Navigation for News Categories

Gigi Hadid attends the 2024 Met Gala. Photo: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images

Met Gala 2024 - Figure 1
Photo RNZ

The Met Gala 2024 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' is kicking off in New York City.

The Met Gala, run by major international fashion magazine Vogue, is a fundraising dinner for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (better known as the MET) in New York City and it also coincides with the opening of a new exhibition in the gallery.

But it is arguably the largest fashion event of the calendar year where celebrities (invites only) dress up in elaborate outfits relating to a theme.

Met Gala 2024 - Figure 2
Photo RNZ

This year's theme, has nothing to do with fairy tales and The Brother's Grimm, as one might interpret.

Vogue said it was actually about celebrating clothing and fashion so delicate it could never be worn again and so they were "sleeping beauties" in the archives of the Costume Institute.

The official dress code is The Garden of Time.

The magazine said the dress code was inspired by a short story by J G Ballard - which was called The Garden of Time.

Met Gala 2024 - Figure 3
Photo RNZ

It is about a count and countess who live in a grand villa, which is being threatened by an encroaching mob.

- RNZ/ABC

Follow RNZ's live blog for all the latest updates:

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs