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Hans India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Met Gala: A global runway, a cultural mirror, and Bharat's tryst with the blue carpet
Every year, on the first Monday of May, the grand marble steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City transform into a theatrical runway of fashion, fantasy, and fame. The Met Gala, the world's most-watched fashion fundraising event, is known for its extravagant costumes. It provides an opportunity for representatives from different countries to showcase their rich art, fashion, and cultural narratives. For Bharat—a civilization steeped in unique design sensibilities—the Met Gala offers both a stage and a question: Can we use this global platform to showcase our Bharatiya culture? Origins of the Met Gala The Met Gala, officially called the Costume Institute Benefit, was inaugurated in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. Initially a modest affair, it was conceptualized as a fundraiser for the newly founded Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Under the leadership of Vogue's formidable editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, from 1995 onwards, the Gala transformed into a global spectacle of celebrity glamour and fashion artistry. Wintour's vision turned the event into an annual theme-based pageant that fuses haute couture with cultural commentary. Understanding the Themes Each year, the Met Gala is anchored around a theme that coincides with the Costume Institute's annual exhibition. Themes such as Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (2018), Camp: Notes on Fashion (2019), and In America: A Lexicon of Fashion (2021) have allowed designers to explore diverse narratives—from religion to satire, national identity to futuristic imagination. While the themes pose aesthetic challenges, they are also invitations to reinterpret, provoke, or pay homage to cultural ideas through the medium of fabric and design. Celebrities from Bharat at the Met: A Cultural Bridge? Celebrities from Bharat began making a serious mark on the Met Gala carpet in the last decade, signaling the country's growing soft power. From Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Deepika Padukone, and more recently Alia Bhatt, Natasha Poonawalla, and Isha Ambani, icons from Bharat are now regulars on this prestigious carpet. But why to participate? Firstly, the Met Gala offers unmatched global visibility. Celebrities attending the event make headlines not only in fashion media but also in cultural and political commentary. For stars from Bharat, it's a way to break through the Western pop culture barrier, claim visibility, and shape their global brand. Secondly, it is an opportunity to represent the fashion and craftsmanship heritage of Bharat. Whether through embroidery, draping, or jewelry, Bharat's design sensibilities are among the richest in the world. The Met Gala can be an ideal stage for showcasing this. Is the Bharatiya Craftsmanship represented? The Met Gala, originally a fundraiser for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, has evolved into a global cultural event. The 2025 theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrated Black fashion heritage and identity, featuring over 250 iconic pieces. While there was a significant rise in participation from Bharat—with Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani, Diljit Dosanjh, and Isha Ambani showcasing style—it was still a poor representation of the country's craftsmanship and heritage on such a global platform. The Gala does not provide tangible benefits for Bharat, but it remains an opportunity to promote our intangible heritage. Most of the time, the only designers from Bharat seen on global platforms are Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra. There is almost no spotlight on indigenous textiles, embroidery, fashion, and heritage. A notable exception at the recent Met Gala was the costume worn by Punjabi hitmaker Diljit Dosanjh, which paid homage to the Maharaja of Patiala—an embodiment of royal Bharatiya splendor. Another unnoted contribution from Bharat was the white base carpet beneath the blue carpet. It was woven by Extraweave, the parent company of Neytt, a luxury home furnishings brand based in Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala. The carpet was shipped in 57 rolls (each four metres by 30 metres), covering a total area of 6,840 square metres. It took 480 people over 90 days to complete the work to Met Gala standards. For the employees of this Cherthala-based brand, it was a moment of pride. 'A lot of care and effort have gone into the carpet. The entire team, across departments, worked together to create this beautiful piece of art,' said Sivan Santhosh, Director of Extraweave and CEO of Neytt. Although it was hand-painted by artists in New York, the white base carpet was woven from natural sisal fibre imported from Madagascar. Why It Matters ? l Global Attention: Handlooms and craftsmanship from Bharat get worldwide recognition. l Cultural Diplomacy: Celebrities become ambassadors of Bharatiya textile heritage. l Sustainability: Traditional weaving aligns with the global shift to ethical fashion. l Economic Upliftment: Promotes rural artisans and endangered crafts. Challenges l The Gala doesn't directly promote causes of Bharat unless efforts are intentional. l Western institutions rarely reciprocate by showcasing culture of Bharat. l Participation is often driven by personal branding, not cultural advocacy. Recommendations l Celebrities from Bharat should deliberately feature heritage weaves and craft narratives. l Government and cultural bodies can push for Bharat-themed exhibitions at global museums. l Collaborations with artisan clusters and textile councils can ensure authentic representation. (The writer is an Expert, Creative Economy)
Vogue Arabia
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Zendaya Had One of the Chicest Zoot Suits of the Night at the 2025 Met Gala
