Time for the Met Gala! Yes, the first Monday of May (or early Tuesday in Pakistan) is here, and this year's green carpet premiere featured early A-listers like Jennifer Lopez, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, party chief Anna Wintour, and businesswoman Isha Ambani.
One of the co-chairs of the party, Lopez, looked like a silver goddess, embracing her figure like a second skin.
Yes, it's a party, with dinner and cocktails for about 400 guests who have been invited, but it's also a major fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Met, the only part of the museum that has to pay for itself.
Last year, the gala raised roughly $22 million. The entire event is organised by Anna Wintour, a Met trustee for whom a section of the institute bears her name. To add to the allure, phones are not permitted.
Every year, there's a dress code related to the spring exhibition at the museum. Not every guest responds to Wintour's request; some do not. The same-titled short story by J.G. Ballard from 1962 served as the basis for this year's theme. Considering how particular last year's theme was -- all things Karl Lagerfeld -- it's a softball-style question.
Expect flowers, flowers, and more flowers this time. And vintage will probably be huge.
It's a big deal to be asked up by Wintour to co-chair. Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Zendaya are the members of this year's class. It's Hemsworth's first Met Gala, and he and Bad Bunny were among the early arrivals Monday. Shou Chew, chief executive officer of TikTok, and Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe, are honorary chairs. The companies are also gala and exhibition sponsors.
Alia Bhatt walks the red carpet
Alia Bhatt's massive train covered almost the entire red carpet as she walked up the MET stairs.
