and undeniably relevant. Behind the scenes, Derek Blasberg—then YouTube’s Head of Fashion and Beauty—was instrumental in bridging the gap between digital creators and high fashion. By leveraging his extensive network and understanding of both worlds, he facilitated collaborations that brought influencers like Emma Chamberlain and Liza Koshy into the fold. Invited as on-camera hosts for Vogue, they conducted red carpet interviews that doubled as their own fashion coming-out. Both filmed “get ready with me” style YouTube videos—bringing millions of followers behind the velvet rope. Their presence didn’t just reflect fashion’s future—it expanded the Gala’s reach by millions.

via Teen Vogue

And then there are the chosen few—co-chairs and performers—announced each year with ceremonial flair. These aren’t just attendees. They’re the living embodiment of the theme. They’re the message. Their presence defines the zeitgeist—a mirror of where fashion, identity, and culture meet in the moment.

For 2025, the Met Gala embraces the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating the legacy of Black dandyism and its profound influence on fashion. The co-chairs leading this narrative are actor Colman Domingo, Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and musician-designer Pharrell Williams, alongside Anna Wintour. NBA legend LeBron James serves as the honorary chair. The host committee features a variety of cultural figures, including Janelle Monáe, André 3000, Ayo Edebiri, Dapper Dan, Usher, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Spike Lee, all exemplifying the theme’s spirit of individuality and refined expression.

And with A$AP Rocky as a co-chair, maybe Rihanna will actually be on time this year.

via NBC

A Personal Note from the Steps of the Met

Last year, I stood inside the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibition and found myself absolutely speechless. There was no glass between me and the garments—just stitches, stories, and the weight of a designer’s legacy. Every pleat, every sketch, every thread whispered Karl’s obsession with beauty, discipline, and invention. I cried. Quietly. Because in that moment, it was more than fashion. It was art. It was memory. It was devotion.

That’s what the Met Gala is really about. Beyond the celebrity, the spectacle, and the sparkle, it is a love letter to design. A celebration of the minds and hands who shape culture through cloth. I’ll be back again this year, the week after the Gala, graduating from Parsons and walking those halls with even deeper admiration.

Fashion isn’t just what we wear. It’s how we remember.