The iconic Met Gala 2021 is back after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. There are so many questions around fashion's biggest night: Who is going? What's the theme? Will masks or vaccinations be required? Well, we have the answers for you.
Arguably the most glamorous event of the year, this event is invite-only with attendees being only the most elite stars in Hollywood. However, this guest list this year looks a little different than years past. So who's on the invite for Met Gala 2021?
The goal of the this year is to gain a younger audience, according to the chair of Metropolitan Museum of Arts' Costume Institute and VOGUE Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour. Yep, that means they're expanding the invite list to influencers, athletes, and social media personalities. Sigh...
"The gala will be co-hosted by four youthful celebrities: singer Billie Eilish (age 19), actor Timothée Chalamet (25), tennis star Naomi Osaka and poet Amanda Gorman (both 23). This year's theme is "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,"" reports Newsweek.
American designers like Ralph Lauren, Virgil Abloh, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, LaQuan Smith, and Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss will be likely some of the most celebrated and worn designers of the night. While we're excited for this theme, we expect a lot of interesting reactions, political statements, and even some negative sentiments given the current political and social climate.
We are all for younger celebrities coming and ushering in the next era of red carpet stars, but do social media stars and influencers really need to be invited? In our opinion, the Gala does not have a viewership problem, with 15.5 Million viewers on E! Network's coverage of the 2019 red carpet alone, according to The Futon Critic. Plus, there are already plenty of younger celebrities coming to the event now who truly deserve to: Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Zendaya, and many more. Previously, no one under 18 was allowed.
No hate, but we aren't a big fan of influencers attending the event, especially in such a large quality. This could potentially ruin the level of stars attending in the future, with superstars like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez being turned off by the idea of put on the same level as someone who "dances" on TikTok. See below for some of the list:
Addison Rae (TikTok star & social media personality)
Emma Chamberlain (YouTuber, social media personality, entreprenuer)
Allyson Felix (World's most decorated female Olympian)
Lil Huddy (social media personality)
Sisters, Charli and Dixie D'Amelio (social media personalities & TikTok stars)
Tavi Gevinson (part of the Gossip Girl reboot & former fashion blogger)
And, of course, huge stars like Camila Cabello, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes, Lorde, Rosalía, and Venus Williams will be in attendance.
If you will remember, viewers were not so kind to 2019's tiny sprinkle of influencers like James Charles and Liza Koshy. So we expect it to be only worse this year. The problem? Well, influencers and social media personalities are rarely known for their incredible and risk-taking fashion in the same way Rihanna and Kim Kardashian are. Not to mention a ticket is $35,000 this year. While they do make a lot of money, many social media stars do not have the deep pockets to fund all it takes to "WOW" on the red carpet. They have likely only been on red carpets for things like small movie premieres and the Teen Choice Awards; not exactly comparable to the Met Gala. We expect this fashion to be simple and less-than impressive.
Thoughts from others? Exactly what we predicted.
One publicist speaking to the Post said: "Personally, I don't think the Met is cool anymore… It's gone from super prestigious to [being] full of influencers."
Another celebrity agent told the Post: "I've been told that a lot of influencers are on the guest list. I've heard that Facebook and Instagram have taken so many tables, and that's put a lot of people off going, alongside the mask mandate."
Guests will be reportedly required to wear masks indoors when they are not eating or drinking, and will also have to provide proof of full vaccination. So it seems that it will not be required on the red carpet for celebrities, although it is likely that many will incorporate it into their fashionable costumes.
The Institute and VOGUE have yet to comment on the emotional negative reactions surrounding the "Super Bowl of Fashion."
What do you think about everything going on with the Met Gala 2021? Tune in Monday, Sept. 13 for all of the action, and follow us on social media to keep up with the best fashion!