After Being Forbidden From Making Alterations, Here’s How Kendall Jenner Wound Up Being The 'First Human' Ever To Wear Her 25-Year-Old Met Gala Gown

Ellen Durney / BuzzFeed
·3-min read
With a dress code centered around “The Garden of Time,” Monday night’s Met Gala was bound to bring out some fantastic gowns from the fashion history books. And one person who delivered on that front was Kendall Jenner.
With a dress code centered around “The Garden of Time,” Monday night’s Met Gala was bound to bring out some fantastic gowns from the fashion history books. And one person who delivered on that front was Kendall Jenner.

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic

With a dress code centered around “The Garden of Time,” Monday night’s Met Gala was bound to bring out some fantastic gowns from the fashion history books. And one person who delivered on that front was Kendall Jenner.

In case you’ve not seen, Jenner stunned in a 25-year-old Givenchy Couture dress designed by the late Alexander McQueen, complete with some serious shoulder fringe and a very daring cutout on the butt.
In case you’ve not seen, Jenner stunned in a 25-year-old Givenchy Couture dress designed by the late Alexander McQueen, complete with some serious shoulder fringe and a very daring cutout on the butt.

Marleen Moise / Getty Images

In case you’ve not seen, Jenner stunned in a 25-year-old Givenchy Couture dress designed by the late Alexander McQueen, complete with some serious shoulder fringe and a very daring cutout on the butt.

The piece, adorned with over 100,000 black and brass beads and sequins, is quite the work of art. Not only that, but it’s a historical artifact, too — having never previously been worn by a living person.
The piece, adorned with over 100,000 black and brass beads and sequins, is quite the work of art. Not only that, but it’s a historical artifact, too — having never previously been worn by a living person.

Cindy Ord / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

The piece, adorned with over 100,000 black and brass beads and sequins, is quite the work of art. Not only that, but it’s a historical artifact, too — having never previously been worn by a living person.

For a bit of context, when the dress was presented in McQueen’s autumn/winter 1999 Givenchy Haute Couture collection, it was only ever shown on a mannequin. And after that, it was moved straight into the Givenchy archive.
For a bit of context, when the dress was presented in McQueen’s autumn/winter 1999 Givenchy Haute Couture collection, it was only ever shown on a mannequin. And after that, it was moved straight into the Givenchy archive.

Wwd / Penske Media via Getty Images

For a bit of context, when the dress was presented in McQueen’s autumn/winter 1999 Givenchy Haute Couture collection, it was only ever shown on a mannequin. And after that, it was moved straight into the Givenchy archive.

This meant that when Jenner and her stylist, Dani Michelle, fell in love with the gown a quarter of a century later, she was the “first human” ever to try it on.
This meant that when Jenner and her stylist, Dani Michelle, fell in love with the gown a quarter of a century later, she was the “first human” ever to try it on.

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

This meant that when Jenner and her stylist, Dani Michelle, fell in love with the gown a quarter of a century later, she was the “first human” ever to try it on.

“It’s been sleeping for the last 25 years. It’s literally a ‘sleeping beauty,’” Jenner told Vogue ahead of the big night, paying homage to the basis of this year’s Costume Institute exhibit,
“It’s been sleeping for the last 25 years. It’s literally a ‘sleeping beauty,’” Jenner told Vogue ahead of the big night, paying homage to the basis of this year’s Costume Institute exhibit,

Wwd / Penske Media via Getty Images

“It’s been sleeping for the last 25 years. It’s literally a ‘sleeping beauty,’” Jenner told Vogue ahead of the big night, paying homage to the basis of this year’s Costume Institute exhibit, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

“It’s such a special moment,” she added. “I feel extremely honored that they’re allowing me to wear it.”

Because the garment had been preserved in pristine condition for so long, Jenner and her team were also strictly forbidden from making any alterations, meaning it was a “miracle” that it was a perfect fit when it was time to try it on.
Because the garment had been preserved in pristine condition for so long, Jenner and her team were also strictly forbidden from making any alterations, meaning it was a “miracle” that it was a perfect fit when it was time to try it on.

Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

Because the garment had been preserved in pristine condition for so long, Jenner and her team were also strictly forbidden from making any alterations, meaning it was a “miracle” that it was a perfect fit when it was time to try it on.

“I am so, so incredibly honored to wear it. I am the first human to wear it,” she told La La Anthony on the red carpet as the gown made its Met Gala debut. “It was a miracle that it fit. It was a miracle that we found it. It just feels meant to be.”

Since Jenner's red-carpet interview, photographs of Winona Ryder wearing the same Givenchy dress in 1999 have surfaced online, leading fans to speculate that Jenner was misinformed about being the first to wear the gown. However, The Cut has since debunked the confusion, reporting that the dress worn by Ryder was actually a replica.
Since Jenner's red-carpet interview, photographs of Winona Ryder wearing the same Givenchy dress in 1999 have surfaced online, leading fans to speculate that Jenner was misinformed about being the first to wear the gown. However, The Cut has since debunked the confusion, reporting that the dress worn by Ryder was actually a replica.

Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Since Jenner's red-carpet interview, photographs of Winona Ryder wearing the same Givenchy dress in 1999 have surfaced online, leading fans to speculate that Jenner was misinformed about being the first to wear the gown. However, The Cut has since debunked the confusion, reporting that the dress worn by Ryder was actually a replica.

Speaking to Vogue, Michelle said the dress — which will soon return home to the archive — was a nod to the “darker queen of a 'Sleeping Beauty' story,” with Jenner adding that the night’s theme “screamed archival.”
Speaking to Vogue, Michelle said the dress — which will soon return home to the archive — was a nod to the “darker queen of a 'Sleeping Beauty' story,” with Jenner adding that the night’s theme “screamed archival.”

Theo Wargo / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

Speaking to Vogue, Michelle said the dress — which will soon return home to the archive — was a nod to the “darker queen of a 'Sleeping Beauty' story,” with Jenner adding that the night’s theme “screamed archival.”

“The way it’s cut in the back, and the low butt — all these beautiful things feel very me,” she said.

You can read Dani and Kendall’s full Vogue interview here.

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