From Sun Kings To Drag Queens

From Sun Kings To Drag Queens

Abi Dannheim '19

Every year The Metropolitan Museum in New York City hosts its annual Met Gala on the first Monday in May. Anna Wintour has named the 2019 met gala theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion”, inspired by Susan Sontag and her iconic essay. Most of the fashion industry posers were caught off-guard by the title and had a first assumption that A-listers were going to be dressed as s’mores and tents. For true fashionistas, they knew this theme was going to be an extravagant display of over the top couturiers and pink flamingos. Pamela Robertson said it best, “Camp is productively anachronistic and critically renders specific historical norms obsolete.”

Designers like Gucci and celebrities like Lady Gaga were destined for this theme and demonstrated their skills on the iconic metropolitan steps. Gucci dressed Jared Leto, who also starred in the brand’s recent advertisement campaign for their newest fragrance “Bloom”, and Lady Gaga had a four-in-one look designed by Brandon Maxwell. Other celebrities like Serena Williams (in OFF-WHITE), Harry Styles (in Gucci) and Billy Porter (in The Blonds) made Vogue’s best-dressed list and brought Sontag’s essay to life while debuting old and new designer creations.

It will be interesting to see how the critics judge the looks for the theme, Camp, but their judgments will help the rest of the world focus on the physical designs, rather than the greatly admired celebrity in the outfit. Wintour took a risk pushing fashions boundaries from 2018’s theme, Heavenly Bodies to Camp for 2019 and fashion experts couldn’t be happier. To see celebrities dressed in Camp is unexpected and daring and raises our excitement for next year’s ball.

Image courtesy of The Talon Times Staff.