The 2024 Met Gala "Garden of Time" Theme and Dress Code, Explained - E! Online (2024)

What is the 2024 Met Gala theme?

This year's Met Galacelebrates the Costume Institute's new exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

However, this isn't a Disney princess reimagining. It's about honoring clothes that are so fragile, they can never be worn again. Thus,these diaphanous fabrics and one-of-a-kind constructions are considered "sleeping beauties"in the archives of the museum.

AsAndrew Bolton, the head curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, told Vogue, "It is very much an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion."

The exhibition will also have three main zones thatemphasize the Earth's elements: Land, Sea and Sky.

What inspired the 2024 Met Gala theme?

The fashion extravaganza has been inspired byeverything from legendarydesigners to religion and futurism. But this year'sMet Gala pays homage to the 1962 short story,The Garden of Time, written byauthor J.G. Ballard.

The book follows Count Axel and his wife, who listen to Mozart in their beautifulvilla that's surrounded by a garden of crystal flowers. But outside their gilded cage, is anangrymob thatnears their place of solitude. To keep thearmy at bay, Axel must turn back time by plucking his flowers, one by one, until there isnothing left.

What is the 2024 Met Gala dress code?

The 2024 Met Gala dress code is "The Garden of Time," which plays offof J.G.'s short story title. While the theme can be interpreted in various ways, it's likely we'll see creations inspired by plants, flowers and other botanicals.

Florals? For spring? Why, yes, it will be groundbreaking at the Met Gala.

Who is hosting the 2024 Met Gala?

The cohosts joiningAnna Wintourthis year areBad Bunny,Zendaya,Jennifer Lopezand Chris Hemsworth. This will commemorate theMarvel actor's first time at the annual event, while it marks Bad Bunny's third appearance, the Euphoria actress' sixth and J.Lo's 14th.

How long with the fashion exhibit be at the Metropolitan Museum?

The exhibit runs from May 10 through Sept. 2.

According to the MET,the showwillfeature approximately 250 garments and accessories all connected visually through nature.

So, expect tobe transported, as the exhibit includes several sensory capabilities, like smelling hats with floral notes or touching walls embossed with embroidered fabrics. And prepare to gaze upon the"illusion technique known as Pepper's ghost," the museum website states, which will display how the "hobble skirt" restricted women's strides in the early 20th century.

All in all, the exhibit will span over 400 years of fashion history and showcase designs bySchiaparelli, Dior, Givenchy and others. And the pieces that are too fragile to ever be worn again—such as a Charles Frederick Worthgown from 1877—will be viewed through "animation, light projection, AI, CGI and other forms of sensory stimulation," the museum website reads.

"By appealing to the widest possible range of human senses," Andrew said in a press release, "the show aims to reconnect with the works on display as they were originally intended—with vibrancy, with dynamism, and ultimately with life."