The Met Gala is renowned as the pinnacle of fashion events, and there’s a clear reason for this reputation.
Year after year, the outfits grow increasingly intricate, while the displays on the red carpet become more theatrical as designers stretch their creativity and showcase their innovative styles.
So, what can we anticipate on the first Monday of May in 2027?
Casual attire such as jeans, T-shirts, and even puffer jackets — perhaps sweatpants, too.
The newly revealed theme, officially named “extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday,” was disclosed on Thursday by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, just around two months following the cancellation of its planned John Galliano retrospective due to controversy.
Andrew Bolton, the curator leading the Costume Institute, stated in a press release, “The ordinary is never as simple as it seems,” urging designers to explore forms and materials that are already familiar to them.
He added, “A pair of jeans, a white shirt, or a sweatshirt can embody traces of life — the habits, memories, and attachments that personalize these items.”
Can a T-shirt be considered high fashion? We’ll leave that to Zendaya to clarify.
Zendaya at the Spider-Man: Brand New Day photo call in Paris, June. (Aurore Marechal/Getty Images)
However, the response on social media has been varied.
“OMG, I can already foresee this being the worst Met Gala in history!” exclaimed one Met Gala enthusiast account on Instagram.
“If you needed a sign for a recession indicator, this is it,” remarked another user.
Conversely, on X, one user suggested that the theme wasn’t as bad as some claimed, stating, “People are acting like you have to wear jeans and a t-shirt.”
The press release indicates that designers are invited to introduce surprising features to everyday garments.
However, the Wall Street Journal implied that the Met was “playing it safe” with this new theme following the abrupt cancellation of the previous one.
John Galliano controversy
Initially, the 2027 Met Gala fundraiser was meant to focus on a Costume Institute exhibition titled John Galliano: Horizons.
This decision sparked considerable controversy.
Galliano was once celebrated as one of the leading talents in the fashion industry for his extravagant designs and served for years as the creative director at Christian Dior.
Yet, in 2011, the British designer was dismissed from that position after a series of racist and antisemitic remarks came to light, culminating in his conviction during an antisemitism trial in France.
Mannequins showcasing garments designed by John Galliano at the Golden Age of Couture exhibition at the V&A Museum in London, 2007. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
The Met’s intention to honor Galliano faced significant backlash, particularly from the Jewish community and beyond.
In August, the museum announced, “Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have mutually decided not to move forward with the exhibition.”
In the same statement, Galliano expressed, “I take full responsibility for the pain my words caused in the past, especially the hurt inflicted upon the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain profoundly sorry for it.”
Now, with the theme shifted to something less contentious (and possibly more approachable), designers face a significant question ahead of May:
How avant-garde can a Canadian tuxedo truly be?