The 9 Red Carpet Moments I Demand To See At This Year’s Met Gala
Whether you’re a fashionista or fashion impaired (me), we can all agree that the Met Gala has cemented itself as being one of the most iconic events in the pop culture calendar.
From the bold to the boring, to the simply batshit crazy outfits (I’m looking at you, Jared Leto), the first Monday in May always gives us something to talk about. Each year, my friends and I blow up the group chat with predictions of what we’re hoping to see, so if you’ll indulge me, here are my Met Gala manifestations for 2024.
Firstly, let’s discuss the theme: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” With the Costume Institute’s exhibition featuring pieces spanning 400 years, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, Max Hollein told Vogue; “‘Sleeping Beauties’ will heighten our engagement with these masterpieces of fashion by evoking how they feel, move, sound, smell, and interact when being worn, ultimately offering a deeper appreciation of the integrity, beauty, and artistic brilliance of the works on display.”
Do I speak fashion? No, but I myself interpret this to mean that the exhibition will inspire a red carpet full of multidimensional movement. A sartorial, sensory overload of sorts. Further to this, the actual dress code is “The Garden of Time”, so I’m hedging (get it?) my bets on lots of floral prints, green hues, nature-inspired textiles, largely constructed floral arrangements and at least one nod to The Garden of Eden.
While the guestlist at this point is only rumoured, we do know that this year’s hosts are Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth. Zendaya IS the Met Gala, however her three co-hosts are truly such a rogue lineup. Still, nice to see an Aussie in the mix! Assuming the usual suspects are in attendance, here are some of the things that I’m hoping to see next week as I furiously scroll Instagram wearing stained trackies and a jumper that I likely haven’t washed for a month.
The KarJenners Subverting Our Expectations
I know I’m not the only one who has been thinking it, so I’m just gonna say it out loud… Are the KarJenners even relevant anymore? I might eat my words once the new season of their series premieres this month, but I genuinely can’t think of anything interesting I’ve seen or read about any of them in the last six months. It is this exact reason that I’m hoping if Kim, Kendall and Kylie show up this year, they do something that shocks me.
Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2024
I would LOVE to see Kim in something flowy and not at all form-fitting. Almost every year, she shows up in something that emphasises her hourglass shape (how can we forget her 2020 Mugler corset or 2022’s Marilyn moment). While she chose to cover up completely in a Balenciaga bodysuit that concealed her face in 2021, it still clung to every curve.
me and my anxiety when i go out #MetGala #MetGala2021 pic.twitter.com/nqP8JQ2Fc3
— kristen🌞 (@kristen_siebs) September 14, 2021
There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing off her figure, I just think opting for something that isn’t all about her body would be her most daring look yet.
Kendall Jenner Met Gala 2024
Kendall is so beautiful but bores me to tears. We’ve seen the sheer look, we’ve seen the slicked-back hair, we’ve seen the bejewelled accents. I think her most interesting look was in 2022 when she bleached her eyebrows, because at least that mixed things up a little.
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So on that note Kenny, if you’re reading this, my one request is that you rock a no-makeup face. This woman looks UNREAL without makeup, and I think a natural look would tie in so well with the theme. I’d also love a less structured hair moment. You are literally one of the few women in the world who can roll out of bed, throw on couture and look stunning, so go for it girlfriend! Make us feel terrible!
Kylie Jenner Met Gala 2024
To be fair, Kylie has come a long way. She’s definitely lent into being a fashion girlie this past year and is seemingly straying from her King Kylie origins. She even dropped her own fashion line, Khy, although I presume she’ll be dressed by one of the bigger designers.
Not too many notes with Kylie, aside from the fact that I’d be thrilled if she rocked the bob she’s been dabbling with lately. I think it’s such a classy look on her and could be paired beautifully with either a severe, structural gown or something more delicate. She looks gorgeous in red, so perhaps some sort of rose-inspired number.
Image Credit: @kyliejenner Instagram
New Additions To The Carpet
Ayo Edebiri Met Gala 2024
Every year, some lucky star scores their first invitation and makes their grand Met Gala debut. It’s been said that Ayo Edebiri will be one of those newcomers, and YES PLEASE. Whether you know her from The Bear (she ate up awards season), or movies like Bottoms and Theatre Camp, Ayo has become one of the biggest rising stars in Hollywood.
