Met Gala Theme American Fashion Mocked On Twitter, Leaves Fans Confused

The theme for the 2021 Met Gala will be a two-part exhibition on American fashion, but the concept has left some people confused.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the fashion event will have a new date and take place in person this year. The Met Gala usually takes place on the first Monday in May.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 gathering was made into a virtual event, but it is expected to be in person on Sept. 13, pending government guidelines.

Part one of the exhibition, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” will open on Sept. 18 and “will celebrate The Costume Institute’s 75th anniversary and explore a modern vocabulary of American fashion.”

Meanwhile, part two of the exhibit, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” will open on May 5, 2022. The showcase “will explore the development of American fashion by presenting narratives that relate to the complex and layered histories of those spaces.”

However, following the announcement, some fans were left confused about what qualifies as “American Fashion.” On Twitter, fans mocked the style by sharing posts of casual outfit ideas for the formal event.

“The Met gala theme is American fashion..... what are they gonna wear? Camo pants and crocs??” one person wrote.

Another user reminded others that there are several talented American fashion designers.

“When talking about American fashion - both past and present - one simply cannot forget the rich history from Ann Lowe to CJR and Hanifa; from Halston to Marc Jacobs and the Olsen Twins; and the Battle of Versailles - spurring American designers to new heights,” the individual tweeted.

In a press release, Max Hollein, the Marina Kellen French director of The Met, reflected on the importance of the American fashion evolution.

“Fashion is both a harbinger of cultural shifts and a record of the forces, beliefs, and events that shape our lives,” Hollein said.

“This two-part exhibition will consider how fashion reflects evolving notions of identity in America and will explore a multitude of perspectives through presentations that speak to some of the complexities of history with powerful immediacy. In looking at the past through this lens, we can consider the aesthetic and cultural impact of fashion on historical aspects of American life.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator of The Costume Institute, revealed that the exhibits will demonstrate the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on fashion.

“...Part One of the exhibition will establish a modern vocabulary of American fashion based on the expressive qualities of clothing as well as deeper associations with issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion,” Bolton stated.

“Part Two will further investigate the evolving language of American fashion through a series of collaborations with American film directors who will visualize the unfinished stories inherent in The Met’s period rooms.”

Parts one and two of the exhibits will close on Sept. 5, 2022.