A Walk Through Time | MET GALA 2024

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute Gala, dubbed as "fashion's biggest night out," returned this year with the theme "The Garden of Time". The theme is inspired by J.G. Ballard's short story of the same name. The exhibition was called "Sleeping Beauty: Reawakening Fashion," which recognizes historically significant, yet delicate, garments. The short story explores themes of time, memory, and illusion.

The night had all designers with their own display of creativity, with varying interpretations among the outfits. Here are a few iconic outfits from the gala. Zendeya, ever the fashion icon, had two gowns on the red carpet — which meant she had to walk on the red carpet two times. Her first dress is an electric blue organza with metallic crin fabric.

Picture from InStyle

For her second dress, she delivered a floral headpiece and a dramatic black gown from Givenchy's 1997 haute couture collection.

Picture from Us Weekly

Gigi Hadid, a truly stunning model, wore a white off-shoulder Thom Browne dress decorated with yellow flowers.

Picture from Harper's BAZAAR

On the other hand, American actress Elle Fanning wears a crystalline Balmain gown, her dress having a transparent, frosted, shiny effect. Her dress inspiration comes from the short story describing "time flowers" made of glass.

Picture from Town&Country

Ariana Grande, American singer, songwriter, and performer of the night, arrived at the red carpet wearing Loewe's dress crafted from iridescent mother-of-pearl, which shined very brightly among the camera's many flashes.

Picture from Cosmopolitan

Once again, the 2024 Met Gala proved that fashion is open, modern, and timely. As comparable to any aspect of this world, fashion is constantly evolving and reawakening the past for the present. Fashion indeed does surprise, inspire, and leaves us all in awe.