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The fashion industry caught on, with Vogue Australia identifying her as an “It-Girl Style Icon” earlier in March. Ayo can rock literally any look. Androgynous, mod, oversized and casual, bold shapes and old-Hollywood glam. The sky’s the limit for this little lady, so I don’t have anything, in particular, I want to see her in, I just want to SEE her having a moment.
Greta Lee Met Gala 2024
Greta Lee is another actress you’ve likely seen a lot of lately. She’s been around for a while, but garnered attention for her performance in Past Lives during award season, not only for her incredible acting but her impeccable style. Harper’s Bazaar recently described her wardrobe as “an elegant blend of sophisticated yet quirky pieces”, which is the kind of look that slays at the Met Gala. Have fun and be fresh but be timeless and classy! IT’S NOT THAT HARD GUYS. Again, I will happily see this woman wearing anything because I just know she’s gonna nail it.
Image credit: Getty
Renee Rapp Met Gala 2024
A Met wildcard for me would be Renee Rapp. An absolute Gen Z favourite, she’d bring a new audience with her and likely wear something unique and modern. Having told Teen Vogue that her style changes “depending on how gay I want to feel that day”, I think she’d be an exciting star for any designer to dress, perhaps someone up and coming that mirrored the singer’s own rising status.
Image credit: @reneerapp Instagram
Show-Stopping Pairings
Taylor Swift Met Gala 2024
Well, she’s likely going to be too busy preparing for the European Tour (and ruling the world), but fuck me, imagine if Taylor and Travis showed up? It was rumoured for about five minutes this week that she would be attending, which would be the first time since her 2016 appearance where she rocked a metallic custom-made Louis Vuitton mini.
Having just released The Tortured Poets Department (ever heard of it?) and being a fan of natural imagery and all it evokes, this year’s theme could be the perfect Met comeback for the songstress. Plus, it feels cosmically correct that the couple would make their red carpet debut together on one of the biggest nights in pop culture.
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Image credit: Getty
Haters will say it’s all too hard logistically, but if we recall how Taylor and Travis managed to perform on tour in Japan, win the Super Bowl and win a Grammy respectively in the space of one week . So, if anyone can pull it off it’s these crazy kids.
Zendaya Met Gala 2024
As previously stated, Zendaya = Met Gala.
For years, she has solidified herself as being one of the biggest draw cards of the event, with annual jaw-dropping moments produced by herself and stylist Law Roach. Her 2017 Dolce and Gabbana red and yellow gown was a masterpiece. The 2018 Joan of Arc inspired Versace number was powerful and strong. Perhaps my favourite though, was her 2019 interpretation of the Camp theme, in which she wore a very pale blue Tommy Hilfiger gown. With Roach dressed as her red carpet Fairy Godmother, he waved his “wand” and in a magical moment, the dress transformed and lit up from the bottom to the top, turning the dress into a vibrant, metallic masterpiece and Zendaya into Cinderella.
Image credit: Getty
She understands the assignment, so I just know she’s going to absolutely delight all of the senses when she steps onto that carpet. But her greatest accessory for me would be her cute-as-hell boyfriend, Tom Holland. The two have never appeared together at the Met. In fact, Tom Holland has never attended the Met.
Anne Hathaway Met Gala 2024
Finally, I am absolutely jonesing for a Meta Met moment of having Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt walk to the red carpet together. Come on! How could they NOT? They’ve both got movies coming out, they’re both absolutely KILLING it style wise, the “Florals for Spring? Groundbreaking” of it all!
Image credit: The Devil Wears Prada
If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s a modern reference to the early aughts, and I just think this is what the world needs right now. Put one of them in cerulean blue. Give someone bangs. Help us access joy!
The Met Gala will take place on Monday 6th May, but you’ll have to wait until Tuesday morning in Australia to peep the goods.
Written by Lil Friedmann, lover of all things Bravo and staunch defender of reality television. You can follow her at @lilfriedmann on socials.
Image credit: Getty + Punkee