Punk Takes Over the Met Gala

The time has come once again for the yearly Met Gala, the “fashion event of the season and the party of the year” held by the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The event was hosted by several fashion heavy-weights, including, Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief of Vogue, Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, and stylish actress, Rooney Mara. The event benefits the Costume Institute and was themed this year in honor of it’s upcoming exhibition, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture”.

One of the biggest celebrity transformations for the event was Oscar winner, Anne Hathaway’s, red carpet look. Inspired by the Blondie’s front-woman, Debbie Harry, Anne bleached her signature brown locks blonde and kept her hair in a short slicked back ‘do. Known for her more demure and pastel colored frocks, the Les Miserables actress, chose a black and sheer vintage 1992 Valentino gown.

Rapper Kanye West performed at the after-party and walked the red carpet with his pregnant girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, on his arm. Rumors swirled that the reality TV star had been banned from the industry event by Anna Wintour but clearly that was not the case. Some have suggested that Kanye may have been the reason her invite was honored, but who knows the truth with celebrity gossip. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians’s star wore a floral print Givenchy gown which featured a high neckline, thigh high slit, matching gloves and sandals. The head designer of Givenchy also created a complementary look for Kanye West, a black tuxedo with satin details and no traditional black bow tie.

So, what is punk? In terms of fashion history, punk was movement started in the 1970’s, primarily in London and New York. The organic movement was not created by fashion photographers and couturiers but instead grew from subcultures that rebelled against mainstream conventions in fashion, music and politics. In terms of fashion, the aesthetics of the movement are still prominent in fashion today with leather jackets, clothes customization (adding anything from patches to safety pins to garments), Doc Martens shoes, and S&M influences. Prominent figures from this era in fashion include Vivienne Westwood, The Sex Pistols, Patti Smith and The Ramones.

Although punk is not dead, it’s hay-day for the most part, is over. The new exhibit, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” promises to be another fascinating show for the Costume Institute at the Met. The Met has had great success in recent years with sold out fashion exhibits like “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” and “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”. “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” will be open May 9- August 14th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

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