Latest news with #EleanorLambert
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)
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
On the Met Gala
Daily Quiz | On the Met Gala Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit YOUR SCORE 0 /6 RETAKE THE QUIZ 1 / 6 | Let's start with an easy one. What was the gala called before? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Costume Institute Benefit SHOW ANSWER 2 / 6 | The event is held for the benefit of which museum's institute? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute SHOW ANSWER 3 / 6 | The event is organised by which fashion magazine? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Vogue SHOW ANSWER 4 / 6 | Who established the Met Gala? In which year was it established? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : It was established in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert SHOW ANSWER 5 / 6 | What is the term used to mean 'the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design'? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Haute Couture SHOW ANSWER
Vogue Arabia
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Eleanor Lambert, The Woman Who Created the MET Gala
Upon entering the fashion world, she discovered that American fashion was in its infancy compared to European fashion (New York was nothing compared to Paris), so she decided to put together a list of "best dressed" candidates. To add validity to her list, she put it up to a vote by department store creatives, editors from the most relevant fashion media and the most recognised agencies. The list left out the greatest Hollywood actresses and European royalty, but included heiresses and wives of some of the wealthiest individuals in the United States - a very exclusive selection that exuded sophistication. The result? A New York Times headline confirming that Eleanor Lambert was succeeding: 'The world has a new international centre of fashion.' Little by little, some Hollywood actresses began to make the list and, years later, it included a name that would gain great prominence: Jackie Kennedy. If you've ever wondered who turned John F. Kennedy's wife into a style icon, now you know. When did the MET Gala begin? The first gala benefiting the Metropolitan Museum's Met Costume Institute was held in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert. Eleanor Lambert was the very powerful woman who started the event that always gives us the best red carpet moments of the year. Some called her the queen of PR, others the empress of fashion. How did the MET Gala begin? The MET Gala was inaugurated in 1948, its original name being 'Gala of the Year,' with the intention of bringing fashion to museums. The event was created to raise funds to benefit the preservation and exhibition of fashion history through the Costume Institute, formerly the Museum of Costume Art, an independent entity founded in 1937. Although the MET Gala is now held every first Monday in May, the first Gala of the Year was organised as a midnight dinner in the fall and was not held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over the course of the following decades, its venue would move from Rockefeller Centre's Rainbow Room to the Waldorf Astoria. Eleanor Lambert had another pivotal moment in her career: she founded the CFDA. Yes, the renowned Council of Fashion Designers of America wouldn't exist if it wasn't for her. The council had a single goal: to support and nurture emerging talent. It was under the umbrella of this new project that the MET Gala was born. At the same time, Eleanor Lambert decided to make her Best Dressed List more official by forming a committee whose members were appointed to choose the names that would become part of what became the International Best Dressed List (and, later, the CFDA Awards). Lambert maintained control of the list until 2003, when, at the age of 99, she decided to hand over the responsibility to Vanity Fair , which continues to publish the list to this day. Thank you, Eleanor Lambert, for giving us the best red carpet of the year: the MET Gala. Article originally published on Vogue Mexico
RTÉ News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Arbiters of Style: Black dandyism and the power of tailoring
Never has a theme for an annual event been so needed for the time we live in than the exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, and the gala that marks its opening. The biggest night of the year for custom fashion, the Met Gala (or as it is formally known, the Costume Institute Benefit) is a spectacle that raises funds for the arts, specifically for The Met's Costume Institute. Dedicated to New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute (formally named The Anna Wintour Costume Centre), the benefit was first founded by publicist Eleanor Lambert in 1948 after The Museum of Costume Art merged with The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1946. When Anna Wintour became chair in 1995, though, the type of invitee significantly changed: to the star-studded event where musicians, actors and other high-profile celebrities are meticulously seated and only earn entry upon invitation. This year, the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, is a reminder that creativity, individualism and identity cannot be confined. Typically, the dress code for the gala is a little broader than the exhibition theme to allow for greater creative expression, with 'tailored for you' echoing the sartorial nature of the exhibition, which, as noted by The Met, presents a cultural and historical examination of Black style over three hundred years through the concept of dandyism. Guest curator of The Costume Institute's exhibition and author of Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, Monica L. Miller, notes of the Black dandy in her book: "Once slaves to fashion, they made fashion their slave". As in the 18th century, a new culture of consumption, fueled by the slave trade, colonialism, and imperialism, enabled access to clothing and goods. Such wares became indicative of wealth, distinction and taste alongside the exploitation of people and their trade. The exhibition this year will focus on the long textile history of Africa and how, through dress, Black dandyism sprang from the intersection of European and African style traditions. Its origins lie in the late 18th and early 19th Century when Black servants were dressed up as a spectacle - a marker of wealth for the elite. As menswear became more sober in the early 19th century and into the 20th century, Black dandyism reclaimed