I want an apology, Anna Winter. Or actually,  maybe another one!

For the past couple of years, I look forward to banding together for a night of theatrical fashion. Just about anyone can judge an avant-garde look from the comfort of their living room, and can present as the Fashion Police But this year, I couldn’t help but notice the quality of the event dimming. 

I know I’m not the only one chasing after the high of the oh-so-hyped 2018 Met Gala, “Heavenly Bodies”. That year, creativity shined the most, and attendees understood the assignment — or rather, the Theme.

Last year’s questionable theme let me give some of the celebs a bit of a pass: as with a trash theme, what can you really expect for the outfits?

But, after hearing the announcement for this year’s theme — “The Garden of Time” — and the story that came along with it, I wanted to see how we could step it up this year. For 2024’s Gala there was a double theme as the exhibit was titled “Sleeping Beauties: Awakening Fashion”. 

So naturally, with a double theme, folks are about to end up confused. A mix of each theme arrived on the carpet, and many felt overwhelmed it seems about the double entendre their looks had to be, and ended up with looks that fell flat. Outfits that were too on the nose began gracing the carpet from the first hour, and as the night went on, it seemed like the true theme of the night was “Okay… whatever that means..”

nene leakes rhoa ok whatever that means on date with man pic.twitter.com/jNw34KPMCP

— nene leakes reaction videos (@nenereacts) October 15, 2021

With no method to their madness, it was hard to compile a list of bops or flops based on who executed the assignment the best. It seems like the ones who came under the guise of Sleeping Beauties, and Reawakening Fashion came the hardest, and that is where most of the biggest wins of the night came from. 

Chair and obvious winner of the event, Zendaya, did not come to play in her return to the Gala after her 5 year hiatus. With the double Galliano punch (Galliano Margiela – based on Galliano Dior (alright..) and Galliano Givenchy), she showed the exact reason why she has been missed all of these years. 

Balmain’s tribute to the event, from his very own Sands of Time look, to his muses, proved to be the best efforts to event. Tyla’s Hourglass dress – which seemed to be a mix and interpretation of both the main themes – was designed from Sand that was molded exactly to her body, and resembled that of a Sandclock. As described by Creative Director Oliver Rousteing, the idea behind the look was that as it is expertly molded to one’s body, it can only be worn once (a “Sleeping Beauty”) and then put it to rest forever. Wow.

The second look that he brought out was modeled by Real Life Sleeping Beauty Elle Fanning. Her fairy looked as delicate as glass, with frozen almost crystal-like birds on each side of her shoulder. A more literal take on the Garden of Time short story, she further established herself as one the best players in the Met Gala game. 

My two favorite upcoming fashion icons (to YALL – to me these two should be inducted into the hall of fame for 20’s era fashion it boys and girls), WISDM and Taylor Russell, made their debuts to my great satisfaction. Wisdom’s Robert Win horror bridal look proved to be exactly what the night needed, as I felt myself jump out of my seat as soon as I saw him leave the hotel for the event. Russell’s LOEWE look, with the illusion of a corset completely constructed of wood, added the camp that I was looking forward to with these themes. 

There were a lot of other good looks that I enjoyed regardless of the theme such as:

Not to get to into it, but there were definetly some looks that rolled in throughout the night that were HORRENDOUS, at least to me. 

Rita Ora (with Taika Waititi on her side) – let’s please be for real. I mean really. 

Some of the girls swear it was cunt, but I wasn’t feeling for Doha’s look at all. Same with Rosalia; I was really excited but her all black Dior look just did not move me.

Troye Sivan’s waiter look was exactly on theme, but didn’t exactly pique my interest. Same with Riley Keough, and I was pretty excited for her. 

Speaking of excited, one of the most anticipated appearances on the carpet, was Stray Kids’ full group debut. As Felix, Hyunjin, and Jeongin have made splashes in the fashion world in the past year with Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Alexander McQueen, I was really curious to see what they could bring as a group. Under Tommy Hilfiger’s wing, they were able to make an impressionable appearance, although in my opinion I did feel it was a little Safe.

When I saw Madelyn Cline step out on the carpet with a Tommy look before though, I already knew what was going on so I wasn’t surprised. I low-key wish they would have been able to go with their more avant garde collaborators; I think if Jeongin had come out with a look similar to Usher’s under Alexander McQueen that would have been super fun. 

Overall, I had and okay time this year. But can we please please please PLEASSSE go back to the camp of some of the best year’s? Or will I be stuck in nostalgia for the old days forever?? I’m ready to look camp right in the eye. 

1. Chong, D. A., & Donohue, M. (2024, May 6). All the celebrity looks from the 2024 Met Gala. Elle. https://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/g60673139/all-the-looks-red-carpet-photos-met-gala-2024/
2. Getty Images. (n.d.). Home. Getty Images. Retrieved [05.09.24], from https://www.gettyimages.com