The first Monday in May is a date long-awaited by many fashionista’s who look forward to a glimpse of the exotic couture worn by the top celebrities. It marks the day of the legendary MET Gala, the fashion event of the year. A night where public figures of all walks – from models, singers, actors, athletes, moguls and content creators dress up and strut their best to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the event and its subsequent exhibition were canceled last year but it was announced that the event would resume again thisyear, marking today Sept. 13, as fashion’s biggest night. The MET co-chairs include singer Billie Eilish, actor Timothee Chalamet, tennis star Naomi Osaka and poet and activist Amanda Gorman.
Along with the announcement of a modified Sept. 13 MET Gala, it was announced that the theme would center around American fashion. The MET’s costume institute curator and gala coordinator, Andrew Bolton, stated that the reasoning for choosing American fashion as the year’s theme was that they’ve done an outstanding job in keeping the American fashion industry afloat in innovative ways during these uncertain times. Ahead you’ll find some influential, as well as up-and-coming, American designers to look out for at tonight’s gala.
Brandon Maxwell is a Texas native who began his career assisting celebrity stylists and then became fashion director for Lady Gaga. In 2015 he went on to launch his own eponymous women’s ready-to-wear brand. At the 2016 event, Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology gala, he made headlines for styling American supermodel, Karlie Kloss, in a gorgeous cutout gown complete with a floor-length cape that was later transformed into a mini dress by the designer himself. As he took taking a pair of scissors to the gown, subtlety transforming it into a more suitable after-party attire. Then, at the 2019 Camp: Notes on Fashion gala he made waves for yet another transformative look. This time donned by his longtime client and friend Lady Gaga. She attired four outfits, all of which were revealed on the pink carpet.
Marc Jacobs is another iconic American designer with his own eponymous ready-to-wear and couture fashion brands. He is also widely known as the former creative director of French fashion house Louis Vuitton, a position which he held from 1997 to 2014. He is known as a force with a penchant for extravagance, as seen at the 2012 Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations gala, where he sported a daring sheer lace shirt dress with a pair of white boxers. Over the years he’s dressed the likes of Lizzo, Janelle Monae and supermodel Kate Moss for fashion’s biggest night.
Social media is anxiously awaiting to see if he will dress new muse, Olivia Rodrigo, at tonight’s event.
The next designer to be featured is Baton-Rouge-born and now Brooklyn-based, Christopher John Rogers. A 25-year old rising fashion star who was the recipient of the 2019 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award. An initiative that was established in 2003 to assist emerging American designers “find continued success in the business of fashion.”
His eponymous ready-to-wear brand is known for voluminous silhouettes and sharp use of color and eye-catching patterns. Many celebrities have been styled in his designs, those of which include former First Lady, Michelle Obama during the promotional tour of her memoir, Becoming. Along with Zendaya, who show cased one of his designs on the night of her history-making Emmy victory. She also wore a plaid ball gown from his Fall/Winter 2020 collection in the editorial of her September 2020 Instyle Magazine cover issue. The gown will be showcased at the MET Costume Institute exhibition, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” beginning this Sept. 18.
The most recent notable look was at this year’s presidential inauguration where Kamala Harris made history when she became the 49th vice president of the United States.
Haitian-American KerbyJean-Raymond the 2018 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award recipient known for his brand Pyer Moss. A men’s and womenswear brand that “aims to use its voice and platform to challenge social narratives and evoke dialogue.” The brand continuously collaborates with artists and in 2018 launched a partnership with footwear and clothing giant Reebok.
The designer also created “Open Studio” in 2019 where artists can collaborate with Pyer Moss for campaigns. Proceeds from the “Open Studio” projects support different foundations. Such as, The Yellowhammer Fund, which promotes reproductive justice and funds abortion in Alabama and the Deep South. Indeed an emerging American designer using his platform to help create important dialogue and support the artists who continuously inspire his brand.
Put on your best dressed and Get Ready! tonight is fashion’s biggest night. The streets of New York will be swarmed by fans, photographersand event organizers. Hotels, packed with a star studded list, as we await Hollywood’s glamourous gowns and suits made by famous designers.
