In a highly anticipated announcement, the Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils the theme for the Costume Institute’s 2024 exhibition and gala: «Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.» As a pinnacle event in the fashion calendar, the Met Gala annually attracts A-listers across diverse realms, meticulously curated by Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.
Set for May 6 in Manhattan, the gala signals the grand opening of the exhibition, accessible to the public from May 10 to September 2. Both events proudly cosponsored by the popular video-sharing app, TikTok.
The expansive exhibition promises an immersive experience, showcasing approximately 250 garments and accessories spanning four centuries. Carefully selected from the Costume Institute’s extensive archives of 33,000 pieces, these range from a 17th-century embroidered jacket to an Alexander McQueen gown from spring-summer 2001, crafted from shells.
Described by the Met as using the natural world as a unifying visual metaphor, «Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion» delves into cyclical themes of rebirth and renewal. The exhibition aims to breathe new life into storied objects, exploring the transient nature of fashion.
Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute curator, tackles the challenge of presenting garments traditionally unwearable within a museum setting. Leveraging various technologies, «Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion» seeks to reawaken the sensorial experience within fashion.
A standout exhibit features a silk satin House of Worth ball gown from the late 19th century, displayed flat due to fragility. However, computer imaging and holograms will restore it to its original magnificence, embracing modern immersive exhibition techniques.
Bolton explains the choice of TikTok as a cosponsor, emphasizing its «accessibility» and the goal of achieving the broadest global reach for the show. The Met Gala, transformed by Wintour into one of the world’s most buzzworthy events, remains a vital source of funding for the Costume Institute.
