The first Monday in May is by far the most iconic Monday in the fashion world. The Met Gala is an annual party held to raise money for the Anna Wintour Costume Institute in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and showcase the boldest fashion choices that usually reflect the year’s theme. This year the committee is taking a new approach with the theme of “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”
The exhibition will be showcased in three different locations including the Medieval Department, the Costume Institute in the Fifth Avenue location and The Cloisters which is in Northern Manhattan. With the help of sponsors Donatella Versace, Christine and Stephen A. Schwarzmann and in collaboration with Vogue, the committee has assembled pieces from Catholic-educated Coco Chanel and John Galliano who designed the “transgressive” Fall 2000 Christian Dior line that began with an “incense-swinging pope-like figure.”
Curator of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton, is working closely with experts in the medieval department to best exemplify how Christian art has influenced fashion throughout time. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring piece that will be on display is the papal garb, which is being loaned to the Met by the Sistine Chapel and has been rarely seen outside of the Vatican. While the relationship between religion and fashion has not always been the most amiable relationship it is undisputed that religion has influenced some of the greatest works in all of fashion.
The co-hosts that have been selected to work alongside Anna Wintour prove that girl-power is always in style. Amal Clooney, Donatella Versace, and Rihanna are sure to put utilize their star power to present the best Gala yet.
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