The Met Gala theme is ignored by most celebrities each year so is it time to ditch it altogether?

I think it's about time the whole thing became a little less esoteric and ego-centric, writes Melissa Hoyer.

Melissa Hoyer
·Contributor
Updated ·3-min read
Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman arrive at the 2024 Met Gala.
Many of the guests of the 2024 Met Gala, including Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman, did not seem to be following the dress code. Photo: Getty

Judging by many of the hand-picked guests, the "garden" theme looks to have been seriously pruned by the vast majority of A-team at the Met Gala today.

Like any established style commentator, I love observing the creations at the Met Gala at the held on the first Monday of every May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York every year since 1948.

But let’s be honest, I don’t know why they often bother with a theme. This year's: "The Garden of Time", inspired by J.G. Ballard's short story of the same title, is rather diverse, open-to-interpretation subject matter.

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The gala — a grand fundraiser for the museum’s costume institute — has become the May event du jour. And rightly so with all the media and public interest it garners.

Not that we want to see just simple little pretty floral frocks and a spray of baby’s breath in the hair of Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, but this year’s official dress code went even further (spare us!) with an additional theme. Just to add to the confusion the ball is also celebrating the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition: "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion".

Naomi Watts, Ariana Grande and Hugh Jackman on the red carpet for the 2024 Met Gala.
Not a flower in sight for Naomi Watts, Ariana Grande and Hugh Jackman at this year's 2024 Met Gala. Photo: Getty

On reflection, I think it's time to eliminate the esoteric and ego-centric themes (which is a bit hard in the fashion world, I might add) and make the whole evening of extravagance a little less indulgent-sounding.

While these complex themes leave things open to interpretation, they're also very over-the-top and make it difficult to fit them into the brief.

Indeed, there is a world of wild, wonderful and, at times, woeful interpretations, and I’m here for every one of them!

Names like Zendaya (who gave us two garden outfit vibes), Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and none other than Australian he-man Chris Hemsworth joined Vogue’s priestess, Anna Wintour on this year’s couture event committee.

Zendaya at the Met Gala in a Alexander McQueen look.
Zendaya was one of the few who seemed to follow the theme, with both of her outfits featuring natural motifs. Photo: Getty

Even Chris had no real idea about what the whole thing was about when he was interviewed pre-event on the red (or was that floral?) carpet.

However, he was dutifully committed and enthused about the whole thing once his divine wife, Elsa Pataky, explained the deal to him.

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky on the red carpet.
Despite being on the organising committee, Chris Hemsworth seemed to have no real idea what the theme meant until his wife Elsa Pataky explained it. Photo: Getty

I could go on about every guest and deliver individual style verdicts, but hey, I think there's only one real takeaway this year.

Let them all just be crazy couture cats and wear whatever they like. We know it will be extraordinary regardless of theme.

SHOP:

Yup. Perhaps it is time to dump the themes and leave those to kids' parties or the kooky "fancy dress" parties that you and I have.

With the garden theme having had a good lawn-mowing from the vast majority this year, let’s just let the Met Gala A-Team run sartorially wild because it's always most exciting when they do.

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