May holds a special place in the global fashion calendar. On the first Monday of the month, the world comes together to celebrate art, history and couture as celebrities ascend the iconic steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala.
Beyond Hollywood’s brightest stars, the exclusive guest list includes leading designers from across the globe and close friends of Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue. Back home, Indian icons such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Isha Ambani, Mona Patel and Natasha Poonawalla have all made head-turning appearances on the Met carpet, proudly representing the country.
In 2023, Alia Bhatt made a striking Met Gala debut, while designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee created history as the first Indian designer to walk the steps last year. This year, Kiara Advani will fly the Indian flag at the prestigious event — and if rumours are to be believed, she won’t be alone.
In a cryptic Instagram post, digital creator and fashion critic Diet Sabya teased a major collaboration involving the “greatest Bollywood superstar” and the “biggest designer of our generation”, both of whom are expected to make their Met Gala 2025 debut in 2025. As speculation brews online, let’s take a step back and explore the origins of this grand event.
What is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Held on the Upper East Side, it marks the opening of the Institute’s spring fashion exhibition and is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive nights in fashion. This year, the event takes place on 5 May.
How did it come to be?
As per TIME magazine, the Met Gala was conceived by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the same visionary who helped establish New York Fashion Week. Her aim was to raise funds for the Costume Institute while celebrating the unveiling of its annual exhibit. The first edition took place in December 1948 as a midnight dinner, with tickets priced at just $50. Soon after, the event earned the nickname “The Party of the Year”, and was hosted at the Waldorf Astoria, drawing elite guests in their finest formal wear.
Over the years, the Met Galas have followed themes since the 1970s, encouraged by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland who became a special consultant to the Costume Institute (1972-1989). Once Anna Wintour took over in 1995, the event scaled up and included top names from entertainment, business, sports, establishing and celebrating her dominance in the industry.
What is the theme this year?
In October 2024, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” to be on display from May 10 to October 26, 2025. In line with the theme, this year’s dress code, “Tailored for You,” is a nod to Dandyism – a stereotype-bending menswear style and code of conduct prevalent in Black culture during the 18th and 19th centuries, defined by tailored outfits and elegant and refined silhouettes.
