Kleider machen Leute.

Thanks for the links, NotSpaghetti .
I agree with you, in that I don't begrudge the Costume Institute raising money for itself!

The cause is a worthy enough one, but it is a ridiculous event in terms of the rich and famous showing off and boosting their egos in a less than appropriate way, imo.

Although it does draw attention to their quest for money, I read that in terms of raising a lot, it is a flop, relying on the big bucks of just a few to prop it up.

No more I promise...

This one is more critical regarding interpretation of the theme.

tomandlorenzo.com/2026/05/met-gala-2026-art-pieces-red-carpet-style-fashion/?hl=en-GB

Ooh.. lots of people have gone in search of the original artworks

Here's another!
www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/met-gala-2026-best-outfits-art-references?

🤮🤮🤮

Oh this is a lovely article picture-wise.
Some interesting ones here!

fashionista.com/2026/05/2026-met-gala-art-painting-references?hl=en-GB

Just found this article about where some of the designers took their inspiration. It has the artworks pictured too and includes the red shiny dress on this thread.

www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/celebrity/a71212877/met-gala-2026-looks-inspired-by-real-artwork/?hl=en-GB

Yes, Allira The funds go back to the Met for the Costume Institute! - because that is their main source of income!

Other departments at the Met such as the Egyptian or European Art departments are funded by general endowment which covers their day to day running costs.

The Costume Institute is unique because it is required to raise all its own operating budget.
It isn't able to rely on the museum for its survival.

For the last few years - since about 2016 or 2017 they have taken some of the money from the Met Ball to start an endowment fund in the hope that eventually they will have a regular source of income. This will make it easier to fund staff (including curators, conservators, and researchers), put on exhibitions and save rare and historical garments for future generations.
​Maintaining the specialized, light-controlled storage required to keep delicate textiles from disintegrating is not cheap. And, (according to V&A archive staff) some garments need regular (manual) turning/moving to prevent crease/stress damage to the fibres. This is quite time consuming.

I don't begrudge the Costume Institute raising money for itself!

SueDonim

OldFrill

The Met Gala is a fundraiser, in 2025 they raised their highest ever amount $31million. It's largely fun, remember that, fun? Trump is banned maybe he's not such fun.

Couldn’t Bezos just give away $31million to charity from his piggy bank? Then we wouldn’t have to boil our eyeballs after viewing some of those photos!

👍 👏 👏

grumppa

Thank you for mentioning Gottfried Keller and Kleider machen Leute, Magenta8: another author I must dip back into.

Yes, grumppa , the irony is in the title of that work by Keller, which in a way suited this thread.
It's humorous, but its also a subtle parody of the foibles and shortcomings of the very wealthy who rise to prominence in a ridiculously superficial industry.

I think ferry23 expressed it very well at 18.19.

OldFrill

The Met Gala is a fundraiser, in 2025 they raised their highest ever amount $31million. It's largely fun, remember that, fun? Trump is banned maybe he's not such fun.

Couldn’t Bezos just give away $31million to charity from his piggy bank? Then we wouldn’t have to boil our eyeballs after viewing some of those photos!

Oh!
Another different light, then.

Why didn’t that link 🤷‍♀️
Let’s try again.

www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/article-15792299/Met-Gala-gowns-ranking-best-worst-celebrity.html

MissAdventure

OldFrill

The Met Gala is a fundraiser, in 2025 they raised their highest ever amount $31million. It's largely fun, remember that, fun? Trump is banned maybe he's not such fun.

That puts a different light on things.

But the funds don't go to charity or good causes.

The funds go back to the Met for the Costume Institute!

And there’s more 😂https://www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/article-15792299/Met-Gala-gowns-ranking-best-worst-celebrity.html

OldFrill

The Met Gala is a fundraiser, in 2025 they raised their highest ever amount $31million. It's largely fun, remember that, fun? Trump is banned maybe he's not such fun.

That puts a different light on things.

Thank you for mentioning Gottfried Keller and Kleider machen Leute, Magenta8: another author I must dip back into.

la susar atu sai matenek

Laughable fashion

The Met Gala is a fundraiser, in 2025 they raised their highest ever amount $31million. It's largely fun, remember that, fun? Trump is banned maybe he's not such fun.

Dear me - I actually think that I'd rather wear a sack .

Yukk!
The first one is the most revolting, I think, but it's a close thing.

Yep, people have buttock implants now.
Does my bum look big in this?
Huge, really massive...
Oh, good!

Do women want their bottoms to look big now? What happened to “Does my bum look big in this?”

The theme of this year's Met Gala was "Costume Art". Most of them looked more like "Costume Tart" to me, but what do I know?

The Met Gala used to be a platform for designers and "celebs" to showcase truly avant garde evening wear. It was something of a fun, but for the fashion industry, iconic event. But it's gone from being Avant Garde to Truly Tacky - some well versed commentators base this on it being sponsored by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. A shining example of money being no respecter of class.

Some of the abonimations this year beggar belief. It's now just an attention seeking, over-hyped extravaganza of dodgy taste- something of an embarassment really, given the fragile and rather scary world we're living in right now.

OldFrill

Allira

kircubbin2000

Money can't buy class.

Ps that person reminds me of Jessica Rabbit!

It's Serena Williams in the red dress

😲

I didn't realise