I’ve read a lot lately about the Met Gala. And, a lot of what I’ve read has been negative. There are many people lambasting the idea of the amount of money spent on it. There’s the Gala itself. Did you know a ticket (and you have to be invited to purchase one) is over $100,000? I had no idea. I mean, if you’re invited, isn’t the implication it’s a free event? But, it’s also a fundraiser so there’s that. Then, there are the Looks with a capital L. I admit I go looking for them every year because I’m never going to be invited nor would I spend that kind of money on a ticket even if I had it. I am always kinda gobsmacked by how some “celebrities” get the theme, and others seem to just go their own way (did you sing that, BTW).
Money…
So, money is a big player in this Gala. Let’s be real about that. You have to have it in order to go. You have to have it in order to be noticed. You just plain have to have it. But, the money that’s raised is for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute which seems appropriate, right? This year, the event was sponsored by Jeff Bezos, I guess. I don’t really understand all the different titles because it seemed like so many people had titles for this, that, and the other thing. I have to wonder whose idea it was for Bezos to sponsor the Gala, though. I don’t shop at Amazon if I can help it. One of the reasons is I don’t trust that I’m getting what I’m buying when it comes to branded items. In this day and age, it’s so easy to make something look legit only to find out it’s a copy, maybe a very good copy, but still a copy. But, back to money…this year’s Gala raised $42,000,000! That’s a lot of zeroes. I guess those Silicon Valley “celebrities” came with their checkbooks.
The theme…
I guess theme isn’t really the right word to use for the Met Gala. It’s called the dress code. This year, it’s “Fashion is Art.” But, several other sources called it “Costume Art.” I think that’s because that is the current exhibition going on in the Costume Institute. So, let’s pursue that idea of Fashion (with a capital F) is Art (with a capital A). I think we have to figure out what art means in general, right?
Art…
I like this quote: “The definition of art is controversial in contemporary philosophy. Whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy. The philosophical usefulness of a definition of art has also been debated.” So, how do we define art if an encyclopedia can’t really do it. I encourage you to read this article (the first source for definition of art). It goes deep into the definition of art. Wikipedia even waffles about the definition, saying, “Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around works utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, technical proficiency, or beauty.” Another good article to read. Here’s a blog post with 25 different definitions of art! Well, it’s more 25 quotes about art and what the person thinks it is. I think we can safely say that no one quite has a handle on what art really truly is. But, let’s just agree that it has something to do with creativity, talent, and making some kind of product.
A little more…
I like to watch YouTube videos as I get ready. They keep me from having hot flashes…well, sometimes! I like to watch this guy because he’s very informed on Designers (with a capital D) and has a very dry sense of humor. He just uploaded this video and does a pretty good job of talking about the connection between fashion and art. And, if you’re really into the Met Gala, you can watch his take on this year’s Gala. I haven’t watched them yet. You’ll have to let me know what you think.
Sources….
The outfit…
I wore this many weeks ago for the mini retreat at our church. I love to dress up for this retreat and encourage all the others to do it. We have had ladies show up in gowns, nice dresses, and pantsuits. The point is to dress up, even if it’s just a little bit. This is the Supernova dress from Gudrun Sjödén. I added a lavender slip to accentuate the purples in the dress. It’s a wonderful shirtdress with pockets. I really love this print and ended up buying it in another color when it went on sale.
The Lewk!
I’m not sure if these shoes have appeared on the blog yet or not. They are the Gaviria shoes from L’Artiste. Do you ever wonder where they come up with these names? I surely do. I had bought this beautiful necklace a while ago. It’s the Ombre Wine Gillian necklace from Sylca Designs. The earrings are a pair of Assuta Blush earrings and are also from Sylca Designs.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I’ve only glanced through the photos of the celebs who attended the Met Gala. To be honest, the only time (so far) I really was upset was when Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn’s “birthday song” dress. Can you imagine being so entitled you feel it’s perfectly OK to wear such an iconic dress? I do know many of the other dresses have been vintage, but this dress is so delicate. I read conflicting reports on whether or not it had been damaged. We have a new exhibit opening at the museum this coming Friday, and it’s fashion! I can’t wait! So, can we talk? How would you define art? Did you have a favorite look from the Gala? Would you say fashion is art? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
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