In a much-anticipated announcement, Vogue revealed the theme for the 2024 Met Gala: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” This iconic event, often dubbed “Fashion’s Biggest Night,” will mark the opening of the spring 2024 exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
The exhibition promises a captivating journey through 400 years of fashion history, showcasing approximately 250 rarely seen works from the Institute’s permanent collection. Notable contemporary fashioners like Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Connor Ives, will be featured alongside legendary designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Hubert de Givenchy.
Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, expressed excitement, stating, “This innovative show will push the boundaries of our imagination, inviting us to explore the history and appreciate the beauty of each piece.”
The heart of the exhibition lies in 50 delicate, historical garments, deemed “Sleeping Beauties” as they can no longer be worn. Notable items include Charles Frederick Worth’s 1877 silk satin ballgown and a 17th-century bodice. The exhibition is organized into three main zones — Land, Sea, and Sky — chronicling the historical transformations of natural materials in fashion design.
Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, emphasized the emotional and sensorial connection to fashion, stating, “Fashion is one of the most emotional artistic forms because of its connection to the body.”
Creative consultant Nick Knight from SHOWStudios and installation expert Sissel Tolaas, known for collaborating with Demna’s Balenciaga, will contribute to the visual presentation of the exhibition.