Who doesn’t love the first Monday in May? In case you haven’t been on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or simply browsed the internet in the past few days, the answer is no one. Not to be discriminant against Fridays or anything, but let’s be honest,—this past Monday kicked Friday’s status to the curb.
The annual Met Gala on May 1 was memorable and iconic, as per usual. This year’s exhibit, “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” explores the world of Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo.
According to the exhibition description, “The galleries illustrate the designer’s revolutionary experiments in ‘in-betweenness’—the space between boundaries. Objects are organized into nine aesthetic expressions of interstitially in Kawakubo’s work: Absence/Presence, Design/Not Design, Fashion/Anti-Fashion, Model/Multiple, Then/Now, High/Low, Self/Other, Object/Subject, and Clothes/Not Clothes. Kawakubo breaks down the imaginary walls between these dualisms, exposing their artificiality and arbitrariness.”
Kawakubo’s avant-garde designs had celebrities and industry leaders dressed to the extreme to fulfill the event’s theme, but although many celebrities wore amazing gowns, Tosha Hicks, a luxury and fashion management graduate student felt that, “not many party goers chose to follow the theme.” Hicks also singled out Rihanna, as she was one of the only public figures to follow the “deconstructed theme that Come des Garcon is known for.” Rihanna’s look was both strange and stunning, and more importantly, it was in line with the night’s aesthetic and got people excited about what was to come within the exhibit. Personally, I was hoping to see more of this exotic and refreshing burst of fashion (there’s always next year, I suppose).
Of course, other students felt differently, and even though many looks did not follow suit, the array of colors, fabrics, and styles were nothing short of inspiring. Mary Rodes, another luxury and fashion management graduate student, thought Livia Firth’s dress was impeccable, not only because of the style but also due to its sustainable qualities. “We certainly need to be using that type of fabric to protect our future,” said Rodes.
Talk of fabric and texture was the focus of many discussions between SCAD students about Monday night. With Cara Delevigne’s bald, shiny head paired with a beaming silver suit made by Chanel, Blake Lively’s dramatically tipped gown, and Kendall Jenner’s “less is more” look, unique textures and unconventional fabrics were key to completing any look on the red carpet.
If you haven’t seen any of the fashion from Monday’s event, check out the Metropolitan Museum’s Instagram here, full of complete looks and more inspiring and unique designs.