The CFC Met Gala 2024 wrap report
Hot takes on last night's event from myself and some special guests (no, we weren't there).
Think you’ve read and seen every possible thought on the Met Gala already? Well, think again. Allow me to introduce the experts joining me for this special CFC wrap report…
Dino Bonacic is a writer and creative obsessed with handbags who has been judging Met Gala looks from the comfort of his cluttered bedroom since he learned how to say CHIC. Subscribe to his Substack Handbags at Dawn and follow him on Instagram here and here.
Georgia Graham is the founder of Threads of Conversation, a media platform and consultancy which explores the emotional and cultural stories we tell through style. She's interviewed the likes of Cate Blanchett, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Demna for publications such as Vogue China and i-D, and worked as an editor at major fashion retailers including Selfridges and Browns Fashion. In a past life, Georgia was a model, walking Chanel's supermarket show and fronting a Jacquemus campaign. Subscribe to her Substack Threads of Conversation and follow her on Instagram here and here.
Let’s get started.
The theme of the Met exhibit is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and this year’s dress code was "The Garden of Time," inspired by J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story of the same title. Were you yay-ing or nay-ing when this was announced?
DB: I always fear a Met Gala theme that has potential to be interpreted literally. I instantly thought of people dressing like Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast or just coming out covered in flowers because…garden. I prefer more abstract themes like camp, or the designer-specific ones, like the Schiaparelli x Prada from 2012!
GG: I thought it was quite a complex brief for the looks, but I thought that the 'time' element would encourage people to wear secondhand and archival looks, which it did! I think the more we see vintage on the red (or mossy cream dip dye) carpet, the more positive impact it will have on fashion consumers adopting resale and secondhand models.
RH: Honestly, it was confusing to have so many different concepts — most guests can barely interpret one!
What is your tweet-length review of the night?
GG: Margiela chokehold.
DB: A colourful-ish parade of dramatic silhouettes with mostly classic interpretations of both femininity and masculinity. Sometimes exceptional, mostly literal — florals for spring, groundbreaking.
RH: Mainly ill fitting bodices and some strong archival references, in the midst of a face off between fashion’s most famous John’s (Anderson and Galliano).
Best dressed?
DB: Honestly, Dua Lipa and Bad Bunny. Never thought I’d applaud two people wearing black, but they both took me to places I didn’t know I needed to go to. Dua’s Marc Jacobs look felt like she walked through a vintage shop in Notting Hill and she grabbed all the best bits, making for a stunning interpretation of the decaying, historic theme. Special shoutout to KYLIE FUCKING MINOGUE!
GG: Luca Guadagnino looked like a cool daddy. Little Simz, Willy Chavarria and Jayden Smith also very cool. Charmed by Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah Bagshawe's matching outfits, and I thought they were chic and fun, too.
RH: The people who looked the best weren’t necessarily the ones nailing the theme IMO, and I was disappointed by some of my usual faves. However, amongst the sea of boring black tuxedos, there were some strong menswear moments from Barry Keoghan in Burberry, Colman Dimingo in Willy Chavarria and Jamie Dornan in Loewe.
Worst dressed?
GG: IDK but I find enormous trains a turnoff these days, so I wasn't into Cardi B’s look. It feels like a predictable way to create impact (bigger dress, more clicks etc), and I prefer something more subtle, like Taylor Russell's wooden corset, which was impeccable.
DB: Ed Sheeran and Kaia Gerber. Actually, most of Prada’s table came with the biggest disappointments of the night, including Amanda Seyfreid and Troye Sivan.
RH: Unfortunately, there were too many contenders to name for the title this year. But as a side note, I would ban all nude illusion, body-con, bedazzled dresses from future events — I’m looking at the repeat offenders of JLo, Emrata and Irina Shayk here.
Who are you awarding the biggest risk taker?
DB: Probs Lana Del Rey for trying to pull off a truly reinterpretation of an iconic moment from the annals of fashion history. Not sure if it worked, but I guess risks aren’t always about succeeding!
RH: I would have to agree with Dino as what Lana wore was a replication of quite possibly my favourite Lee McQueen look ever (I love her dearly, but it was giving what you order online versus when it arrives). However, major kudos for Demi Moore in Harris Reed — she looked fantastic and that felt unexpected.
Did Zendaya and Law Roach deliver? Discuss.
GG: Yes, although it was the glam by Pat McGrath that I was most excited about.
DB: Hot take: I’m convinced Zendaya is terrified of saying no to Law Roach, hence why she often looks like she’s wearing fancy dress. Luckily, she is one of the most beautiful women out there so she can pull most of it off. Having said that, I think they kinda pulled it off this evening with both Galliano looks, though I didn’t understand why they didn’t just opt for one of them. Is it a case of trying too much?
RH: The first thing that came to my mind when the dress code was announced was McQueen’s spring/summer 2007 collection, so I was really happy to see Zendaya incorporating a piece of that into her second look of the night with the Philip Treacy hat. The first look was fierce, if slightly panto dame-esque, but the make-up was sublime.
If you had been invited, what would you have worn?
DB: I would bleach my hair and try to squeeze into Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress. I feel like that would represent the decay of fashion really well!
GG: This dress from Christopher Kane's spring/summer 2009 collection:
Paired with shoes from Prada spring/summer 2008:
RH: Whilst I’ve already mentioned McQueen’s 2007 collection, I actually think I would opt for look 50 from spring/summer 1997, which was famously shot by Nick Knight on Devon Aoki. I’d be keen to not wear a dress, and I’d also do the accompanying white contact lens and forehead safety pin.
Most meme-able moment from the night’s coverage?
RH: I don’t think it counts as a meme, but I thoughly enjoyed Marc Jacobs going live minutes before the event was due to start as he left his bow tie at home and wanted someone to bring a replacement to his hotel.
DB: I would say Tyla being carried on the red carpet.
GG: Definitely not a 'florals for spring' Devil Wears Prada meme. Enough already, please!
What would be your dream Met Gala theme for 2025?
DB: Bob Mackie: Fashion’s Greatest Showman.
GG: The Meta Gala — every guest has to wear someone else’s look from a previous year’s Met Gala.
RH: Maybe because the new movie is about to come out, but something Mad Max or apocalyptic themed. Anything that would force people to look dishevelled!
Finally, who is the all-time MVP of the Met?
DB: The cleaning staff of The Metropolitan Museum of Art — imagine the mess all those famous people make every year !!!!!
GG: Chioma Nnadi. She always wears something super cool and original from an up-and-coming designer. This year she wore Burberry — likely due to her new appointment at British Vogue, meaning she wanted to champion a big British house. Every year I look forward to seeing what she wears. She's unsung queen of the Met Gala, no question.
RH: Cher — what isn’t Cher the MVP of.
I've been waiting for your input on The Met Gala! The Heavenly Bodies theme has been my favourite since it happened and I'm still waiting for a year to live up to that. I personally loved Gigi Hadid's and Sydney Sweeney's looks this year, and of course Tyla's iconic dress too.