Though Zendaya has only attended the Met Gala a handful of times, the actor has already become a fashion powerhouse at the event—consistently understanding the assignment, and always delivering a moment . This was the case yet again at the 2025 Met Gala. Styled by Law Roach, the star wore a custom Louis Vuitton design by Pharrell Williams. (She is a face for the label, after all.) The white tailored suit paid specific homage to the rock and roll history of the zoot suit—a staple look of Black dandyism. (Zoot suits are known for their high-wasted, tight-cuffed silhouettes.) The white single-breasted tuxedo, waistcoat, silk shirt-and-tie, and flared trousers were clean and contemporary. According to the label, her zoot suit served as homage to the era of power dressing in the 1970s and 1980s. Particularly, they were sure to reference trailblazing Black women who wore suits during the era, especially within the rock and roll space. (Iconic artists such as Grace Jones and Gladys Bentley come to mind.) Given the dress code for the night—dubbed Tailored For You—Zendaya's choice to don a traditional suit ensemble felt very much in the spirit of the night. She accessorised the look with a wide-brimmed floppy white felt hat, and a Speedy evening bag hand-encrusted with pearls. Her jewels, meanwhile, were by Bulgari. With her latest appearance tonight, Zendaya is now a seven-time Met Gala attendee. Her past red carpet appearances have been equally as striking to behold. Last year, for the 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' theme, Zendaya delivered not one but two striking ensembles—the first an ocean blue gown by Maison Margiela's John Galliano, and the second a never-before-worn vintage Givenchy couture from the spring 1996 collection. For the 2019 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' gala, meanwhile, she notably showed up in a Cinderella-like Tommy Hilfiger gown—complete with stylist Roach as her fairy godmother. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Article originally published on Vogue US
Washington Post
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The 11 best looks from the 2025 Met Gala
On some occasions, the Met Gala veers into the territory of the fantastical or even cartoonish (see: last year's 'Garden of Time' dress code; 2019's 'Camp: Notes on Fashion'). This year's dress code, though — 'Tailored for You,' to accompany an exhibit on Black dandyism through history with the theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' — made for an evening of grounded, sophisticated, downright gorgeous fashion.
India Today
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas bring drama to Met Gala 2025 in coordinated outfits
It was Priyanka Chopra's fifth appearance at the Met Gala, and her husband Nick Jonas turned her cheerleader as well as her plus one. The couple once again charmed everyone with their coordinated ensembles that paid homage to the evening's theme, "Tailored for You," celebrating Black fashion and menswear with a focus on Chopra's ensemblePriyanka Chopra strutted the Met Gala blue carpet in a stunning polka dot suit dress by Olivier Rousteing for Balmain. The ensemble featured a structured black-and-white design with a cinched waist, sharp shoulders, and a dramatic peplum. Also, the oversized Victorian hat made for an absolute dandy style statement. Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra at the Met Gala. (Photo: AP) advertisementNow, all eyes were on the humongous emerald piece from Bulgari, adding that much-needed sparkle to her look. Priyanka's hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her makeup featured subtle brown tones with a focus on her eyes, accentuated by winged eyeliner. Later, the flared skirt got a sleek replacement. Priyanka Chopra on the Met Gala blue carpet. (Photo: AP) What Nick Jonas woreComplementing Priyanka's look, Nick Jonas wore a sleek black-and-white ensemble by Balmain. He wore a white blouse paired with black trousers, adding a modern edge to his classic attire. His ensemble echoed the monochromatic theme, aligning perfectly with the evening's dress code.A fashionable love storyadvertisementThe Met Gala holds a special place in Priyanka and Nick's heart (IYKYK). They first attended the event together in 2017 as guests of Ralph Lauren, and that is where it began. Since then, the couple has made several appearances at the Met Gala Met Gala look over the yearsFor her debut look, the desi girl wore a custom Ralph Lauren trench coat gown featuring an iconic long train, instantly marking her as a red carpet force. Though it became a fodder for multiple memes, there's no denying that it has been one of her most iconic Met Gala looks so 2018, she embraced the "Heavenly Bodies" theme with a regal burgundy velvet Ralph Lauren gown complete with a beaded gold hood, embodying a goddess-like in 2019, Priyanka really let her wild side out with the 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' theme in a silver Dior Haute Couture cage dress, larger-than-life hair, and a look that was all things bold and forward to the 2023 Karl Lagerfeld tribute, and she did a complete 180, showing up in a sleek, all-black strapless Valentino gown, paired with white gloves, delicate bows, and a dramatic ruffled cape that screamed classic Reel
Vogue
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Demi Moore Puts a Bold New Twist on Black Tie at the 2025 Met Gala
For the 2025 Met Gala, Demi Moore put her own twist on the meaning of 'black tie'. The Substance star wore a Thom Browne gown made in the same silhouette as a classic men's tie, with the knot acting as the bust of the dress and the neck as the skirt. The exaggerated garment, which boasted over 1,400,000 beads—including 22,000 pieces of black rectangle sequins, 103,500 pieces of black cut beads, and 1,093,500 pieces of black bugle beads—took over 7,600 hours to make. She paired it all with pom-pom block-heel pumps. Arguably the most impressive part of the dress? The loop, which extended above Moore's head to act as a kind of abstract hat. It's safe to say that Moore nailed this year's dress code—'Tailored for You'—which saw stars from Zendaya to Colman Domingo put forth their own spin on suiting and dandyism. Moore is no stranger to memorable appearances on the steps of the Met: last year, The Substance star wore a Harris Reed gown with 10 carats of Cartier high jewelry. In 2019, she wore a black Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello gown for 'Camp: Notes on Fashion.' See All of the Celebrity Looks From the Met Gala 2025 Red Carpet:
