Monday, May 2, 2022
Christopher John Rogers Made a High-Fashion Merch Tee For the Met Gala
The 2022 Met Gala is right around the corner. While you prepare for the first Monday in May, read up on this year's theme, figure out how to stream the (gilded) carpet, and get ready to channel your inner fashion critic, the Met has thought one step further: designer merch.
To celebrate this year's Costume Institute exhibition, "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," Vogue, the Met Store, and Instagram teamed up with some of the U.S. design industry's brightest talents. As the curatorial theme of the 2021 and 2022 exhibitions center around American fashion, each designer created a limited-edition capsule collection, available exclusively at The Met Store's shop on Instagram.
Past designers include Virgil Abloh, Emily Bode, Aurora James, Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada, Rio Uribe of Gypsy Sport, Prabal Gurung, and Kerby Jean-Raymond. Master of color theory Christopher John Rogers is now added to that list.
"My work was exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time in 2021, and this tee was developed in commemoration of that moment," Rogers said in a press release. The referenced work was a gorgeous silk purple-and-pink tartan-plaid gown with an exaggerated bustle.
Rogers, who was awarded womenswear designer of the year at last year's CFDA awards, has continued to wow the industry and the world with his exuberant approach to color, identifiable signature codes (like his strawberry skirt silhouette), and ever-expanding celebrity clientele (see: Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Lana Condor, and Vice President Harris).
For his exclusive The Met Store collab, Rogers designed a T-shirt in three colors - Hibiscus Pink, Lime Green, and Black - which reads "High Fashion Drama Met Gala Extravaganza." "[The shirt] features one of our favorite phrases in the studio embellished with crystals or printed with metallic foil," Rogers said. Per his brand's ethos, it is incredibly camp. The limited-edition tees retail for $175 to $195 and are available only on Instagram.
Last year, Rogers made his Met Gala debut dressing Gossip Girl star Jordan Alexander and Instagram's Eva Chen. Alexander wore an exposed corset with lime-green boning paired with a rainbow-palette skirt wrapped around her in the style of a Charles James gown. We can't wait to see who he dresses this year.
Keep scrolling to shop his crystal-embellished tees below.
Fans Think Kim Kardashian Will Wear This Famous Marilyn Monroe Dress to the Met Gala
The internet has a theory that Kim Kardashian will be wearing a gown from the late Marilyn Monroe's closet to the 2022 Met Gala. The rumors first started to swirl when the 41-year-old star revealed she will not be able to tailor her Met Gala gown at all, which led everyone to believe that she was pulling a vintage piece from the archives. "I think it will be up to the last minute because it can't be tailored, so I have to fit into it like exactly," she revealed in an interview with "Access Hollywood" at the red carpet premiere of Hulu's "The Kardashians" last month.
When Kardashian and boyfriend Pete Davidson were spotted in Orlando, FL, visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, the internet took that as another sign that she will be wearing Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress since it's currently on display there.
The $12,000 sparkling gown was designed by Jean Louis, and it was reportedly so tight that Monroe had to be sewn into it prior to her performance. In November 2016, Ripley purchased the dress from Julien's Auction for $4.81 million, making the design one of the most expensive dresses in the world.
Kardashian's Met Gala gowns over the years are always memorable as she's typically willing to give a daring trend a try. Last year, she walked the red carpet in a fully covered Balenciaga outfit, which came replete with a mask that covered her entire face. In 2016, the Skims mogul showed up wearing a custom silver Balmain dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewels worth $4.5 million, while her then-date Kanye West opted for a pair of distressed jeans.
The year prior, she dazzled in a sheer and feathered Roberto Cavalli number that was inspired by Cher's 1974 gown. Like Cher's look, which was designed by Bob Mackie, Kardashian's dress boasted sheer details, shimmering bead embellishments, and white feathers. And lastly, there's her infamous 2013 Met gown by Givenchy, which sent Twitter into a frenzy with comparisons of everything ranging from curtains to couches.
Ahead, take a look a closer look at Monroe's glittering vintage gown.
100+ Memorable Met Gala Looks That Lit Up the Red Carpet
There is quite possibly no bigger (or more extravagant) fashion event than the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala. Each year, the best and brightest of the industry come together to celebrate the museum's new exhibit (it's even referred to as the Oscars of the East Coast) - and celebrities, models, and designers bring their sartorial A game to the corresponding red carpet.
After a brief hiatus in 2020, the Met Gala came back in a big way last year with its "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." This year's theme and exhibition is actually a continuation of 2021's tribute to the country's history. The official 2022 Met Gala theme is "Gilded Glamour," and our minds immediately conjured up images of embellished gowns or suiting rendered in opulent fabrics. One such example we quickly thought of was Rihanna's iconic Guo Pei robe ensemble from 2015.
While we wait to see what some of our favorite stars will chose for this year's gala, we'll be experiencing it vicariously through a look back at the most memorable Met Gala looks over the years. One star we know won't be making an attendance this year is Zendaya. In an interview with Extra, The "Euphoria" actress announced that she will unfortunately not be in attendance at the Met Gala this year saying, "I'm gonna disappoint my fans here, but I will be working. Your girl's gotta work and make some movies."
From Kate Moss's metallic Marc Jacobs frock to Sarah Jessica Parker's tartan Alexander McQueen getup and Beyoncé's feathered Givenchy gown, click through now to see the best Met Gala looks from parties past.
- Additional reporting by Britt Stephens
Everything to Know About the 2022 Met Gala "Gilded Glamour" Theme
With the month of May comes the famous, much-anticipated, star-studded Met Gala. The 2022 Met Gala is right around the corner, and after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, it is back on track with its annual scheduled date of the first Monday in May, this year being May 2. The 2022 Met Gala theme is "Gilded Glamour," a nod to the corresponding exhibit "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." It's the second part of a Met installation following the 2021 Met Gala exhibit "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" and the 2021 Met Gala "American Independence" theme. Another important detail? This year's red carpet dress code is white tie.
So, what does this mean for the 2022 Met Gala red carpet looks and the names on the unrivaled guest list? Designers and celebrities alike will have to bring their sartorial A-games to represent America in the Gilded Age of the late 19th century through their looks.
The Met Gala is known for its highly creative challenges that give guests the opportunity to interpret themes to make a memorable red carpet statement. Viewers back at home get the chance to see what some of Hollywood's best and brightest bring to the table, thanks to Vogue's coverage and live stream of the event.
It is important to note that while past Met Gala themes have been celebrated and applauded for creativity, this year's "Gilded Glamour" theme has sparked controversy. Some critics feel that its focus on opulence is insensitive given the current war in Ukraine. Sure the Met Gala is an elite party with an affluent guest list, but centering it around golden wealth during wartime is being viewed by some as tone deaf. Influencer Bryanboy wrote, "Gilded glamour at a time of war, let them eat cake."
Ahead is your guide to the 2022 Met Gala theme, including the definition of white tie.