Met Gala 2019: Versace always takes the cake at fashion's biggest night
The Met Gala 2019 has begun. The theme this year, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," is very subjective, so we don't know what to expect and it gives us an adrenaline rush to expect the unexpected. "Camp," according to Met Gala press release, spans from the 17th century to today, tracing its origin from Versailles to "the queer subcultures of Europe and America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries."
The Cut went on a hunt to understand the meaning of "Camp" because the world is confused. Their definition obtained puts "Camp" at perspective; "The Met Gala, which is not the Mets Gala, is camp-themed this year, which is not camp, like, going camping, but camp like the aesthetic style 'camp,' which is somewhat difficult to define but includes elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration; it makes you at once laugh and say oooahhhh, yikes! Lady Gaga is one of the Met Gala’s co-chairs."
Besides Gaga, the gala is co-chaired by Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, and Serena Williams. What's guaranteed is that you can expect Versace to slay the carpet again.
In 2018, the Met Gala was co-chaired by Donatella Versace and needless to say, the love stories between Versace and celebrities who donned the label was apparent. Through the years, the event which is fashion's biggest night has witnessed designers and celebrities come together for the annual fundraising event.
Be it Gisele Bündchen’s 100 percent sustainable dress to Kim Kardashian's show-stopping skimpy gold dress featuring two crosses last year for the theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," one thing in common is that Versace knows how to win.
The label founded by late Gianni Versace in 1978, and run by his sister Donatella Versace has more than 1500 boutiques operating worldwide. With a massive fan following, Versace makes it a point to stand out from the plethora of competitors in fashion's biggest night.
As mentioned earlier, 'Camp' is subjective and according to Donatella Versace the word stands for "freedom - the freedom of creativity.” Her definition accompanied an Atelier Versace Spring-Summer 2002 runway look, "a mini dress inspired by trapeze-artist's outfits, crystal embroidered in pastel pink and turquoise, finished with tassels on the hem."
This gives a brief insight into what we can expect from the label tonight. Forget dull earthy colors, Versace may go all pastel and crystals this theme. The Italian luxury fashion brand which gained widespread international coverage because of the black Versace dress of Elizabeth Hurley, referred to at the time as "that dress," has established itself to be the ones to think outside of the box, so no wonder celebrities love to make statements with Versace, especially at the Met.
With the 2018 Met Gala to be the latest example, Gigi Hadid looked regally angelic in Versace, and so did SZA. Blake Lively who always slays the red carpet wore an ornate ruby and gold gown created by Versace, which literally took more than 600 hours to make.
It did not disappoint, because it's Versace! The designer herself, Donatella Versace showed up fabulously attired in a navy and gold dress of her own design. The Costume Institute Gala may have subjective themes and designers play it all out, but we know who is on a winning streak, Versace it's the Met Gala, let's play!