Fast forward 70-plus years, and it is one of the most photographed events in the world, renowned for its head-spinning red carpet – although the carpet is not always red.
It is important to note, though, that the party has a purpose, raising money for the Met’s Costume Institute – nearly US$22 million last year, a record for the self-funding department – and launching the annual spring exhibit that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the museum.
But it is the carpet itself that draws the world’s eyes, with the 400-strong guest list the subject of rabid speculation until the last minute – a collection of luminaries that arguably makes for the highest celebrity wattage-per-square-foot of any party in the world.
Who are Chinese-American couple that gave the Met US$125 million?
Who are Chinese-American couple that gave the Met US$125 million?
Who is hosting this year?
What does the Met Gala theme mean?
It actually has little to do with fairy tales: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, the title of the accompanying exhibit, refers to garments from the Costume Institute’s collection that have been “in slumber” and now will be on display, some too fragile to hang upright lest they disintegrate.
Curator Andrew Bolton picked 250 pieces spanning four centuries.
The theme is accompanied by a dress code – this year, it is “The Garden of Time”. The theme and dress code are often interpreted … loosely. So there is a chance you may see an Aurora on the carpet, after all.
What happens inside?
Entering the museum, guests walk past what is usually an impossibly enormous flower arrangement in the lobby, with perhaps an orchestra playing nearby, and over to cocktails. Or they head to view the exhibit.
Cocktails start at 5.30pm, and last for about two hours, followed by dinner. The most famous – or those who plan the biggest entrance – sometimes come (fashionably) later.
So who is coming?
Other high-profile partners likely to attend, because their significant others are hosting: Ben Affleck and Tom Holland.
Another fashion-forward awards circuit luminary everyone wants and expects to see on the Met steps: The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri.
As for a certain stratospheric pop superstar dating an NFL tight end: it is unclear. Taylor Swift is resuming her Eras Tour in Paris three days later, but she has made tight timelines work before.
What does Wintour love, perhaps even more than fashion? Maybe even more than Broadway? Why, tennis. Add to that Zendaya’s current tennis-themed movie, Challengers, and one can only imagine there will be tennis stars – perhaps famous retired ones like former hosts Serena Williams and Roger Federer.
But hey, the Met Gala loves fashionable athletes. Caitlin Clark, are you listening?