Who was dressed on theme at the Met Gala 2024?
The Garden of Time” Fashion’s BIggest Night Out
The Met Gala dress code this year was “The Garden of Time,” based on J.G. Ballard’s short story of the same name. In the story, two wealthy inhabitants of a beautiful villa live a life of leisure. On the horizon, however, the couple sees an oncoming mob of people, heading towards them and threatening everything they hold dear. In their garden, they have a collection of ‘time flowers,’ beautiful glass flowers that, when plucked, reverse time and buy the lovers a few extra days of serenity. In the end, however, the flowers run out, and the villa is overtaken by the mob. When they arrive, however, the mob finds that everything is in decay, worn away by the passing of time. In a garden of thorns, the statue of a couple stands.
So, how well did the attendees of the Met Gala interpret this theme? We saw plenty of statues, a nod to the end of the story, in which our protagonists appear as stone semblances of themselves to the oncoming throng. Kim Kardashian was one of these statuesque figures, as was Serena Williams. We also saw many flowers, flower petals, and gardens, which also reflects the theme in a rather on the nose way. Being on the nose isn’t a bad thing, of course there are several on-the-nose looks which I thought were especially successful. There were also many loose interpretations of the theme, however, which I loved even more. Letting the clothing reflect opulence, a sense of lost time, or a sense of time quickly slipping away“ the looks which managed to accomplish this were the most successful. These are the looks which embraced the Met Gala wholly for what it is intended; using fashion as a medium for storytelling.
Photo via Vogue
While the BBC said that they don’t understand how Cardi B’s dress related to the theme, I have to say, to me, it made perfect sense. Often underappreciated for her opulent Met Gala looks, Cardi B and designer Windowsen have once again nailed it in my eyes. Her dress is vast and luxuriant, a swath of rich black fabric that swarms around her like a turbulent sea. It is wealth, beauty, and luxury, but there is something unsettling about it. Why does it seem like it might swallow her at any moment? Is time running out?
Does Sabrina Carpenter ever not look stunning? This look by Oscar de la Renta, which drew its inspiration from an orchid, looked just beautiful on the singer. The top was elegant and refined, like the couple from the story. The bottom part of the skirt was part flower, part clouded sky, and reminded me of time coming and sweeping the Count and his wife away.
Photo via @sabrinacaarpenter
Speaking of Sabrina Carpenter, there was something about Barry Keoghan’s look that just worked, both for the theme and for himself in general. In terms of theme, this one was slightly more literal, as he seemed to be dressed as count Axel, all the way down to the cravat tucked elegantly around his neck. I will always commend men who do not just wear a suit to the Met Gala, however, and Keoghan’s brown velvet three-piece suit was stunning. It was the details that really stole the show, however “The pocket watch, the pins on his lapel, the cravat, and the tall top hat were all amazing. Mandy Lee on TikTok said “It's like, sickly Victorian child for sure. But I like it.” I couldn’t have summed it up better myself.
Photo via Vogue
While the recent “Challengers” star and Met Gala co-chair had two different looks, it was her first look that I thought really stole the show. It was floral, dark, and magical. In Maison Margiela by John Galliano, Zendaya appeared in a shimmery green, blue and purple gown adorned with various dark flowers and grapes, complete with a hummingbird on her shoulder. Her makeup was similarly dark, with shimmery purple lipstick, a dark eye, and thin eyebrows that reminded us of a time-gone-by. The Queen of the Met Gala has done it again.
Photo via Vogue
Tyla showed how to make the theme your own; with her “Sands of Time” outfit, she was both very on theme (she demonstrated time slipping away almost perfectly, down to the hourglass purse wrapped around her slender wrist), and completely unique. Most people went for the garden aesthetic, but Tyla and Balmain branched out, and it paid off.
Photo via Elle
Harris Reed, wearing his eponymous label, labeled absolutely everything about the theme. The stunning blue bodysuit, decorated with a floral, garden theme, was nothing short of ethereal, especially in combination with the heavenly headpiece that the designer wore. The exaggerations in the headpiece and the sculptural bustier spoke of grandeur, while the asymmetrical draping along the waist brought home the idea of opulence.
Photo via Elle
The TikTok star and fashion icon made his Met Gala debut in an absolutely stunning Robert Wun costume. While the floral decoration on his lapel made the theme clear, it was the other details that really made this look. The luxurious red suit, complete with a long, trailing coat, would be a great display of wealth and opulence except for the parts that were literally burned away. It gave the illusion of time wearing away at beautiful objects, just as in Ballard’s story.
Photo via Vogue
This look took the “Garden of Time” theme rather literally, creating a literal garden of time on the bodice of Harrison’s Dress, but the ode to Dali was a necessary addition to this Met Gala. How can you possibly have a Met Gala that deals with time and how fleeting it is without referencing Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory”?
Photo via Vigue