10 things you didn't know about the Met Gala + how to get a job in fashion communication
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10 things you didn’t know about The Met Gala
This year’s Met Gala is happening this Monday May 1st. While we wait for the red carpet looks, let’s learn more about the most important fashion event of the year.
The Met Gala is organized each year to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It has a collection of more than 33.000 fashion objects from the 15th century to the present.
This year’s hosts are Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who are serving as the night’s official co-chairs.
The MET Gala always happens on the first Monday in May, except in 2020 when it was canceled during the pandemic and in 2021 when for the first time, the event was held in September. The 2022 edition was held in May as usually.
Each year the event launches the new annual spring fashion exhibit. This year it’s Karl Lagerfeld: A line of Beauty, which will be open from May 5 through July 16 2023 and pay tribute to the legendary designer who died in 2019. As in previous years, the Costume Institute curator is Andrew Bolton.
The party dress code is usually themed to the exhibition. This year’s exhibition theme is “in honour of Karl” – with guests able to choose from the creative director’s vast archives at Chanel, Fendi, Chloé, Balmain, Patou and his eponymous brand.
You can’t buy a ticket to attend the event, as it is by invitation only (on average 600 people attends it), and until the evening before the event, the guest list is top secret. Vogue’s Anna Wintour has the final say over every invitation and attendee. Not everyone pays. Celebs, young designers and politicians are usually guests of big brands or the museum.
Even though companies buy tables for the night, it seems that they still need Anna’s approval for each guest that is going to sit there. Each paid seat reportedly costs around $35,000.
In 2022, the ball raised a record amount of $17.4 million!
For a brand, this event represents A LOT of marketing, brand awareness and exposure. All the world's eyes are looking at the red carpet of the Met Gala. Fashion people confirm that the red carpet is the party itself more than what happens inside. Everyone is interested in knowing who wore what, even though most of the time, designers join the red carpet with the celebrities they have been working for other fashion campaigns as well, so it’s easy to predict who will wear what if you are a true fashion expert.
No one really knows what happens at the MET Gala. It’s a secret. For this reason, guests must abide by the no phone (and, therefore, no social media) policy.
Watch the Met Gala LIVE next Monday, May 1st at 6.30pm EST/11.30pm GMT on Vogue.com and Vogue’s social media.
What's happening in the industry this week?💚
Tom Ford presented his final collection
As he sold his company to Estée Lauder last November, Tom Ford presented this week his final fall women’s ready-to-wear collection on his website. It consists of reproductions of his favorite looks from the past 13 years, which are shown in 3 videos shot by Steven Klein, with Amber Valletta, Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss, Karen Elson and Caroline Trentini modeling in glass vitrines. See the collection here.
Altuzarra will launch a resale offering
The American brand is to launch this summer its own resale offering “Altuzarra Archive” in partnership with resale platform Reflaunt. Customers will be able to buy and sell pre-owned clothing and accessories. It will also offer exclusive items seen on the runway or one-of-a-kind samples.
Givenchy revealed a summer collection
“Givenchy Plage” is a swim and beachwear capsule of ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and other accessories. Inspired by Hubert de Givenchy’s seaside estate at Le Clos Fiorentina in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the couturier’s earliest swimwear, unveiled at a show in New York in 1952, this is the first swimwear collection creative director Matthew M. Williams has designed for the House.
Balmain designed a summer collection for Neiman Marcus
Called “Summer Set”, the exclusive collection includes 24 sportswear pieces of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, handbags and women’s shoes designed in bright white and light pink tones with 1920s inspiration. For the occasion, Neiman Marcus is hosting a 2,000-square-foot installation at its NorthPark location in Dallas open from April 19 to May 8.
The new Pharrell Williams x Adidas collaboration is coming soon
Pharrell Williams announced on Tuesday that his brand Humanrace has teamed up with Adidas on a new ‘Samba’ sneaker collaboration. It will be available in multiple colors, including orange, pink, lilac, and red to be released this weekend, as well as charcoal, white and terracotta planned to be launched a later date. The green colorway will be exclusive to friends and family members of Williams. The new version of the shoe comes with an extended tongue, and features a premium leather upper and special leather shoelaces sourced from Ecco leather.
