The Met Gala has become fashion’s biggest and most exciting night.
The annual fundraising gala is for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The event marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibit. Every year, the night is centered on the theme of the new exhibition.
This year’s theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion”, meaning exaggerated fashion. The exhibit is inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay that defines camp as “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.”
The attendees did not disappoint, there were so many over-the-top looks it was tough to narrow down my favorites!
I sketched Hailey Bieber’s Alexander Wang look on my iPad while watching E!’s coverage of the “pink carpet”. As soon as I saw this pastel pink sequined dress, I knew it had to be sketched! This is one of Hailey’s best moments ever, both feminine and unexpected.
The Jenner sisters shut down the carpet with their bold and bright feathered Versace gowns. Kendall and Kiley looked gorgeous, their looks were different from their typical styles and they had fun with the theme. This is camp!
Feeling inspired by the fashion risks I saw on the carpet, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and tested out a new artistic style for this piece. My muses for this project were Kendall and Kylie Jenner. I was drawn to the color palette and feathers. This was a fun one to paint!
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has chaired the Met Gala since 1995. She paid tribute to her friend and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld with her look, her custom Chanel feathered gown was the last dress he made for her before he passed in February. Camp fashion is extravagant, it is Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel! Anna Wintour looked stunning and very camp with her pink and purple feathered jacket and embellished dress.
The Met Gala and annual museum exhibit celebrate fashion as a true art form. This year was the craziest yet, I hope to go see the exhibit at the Met soon!
I will be live sketching at Bloomingdales this Saturday from 2-4pm. I can’t wait to see you then!
Molly E.