With the massive media exposure that the Met Gala brings, becoming the most-worn brand is a coveted title among fashion houses.
If there’s any Monday worth looking forward to, it’s undoubtedly the first Monday of May – the time when the Met Gala, a fashion extravaganza, takes place. The annual event typically welcomes 150 to 200 A-list guests from around the world, serving as a media magnet and bringing in tens of millions of dollars in value for top brands. While not publicly competitive, luxury fashion houses often have their own strategies to showcase their names and dress prominent guests, and the brand that dresses the most stars changes each year.
In the list of contenders for the extravagant, tongue-in-cheek theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Gucci claimed the throne by dressing a whopping 15 attendees. The Italian fashion house also sponsored the Met Gala 2019, with creative director Alessandro Michele co-chairing the prestigious event alongside Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Serena Williams, and Anna Wintour.
Gucci’s whimsical, exaggerated fashion language under Alessandro Michele truly embodied the spirit of the Met Gala 2019. The event’s official YouTube channel humorously interpreted “Camp” in the most outlandish poses, such as a coat adorned with 3 million feathers. While there were no feathered coats on the esteemed stairs that year, fashion enthusiasts witnessed Gucci’s clique creating wild fashion moments: Jared Leto with a floating “head,” Saoirse Ronan and Florence Welch in powerful capes, or Harry Styles challenging toxic masculinity with a sheer lace ensemble. To this day, the Met Gala 2019 and the attire by the Italian fashion house remain ingrained in the fashion world as one of the most flamboyant events to surpass in terms of extravagance.
Continuing the narrative of American identity, the Met Gala 2022 with the theme “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” shone a spotlight on designs and creative minds throughout history. Nicolas Ghesquière seized this opportunity to dominate the red carpet with a “squad” of 14 ambassadors and friends of the Louis Vuitton brand wearing outfits from the brand’s archives. In an industry enamored with the new, refraining from showcasing new outfits was a strong statement by the brand about sustainability and respect for the Met Gala theme, an event that always challenges fashion enthusiasts with its unconventional guests.
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The Met Gala 2023 honored Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic tenure at Chanel, with nearly 20 guests attending the fashion extravaganza in tweed garments paying tribute to the silver-haired maestro. While late, the expressions of gratitude towards Karl were exceptionally poignant. Guests rushed to “understand” him through romantic tweed weaves or elegantly understated designs. The event also served as an opportunity for Chanel to showcase its powerhouse ambassadors and brand friends, from royalty like Charlotte Casiraghi to A-listers like Kristen Stewart, Margot Robbie, and idol singer Jennie (BLACKPINK). The Met Gala 2023 and its persuasive beauty revival from decades-old collections demonstrated Chanel’s vitality amidst the fashion whirlwind.
So, while brands like Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel have all had their moments of glory on the Met Gala red carpet in recent years, each year brings a new narrative, a new theme, and new opportunities for fashion houses to shine.