The 2018 MET Gala is inspired by the Catholic church with the theme being; “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”. In the run up to the event, some were worried about how such a sensitive topic would translate to the red carpet and finally the night us upon us. Check out all the 'Heavenly' photos from the most grand ball in fashion.
Understanding the controversial theme
According to Vogue, the exhibition which kicked off in May, was “designed to create a dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art in the museum’s holdings” inspired by Catholic iconography and vestments.
Anna Wintour, however, expressed beforehand that everything had been handled in the most sensitive way and this year, fashion and Catholicism converged with help from the Vatican as the grand exhibition begun.
In her May Editor's letter, Anna Wintour wrote:
The exhibition itself has been years in the making, and it will be not only the largest Costume Institute show to date but the biggest show ever at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s hard to not sound hyperbolic about it, but it is going to be an absolutely magnificent experience—spanning some 26 galleries and including work from the likes of Valentino, Gaultier, and Dolce & Gabbana along with more than 40 extraordinarily opulent liturgical garments and accessories on loan from the Vatican. For the first time ever, there will also be an extension of the show running at the Met Cloisters, a museum at Fort Tryon Park in upper Manhattan, where the more monastic examples of fashion’s inspiration from the Church, such as those from Cristóbal Balenciaga, will be on view. (Should you be visiting New York and planning to see the exhibition, I’d urge you to also take the time to head northward; the Cloisters element will be just as stunning.)
For curator Andrew Bolton, it required endless hours of patience in dealing with the Vatican, given the labyrinthine way that it operates. Invariably, Andrew would finally arrange a meeting with one of the Church’s officials, only to be told they were on a retreat—or, when he actually got to speak to someone in person, he’d discover they were thrilled with the idea of the exhibition . . . they just couldn’t really help, as they were the wrong person to speak with. In the end, the Vatican has been an incredible partner on this show, lending pieces that have been rarely, if ever, seen. One tiara, anointed with 19,000 gems (of which perhaps 18,000 are diamonds), is a masterpiece. Writer Maureen Dowd has crafted a terrific personal essay about the show, which accompanies the sitting by photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Executive Fashion Editor Phyllis Posnick. Maureen’s words underscore the unique experience “Heavenly Bodies” offers: the visceral thrill to be had from a show that connects deeply with faith, history, and creativity.
Displaying at the MET Museum in New York were a mix of religious inspired pieces from designers including John Galliano, Dolce & Gabanna, Jeremy Scott, Coco Chanel and ecclesiastical pieces- never before seen outside the Vatican.
The Met Gala 2018
The steps of the MET are alight once more as the 2018 grand ball has begun. This year, Anna Wintour will play host with stars Rihanna, Donatella Versace and Amal Clooney supporting.
Though this year's theme was met with apprehension, it appears the stars interpreting it in the most interesting of ways and already we have seen some pretty stunning works of haute couture.
Check it out!
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