Burberry designed a special scarf ahead of King Charles III coronation
As the official supplier to the British royal family, Burberry partnered with Highgrove Gardens, the private residence of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, on a limited-edition scarf feauturing the architecture of the garden.
John Galantic is leaving Chanel Inc.
The President and Chief Operating Officer of Chanel Inc. since 2006 is stepping down from his role as of June 30. “Under his leadership, Chanel Inc. pioneered a transformational client centric model, increasing Chanel’s owned distribution and elevating client experience as well as profitability, growing the business in all categories,” said a Chanel spokeswoman to WWD.
Authentic Brands Group is to acquire Vince’s Intellectual Property
According to BoF, the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023, intends to operate Vince’s existing wholesale, retail and e-commerce business, a new ABG Vince entity has been created. ABG will own a majority stake of 75%, while Vince Holding Corp. owns the rest.
Kering sales increased by 1%
Sales at French luxury group Kering rose by 1% in the first quarter of 2023, standing for €5.08 billion ($5.58 billion) compared to LVMH’s increase in sales of 17%. According to BoF, one of the reasons for the decline in sales is that Gucci, which is the group’s main profit and revenue driver, has been slowing down in recent years and its creative director Alessandro Michele left last November.
Paper magazine has ceased all its editorial operations
It was announced on Wednesday the publication has cut off all of its staff. Justin Moran, editor in chief, said to the press that Paper is not permanently closing, but is "seeking to cut costs as it looks toward alternative options to remain in operation."
Fendi’s flagship in New York to design windows in honor of Karl Lagerfeld
From Monday through May 10, Fendi will transform the windows of its New York City flagship on the 57th Street in Manhattan to celebrate the work of the house’s late creative director Karl Lagerfeld and the upcoming exhibition dedicated to him at the MET. The façade of the store will feature Lagerfeld’s archive sketches of his signature designs he did for Fendi.
A new Gucci exhibition in Shanghai
“Gucci Cosmos” will showcase the brand’s 102 years of heritage. Maria Luisa Frisa, an Italian fashion theorist and critic is the curator of the exhibition. She looked into Gucci’s archives to find the most iconic pieces that were designed under the creative direction of Tom Ford, Frida Giannini, and Alessandro Michele. The exhibition will open on Friday but will be available to the public starting June 25, before going on a global tour.
New fashion book about Linda Evangelista is coming up in September
“Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel” includes photographs of Linda Evangelista, one of the world’s most recognizable and photographed models of all time, shot be Steven Meisel from 1987 to 2011.
Vogue is looking for models
Are you an aspiring model? This is your chance! Vogue announced the launch of Open Casting, “a global model search to identify, encourage, and support a new generation of models that embody a modern ideal of beauty,” running from April 24 to May 8. All female-identifying individuals 18 and older can apply. You can come from anywhere in the world, don’t need to be signed to an agency, and there is no entry fee. The lucky finalists chosen in June will get the opportunity to be featured in a photoshoot that will run in a fall issue of global editions of Vogue, as well as receive continued mentorship and support. Find more information and apply here.
Fashion Career Tip of the Week
Are you interested in a career in fashion communication but don't know what are career possibilities and how to get started?
In our recent article, we are guiding you through the different fashion communication jobs to help you decide which one is best for you.
You will learn:
10 fashion communication jobs you can do as an intern, assistant or manager
What to study to work in this field
How to get a job in fashion communication
Read the article here.
Nice things 💖
Florence Pugh is the new face of Valentino.
The Valentino team says goodbye to Sabato De Sarno wearing “I <3 SDS” sweatshirts.
What to watch this week 📺
Don’t forget to watch the MET Gala next Monday, May 1st at 6.30pm EST/11.30pm GMT. It will be livestreamed on Vogue.com and broadcasted live across all Vogue’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
If you want to learn more about the MET Gala, you can watch “The first Monday in May”, the documentary about the most fashionable event of the year.
Fashion Profiles to follow this week
Steven Meisel, iconic fashion photographer is now on Instagram
Sabato De Sarno, creative director of Gucci
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That’s all for this week.
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Giada Graziano, Inside Fashion Editor in Chief and Glam Observer Founder
Margarita Skacenko, Fashion Editorial Assistant
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