its past through creativity. The antithesis to confining Black identity. At its core, for the dandy, fashion was a vehicle for both self-expression and a subtle form of rebellion against societal norms. For Black dandyism, the stakes were much higher. The Black dandy of the Harlem Renaissance, as one heads into the 1920s and 30s, was someone who used dress to assert themselves in a world that often denied them dignity, using dress to assert their right to exist on their own terms. Though this exhibition focuses on menswear, there were early women Black Dandies, such as Gladys Bentley. The Harlem Renaissance blues singer in her early career dressed in men's clothes to tread that line between genders, a fluidity provided by Black dandyism. The openly queer, black entertainer paired her dress with dandy-centric accessories such as a top hat, cane and brooches. From 1920s Harlem to 1970s disco to 1990s hip-hop (alongside long-established tailors such as Robert Hill from Birmingham, Alabama) and Congolese 'sapeurs,' black dandyism has been kept alive. Flamboyant, extravagant and bespoke, black men have used how they dress to express pride and resistance. Black dandyism even captured the attention of Irish company Guinness back in 2014, when an ad followed Congolese men (stout in hand) as they shed their working clothes and transformed themselves externally into polished, hat-wearing, cane-wielding style moguls. Lest we forget the voice of the narrator: "In life, you cannot always choose what you do, but you can always choose who you are.' In an article by BBC News, costume designer Mr Gammon took 28 suitcases of elegant kit to shoot the Guinness ad with members of the Congolese Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant Persons (SAPE) or 'sapeurs,' as they are known. The main idea was to be true to the sapeur look, and though heightened a bit, photographer Per-Anders Pettersson, who spent five days with sapeurs in Kinshasa in 2012, said the picture portrayed in the ad was pretty accurate. Over a decade later and black dandyism is finally getting the global recognition it deserves, not just as a fashion movement but as a state of being. As we look forward to bespoke tailoring, a plethora of takes on the 'suit' and guests' interpretation of the theme, we are reminded of the importance of style and indeed stylists. With the eyes of the world on it, the importance of style as a result of this year's exhibition also extends to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora, particularly in the United States and Europe. It is the first time that all co-chairs are Black men, too, celebrating Black excellence and the undervalued (but very historically significant) culture of arbiters of style. A term used to describe the original dandy. It may be the first gala dedicated to menswear in more than two decades (remember Braveheart: Men in Skirts, 2003), but it is so historic to see Black dandyism receiving the global spotlight it has long deserved in its own right. Its role in Black culture is not just a matter of dress, but an assertion of autonomy, beauty, and power - a resilience that is truly inspiring.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The 2025 MET Gala theme is 'Tailored for You' but what does it mean for guests
The Met Gala brings together the top celebrities and socialites every year to celebrate and raise awareness for the Costume Institute. Here's what this year's dress code means For most of us, the first Monday of May isn't that monumental. However, for celebrities and socialites, this is the biggest weekend of their year. The first Monday of May marks the annual Met Gala. With 400-650 attendees ranging from beloved film stars and record-selling singers to fashion designers and industry leaders, all of whom were invited by Anna Wintour and Vogue, the Met Gala is akin to Christmas for fashion enthusiasts. The Met Gala is an annual haute couture fundraiser held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, specifically to support the Costume Institute. This event is celebrated as the world 's most prestigious and glamorous fashion gathering, attracting top figures from the film, music, and fashion industries. The inaugural Met Gala was held in 1948, originally known as the "Costume Institute Benefit." Renowned fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert established this charity event to support the Costume Institute through fundraising and awareness. The event later underwent a cultural transformation following Diana Vreeland's appointment as a consultant for the Institute. This appointment led to the charity's benefit switching venues to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and introducing annual themes that reflected the Institute. Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, has overseen the event since 1995, approving everything from sponsors and themes to guest lists and evening attire, as well as which designers are assigned to dress which celebrities. This year, the Met Gala takes over Manhattan on the 5th of May, and here's everything you need to know. The event is known for its iconic themes, and this year's pays homage to Black dandyism. The dress code for this year's gala is 'Tailored for You', reflecting the new exhibition that will take over the museum from May 10 to October 26, 2025, titled 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style'. The theme will explore the significance of clothing and style in shaping Black identities within the Atlantic diaspora, with a primary focus on menswear. The dress-code for this year was primarily selected by Andrew Bolton, chief curator of The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller's 2009 book, 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.' This theme emphasises how tailoring and style contribute to the development of Black identities. Notably, this marks the first time since 2003's "Men in Skirts" that the Met Gala will spotlight menswear. According to the Met, the dress code is 'purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation'. Each year, a new chairman is appointed, along with a co-chair group, to promote the event, represent its theme, and guide its flow, particularly during public appearances and red-carpet events. Additionally, the co-chairs also contribute to planning the theme, dinner and performances. This year's co-chairs are producer and musician Pharrell Williams, actor Colman Domingo, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, musician A$AP Rocky and Anna Wintour, with basketball star Lebron James acting as honorary co-chair.
