NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 It started in 1948 as a society midnight supper, and it wasn鈥檛 even at the Met.
, and the is something totally different, 鈥 though the famous carpeted steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art aren鈥檛 always red. We鈥檙e talking Rihanna as a bejeweled pope. Zendaya as Cinderella with a light-up gown. Katy Perry as a chandelier morphing into a hamburger. Also: Beyonc茅 in her 鈥渘aked dress.鈥 Kim Kardashian in a face-covering bodysuit. , carried on a litter by six shirtless men. And
Not to forget, the Met Gala is still a fundraiser 鈥 last year the evening earned more than a whopping $16.4 million for the . Letsa国际传媒 also not forget that it that brings hundreds of thousands of .
But itsa国际传媒 the carpet itself (now watchable for everyone, that draws the worldsa国际传媒 eyes, with the guest list strategically withheld until the last minute 鈥 a collection of stars from movies, music, fashion, sports, politics and elsewhere that probably makes for the .
Herewith, a primer for the 2022 Met gala, which is on May 2:
AGAIN, ALREADY?
Yes, . The annual fundraiser for the Metsa国际传媒 Costume Institute is traditionally held the first Monday in May, but because of the pandemic, a postponed gala was held in September.
WHO鈥橲 HOSTING THE 2022 MET GALA?
are Regina King, power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Of course, Voguesa国际传媒 Anna Wintour is supervising the whole shebang as she has since the 鈥90s. Her fellow honorary co-chairs are designer Tom Ford and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Ford, also a film director, is one of nine directors whose work is featured in the new spring exhibit.
IS THERE A THEME?
Of course. The Met Gala theme for this year is 鈥淕ilded glamour, white-tie,鈥 guests have been told.
As usual, the sartorial theme comes from the exhibit the gala launches: 鈥淚n America: An Anthology of Fashion,鈥 which is the second installment of star curator Andrew Boltonsa国际传媒 .
This exhibit showcases overlooked figures in fashion history, many of them women and people of color, through the talents of , including Sofia Coppola, Martin Scorsese, host King, and last yearsa国际传媒 Oscar winner Chlo茅 Zhao. Their work will be displayed in the period rooms of the American Wing, so expect some grand fashion related to the theme 鈥 like those gowns from HBOsa国际传媒 鈥淭he Gilded Age.鈥 Artfully ripped jeans, this time? Not so much.
DOES EVERYONE FOLLOW THE THEME?
Not really. Some eschew it and just go for big and crazy. But expect some guests to have carefully researched the theme and to come in perfect sync with the exhibit. It was hard to beat the carpet, for example, when the theme was 鈥淐atholic imagination鈥 and , Zendaya channeled Joan of Arc, and
HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MET GALA TICKET?
Wrong question. You cannot just 鈥渂uy鈥 a ticket. The right question is, IF I were famous or powerful and got invited, how much would it cost?
IF I WERE FAMOUS AND POWERFUL AND GOT INVITED, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?
Well, you might not pay yourself. Generally companies buy tables. A fashion label 鈥 Michael Kors, for example 鈥 would then host its desired celebrities, or fashion muses. But each paid seat reportedly costs around $35,000, though some guests are invited for free.
SO WHO GETS INVITED TO THE MET GALA?
This year, there will be 400 guests 鈥 similar to the September gala, and lower than pre-pandemic highs of 500-600. Trying to predict? Take out your pen and jot down some of your favorite names, the buzzier the better.
Newly minted Oscar or Grammy winners, for example, are a good bet 鈥 or perennial fashion favorites like former host Timothe茅 Chalamet, who wore white Converse shoes last year. Do the same with pop music, sports, politics, fashion of course 鈥 and Broadway, a special favorite of Wintoursa国际传媒 (and remember, Miranda's a host this year). Now, cross everyone off your list except the very top.
At the Met Gala, .
THAT MUST BE AN EXAGGERATION.
Not really. Ask Tina Fey. She went in 2010 and later described walking around trying to find somebody 鈥渘ormal,鈥 e.g. not too famous, to sit and talk with. That ended up being Barbara Walters.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN THE MET GALA?
Well, these days you can watch the whole carpet unfold on livestream. And really, the carpet is the party. (Ask Gaga!)
If you're in New York City you can also join fans across the street from the museum on Fifth Avenue, and even further away on Madison Avenue, pressed up against police barricades. You might get lucky: Last year, Chalamet ran over to greet his admirers.
DO WE KNOW WHO'S COMING? AND WHO ISN'T?
Like we said, itsa国际传媒 secret. But reports slip out, often about who is not coming. Fashion favorite Zendaya has confirmed she has other plans. And Rihanna is about to give birth, so we鈥檇 assume she鈥檒l skip, but then again, shesa国际传媒 Rihanna so letsa国际传媒 not assume anything. A fair assumption would be a heavy Kardashian presence. New York's mayor, Eric Adams, will be attending 鈥 very happily, according to the New York Post. Also happily, Perry has said she's going, and indicated her hamburger-chandelier days may be receding in favor of more traditional garb.
Another thing remains true: Nobody can come who isn't vaccinated. In addition to vaccine proof, guests had to take a PCR test. Masks are not likely to make much of an appearance since people will be eating and drinking the whole night.
WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE MET GALA?
Entering the museum, guests walk past an impossibly enormous flower arrangement in the lobby (one was over 250,000 white roses) and over to cocktails. Or, they head to view the exhibit. Two changes this year, per the museum: The dramatic lobby centerpiece will remain up for regular visitors to see for a few days. And cocktails will take place in the American Wing, making it very easy for guests to slip in and out of the exhibit.
Around 8 p.m., they鈥檙e summoned to dinner 鈥 perhaps by a team of buglers (鈥淎re they going to do that between every course?鈥 actor Gary Oldman asked aloud one year.) We can鈥檛 personally describe anything beyond that, either dinner or the musical performance, but you can find clips of in the documentary 鈥淭he First Monday in May,鈥 and it looks fun.
IS IT FUN FOR EVERYONE?
Occasionally, someone says no. Fey, in a comic rant to David Letterman in 2015, described the gala as a 鈥渏erk parade鈥 and said it included everyone you鈥檇 ever want to punch, if you had millions of arms.
Amy Schumer said she felt awkward and left 鈥渆arlier than should be allowed.鈥 But most profess to having fun.
Then there was Joan Collins, who arrived channeling her imperious 鈥淒ynasty鈥 character, Alexis, in 2018, ready to have a blast, but seeking liquid sustenance. 鈥淚鈥檓 having a great time,鈥 . 鈥淚鈥檇 be even better if I had a drink.鈥
