American Fashion: The MET Ball 2021

Written By Rana Rastegari

Graphics By Dana Dang

The theme for the long awaited 2021 Met Gala has finally been revealed to us and it is, drumroll please, “American fashion: A lexicon”. Set to take place in September, due to covid restrictions, the most glamorous event of the year is back. Say hello to couture, red carpets, flashing lights and all things high end. This year's theme, like no other, is undeniably complex (but then again, everything in this industry is). Just like the 2019 theme, everyone has been searching around to find out what exactly Anna Wintour means by “American Fashion” and what can we expect to see on the red carpet and how exactly is this MET so different to previous ones?

After the cancellation of the MET last year, the costume exhibit has planned a two part exhibit for this year. The overall theme is American Fashion, a tribute to pioneering American Designers from the past and present who have proved to be undeniably powerful to what we see on the runways. The first exhibit will consist of a fictional “traditional American home” with transparent walls and doorways. Essentially, the costume exhibit is looking to celebrate American designers as well as showcase the incredibly difficult year that the fashion industry has faced. The house will mirror the effects of the pandemic, each room being a representative of a particular emotion, having the resulting impact of blurred, unclear boundaries between each emotion. The house will be an emphasis on the vocabulary used in American fashion, both by designers and by the public, and how each of these words translates into designs. The second part of the exhibit will be a more sociopolitical show of American fashion - it aims to mirror the trajectory of American designs and how they have been affected by and also play into American history. Andrew Bolton revealed that he wanted the exhibit to be truthful to America and fashion; “I really do believe that American fashion is going through a renaissance”. Aiming to illuminate the works of forgotten or lesser known artists, the two part exhibit will be running from September 2021 to September 2022.

Now for the actual Gala, the event of the year. The infamous first Monday of May, is slightly tweaked this year seeing as it's not actually on the first Monday of May. The co-chairs of the ball are the biggest stars in the industry right now, young and full of passion. Timothee Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman will all accompany Anna Wintour in the preparation for the big event. Just like all the other Met Balls, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what we can expect to see on the red carpet. It’s going to be an unforgettable amalgamation of American fashion and as Christian Siriano predicts, it’s not doubtful that we’ll see “haute couture variations of the Americana moment”. Though many criticised the event, saying that it was too boring or too patriotic of a theme for the gala, many have been quick to embrace it; proposing predictions and ideas as to what we can expect. From Ann Lowe to LaQuan Smith, many of the stars will use their ensembles to put across political messages alongside dazzling the red carpet. In terms of designers, we will, of course, be seeing Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Michal Kors and Jeremy Scott alongside their muses Kate Moss, Bella Hadid and more. On the flip side, many of the guests may stray from the modern 21st century American designers and turn to pioneering fashion designers from the 20th century who seem to have slipped through the cracks of the fashion industry. I, for one, would love to see multiple interpretations of Charles James’s work alongside Ann Lowe and Elizabeth Hawes. The captivating thing about this theme is the broad time frame it provides; stars can choose any time period from the very beginning of American fashion up to the latest, most modern collections from the runway. So be prepared for 19th century “butterfly backs'' by Charles James next to classically 50’s evening gowns by Ann Lowe and bejewelled, tight fitting dresses by Jeremy Scott.