New York: many world stars parade at the extravagant Met gala
It is the most selective ascent of the steps of the planet: the gala of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has paraded Monday night hundreds of international stars, in extravagant outfits, for an annual philanthropic evening after two editions disrupted by the pandemic.
The Met Gala 2022, in the heart of Manhattan, has given rise to a flood of images of stars responding to the dress code of this year, Gilded Glamour, which refers to the Gilded Age, the American golden age of the late nineteenth century. They followed one another in strapless dresses, tuxedos, ultra chic, hyper glamorous, glittering, improbable or even carrying political messages, on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met).
The list of 400 stars from fashion, music, film, social networks, politics or business -- mostly American -- was kept secret until the last moment: Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Lenny Kravitz, Ariana DeBose, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Blake Lively accompanied by her husband Ryan Reynolds and Stromae, who confided to AFP that he found it weird to be there but that he felt honored, he the little Belgian.
The richest man in the world, the whimsical Elon Musk, raised his arms to the crowd. On the way to buying Twitter, he promised on the red carpet to make it the most inclusive social network possible. Hillary Clinton praised the spirit of America radiating from the gala. The actresses Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver and Jessica Chastain followed.
First to arrive, youtuber Emma Chamberlain appeared in a sublime Louis Vuitton dress and the high priestess of the event, almighty Vogue editor Anna Wintour, in a Chanel ensemble.
Even invited, the ticket cost $ 35,000 for a seat at the gala dinner, $ 200,000 to $ 300,000 the table paid by a patron, according to the unofficial figures of 2021. That's an estimated total of more than $16 million.
For the 2021 edition, moved from May to September because of the pandemic -- after a total cancellation in 2020 -- the show had been provided by Billie Eilish, transformed into Marilyn Monroe with platinum blonde hair. Wiser this year, she wore a cream and green ensemble from Gucci.
The gala is also an opportunity for a political message: New York City Mayor Eric Adams showed up wearing a jacket with his campaign slogan on the back demanding an end to gun violence in a crime-ridden city.
In true American philanthropic tradition, the evening, which takes place on the first Monday in May, is intended to fund the fashion department of the Met (The Costume Institute) and coincides with its major annual exhibition. It was presented Monday morning to the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, who saw it as "a celebration of the designers and fashion that have shaped America's true identity.
On the red carpet, there were fewer eccentricities than in past years: in 2019, the singer and actor Billy Porter had appeared as a sun god, spreading golden wings and carried by men with muscular torsos. And no one matched Lady Gaga and her striptease on the steps.
However, Kim Kardashian, who appeared all dressed in black (including her face) last September, ended this mega fashion show with a bang: tied up hair and platinum blonde, molded in a shimmering beige dress, a copy of the one worn by Marilyn Monroe during her famous song Happy Birthday Mr. President, on the approach of the 60th anniversary of the death of the world icon.
Created in 1948, the Met Gala has long been reserved for the very high society of New York, but Anna Wintour, who took it in hand in 1995, has transformed it into a people event adapted to the era of social networks. This year, the title of honorary co-chairman was offered to the boss of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, alongside Anna Wintour and the designer Tom Ford.