The theme for Met Gala 2024 in New York

Now, you might be wondering about the theme, and it’s important to clarify that ‘sleeping beauties’ isn’t an ode to Disney princesses. Instead, it references cherished garments in the museum’s collection so delicate that they require special glass ‘coffins’ for preservation rather than traditional mannequins. These exquisite pieces will be showcased in a series of galleries themed around the natural world.

The exhibition’s concept revolves around the natural world as a symbolic representation of the transience of fashion, exploring themes of rebirth and renewal. Through immersive activations, visitors will experience the scents, sounds, textures, and motions of garments that can no longer be worn.

Curator Andrew Bolton, the mastermind behind all Met Gala exhibits, explains that the show will feature both rare historical garments and their contemporary counterparts.

“When an item of clothing enters our collection, its status is changed irrevocably,” Bolton said in the statement. “What was once a vital part of a person’s lived experience is now a motionless ‘artwork’ that can no longer be worn or heard, touched, or smelled. The exhibition endeavors to reanimate these artworks by re-awakening their sensory capacities.”

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But when can you experience this spectacle?

The Met Gala 2024 is scheduled for May 6 in Manhattan, marking the grand opening of the exhibition. For the public, the exhibition will be accessible from May 10 through September 2.

Within this stunning showcase, you’ll find approximately 250 garments and accessories spanning four centuries. Each room will transport you to a different facet of the natural world, juxtaposing historical fashion with contemporary interpretations, and creating an immersive environment that engages your senses of sight, smell, touch, and hearing.

Imagine a room adorned with the intricate ‘insectoid embroidery’ of an Elizabethan bodice, or a ceiling projecting a mesmerising ‘Hitchcockian swarm of blackbirds’ surrounding a black tulle evening dress from the pre-World War II era.

Curator Andrew Bolton displays garments in the conservation space of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Noveck)

As for the dress code for the 2024 Met Gala, it remains a mystery for now. In the past, guests were encouraged to dress in a manner that paid homage to the gala’s overarching theme. For the previous celebration of Karl Lagerfeld’s life and work, attendees were urged to dress “in honour of Karl.” Expectations are high for what the sartorial choices of the fashion elite will bring to this exceptional evening.

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