The world may go about its business on the first Monday of May, but for New York City, it's a grand day of glitz and glamour that has become a global epicentre of fashion. The who's who show up dressed in themed attire, grabbing eyeballs and adding to the fundraising benevolence on the most iconic red carpet, the Met Gala.

If one had to find alternatives for the words 'elegance with vogue', the Met Gala is the most suitable option. Officially known as the Costume Institute Benefit, it is an annual fundraising gala that benefits the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, taking place on the first Monday in May. The Met Gala originated in 1946; the first event occurred in 1948. As a fundraiser for the Museum, an excellent case can be made that the event is the most reputable and exclusive social event in the world, earning it the title "fashion's biggest night." The gala is the grand opening for the Costume Institute's yearly fashion exhibit and is known as the Institute's most important fundraising scheme.

This article dives deep into the mystery surrounding the Met Gala, its rules and restrictions, and the Indian celebrities who walked the carpet at fashion’s most iconic night.

History of the Met Gala

Fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert organised the first Met Gala in 1948 to raise money for the newly created Costume Institute. The gala was a midnight supper with a $50 admission price. It was initially one of many annual benefits for New York-based charitable organisations, typically consisting of New York high society and fashion people. From 1948 to 1971, the gala was hosted at various locations in Manhattan, such as the Waldorf Astoria, Central Park, and the Rainbow Room.

In 1972, former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland was appointed a special consultant to the Costume Institute and, with Vreeland's input, the Met Gala became a more glamorous and celebrity-driven event. Vreeland implemented theme-based exhibitions, pairing the gala's theme with the Costume Institute's annual exhibit. Notable themes during her time as the Costume Institute curator included "The World of Balenciaga" (1973) and "The Glory of Russian Costume" (1976). She also moved the gala to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and hosted dinner and dancing in several locations around the museum.

Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief since 1995, is the principal architect of the modern Met Gala. Wintour turned the party that had only involved a handful of museum friends in the past into a worldwide sensation. A-list celebrities, designers, and non-fashion notables in business, sports, and politics now come from worldwide. Wintour also leads the benefit committee and the guest list. Vogue staffers and interns also help put the list of invitees together.

The gala has an international reputation and is often called "the Oscars of the East Coast." Today, the Met Gala is a major fundraising event for the Met (a fun fact: it raises millions of dollars each year). It is also a defining moment in the fashion calendar, known for its sheer red carpet pomp and cultural importance.

Annual Themes and Exhibitions

Every year, the Met Gala showcases a designated theme as the base for the Costume Institute's yearly exhibit. Guests are expected to dress toward the theme, meaning they can make adventurous and sometimes outrageous fashion choices. Some past themes have included "Punk: Chaos to Couture" (2013), "Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" (2017), and "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" (2018)—the themes trend toward exhibition, pushing designers and attendees alike to pursue imaginative interpretations of the themes.

Regarding exhibitions, the aspect of each event is most central to its mission: it's the theme source for that evening, and it is the main component of the Costume Institute's annual exhibition. Each year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art debuts a fashion exhibition that has been thoughtfully created to address a particular idea, designer, or cultural issue. These exhibitions range from historical exhibitions, like "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" (2011), to thematic exhibitions like "Camp: Notes on Fashion" (2019). The exhibitions are known for their unconventional approach, often moving between fashion, art, history, and philosophy.

Curators such as Andrew Bolton have changed the presentation of these exhibitions and their role in the viewer's relationship with the exhibition and how they experience it in a way that would be considered innovative and experimental. This should not be underestimated. These exhibitions propel the red-carpet looks and ignite global conversations about fashion's position in society, identity, and cultural critique.

Since its inception, the Met Gala has only been cancelled due to a cancelled Chanel exhibit (2000), following the 9/11 attacks (2002), and COVID-19 (2020).

Met Gala Invitations: Can you walk the Red Carpet?

The Met Gala is an invitational-only event, and Anna Wintour has the ultimate authority over the guest list. Tickets cost $75,000 as of 2024, and tables can go for up to $350,000, usually bought by large fashion brands. If, as a brand, one purchases a table, they can invite your brand's ambassadors and have them on the red carpet. So, even if you can afford the ticket and get an invitation, you might not be able to go if you are selected from the large pool of invitations from Anna. The guest list is capped at about 650-700 people.

Among the notable absentees in recent years is former U.S. President Donald Trump. He attended the Met Gala regularly through 2012 but was reportedly banned from the event after his 2016 election win. Wintour has never given any official reason, but she has been a long-time supporter of the Democratic party, has a close relationship with the Obamas, and has publicly criticised Trump's policies.

Other celebrities banned from the prestigious events are Zayn Malik, Tim Gunn, Tina Fey, Lili Reinhart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Lovato, and Amy Schumer (rumoured to be banned).

The After Party

After-parties for the Met Gala are equally anticipated as the Met Gala itself. After-parties give the invited celebrities the chance to have a more relaxed environment to celebrate the night. After-parties are much less formal than the gala, where attendees can loosen up and mostly change into more comfortable but stylish clothing. The parties are hosted in swanky venues in New York, such as The Boom Boom Room or Casa Cipriani. From A-list stars, designers, and influencers, all are invited and welcomed. While still exclusive, after-parties have a more fun and social environment with music, dance, and candid moments, which typically find their way to the internet and social media.
The Met Museum: Inside the Met Gala’s Legendary Venue

Every year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Met Gala is a cultural experience where high fashion and fine art come together. The museum's Costume Institute and splendid spaces offer a majestic backdrop as it designs the interior to meet each year's exhibition theme. The Great Hall, Temple of Dendur, and more offer a credible physical and psychological backdrop for the process. The museum's interior is redecorated and transformed to capture each theme individually, and is an elaborate installation of immersive design. The Met Museum is still at the heart of the event as it supports the Costume Institute and brings more ceremony to the show.

The Rules of the Game

The Met Gala has specific rules and restrictions that allow the event to be exclusive, elegant, and complete in perception. Adherence to the annual theme is one of the most significant rules about the attire. Each year, the Met Gala has an overall theme, and through this theme, the dress code is also dictated. Many outfits are elaborate, take months to come to fruition, and some often need to receive approval ahead of time. This is to create a cohesive visual evening to align with the Costume Institute's exhibition.

In addition to the dress code and themes, the Met Gala established an age restriction in 2018, allowing guests aged 18 and older. This rule was established so the event stays as convivial as possible. Finally, one of the most important rules is that guests cannot have cell phones, and no social media is allowed in the venue. While occasional snippets on a guest's social media platforms offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse, guests are expected to put their phones down, stay engaged and participate in the evening's program.

Seating arrangements also require substantial planning. From social dynamics to public perception, the planners carefully consider how and where the guests will be placed to avoid awkward encounters or conflict, such as sitting next to a former partner or a professional rival. These rules help maintain the Met Gala's status as a sophisticated invitation-only event that prioritises fashion, art, and excitement.

2025 Theme

The 2025 Met Gala's theme is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," focused on Black fashion and dandyism, drawing upon Monica L Miller's book, "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity". It is the first Met Gala in over 20 years dedicated to menswear. The theme considered how Black dandies utilise fashion to inform identity across the Atlantic diaspora. It was co-chaired by well-known celebrities such as Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Anna Wintour, who celebrated her 25th year at the event.

The exhibition was divided into 12 sections, including "Ownership," "Presence," "Distinction," "Disguise," "Freedom," "Champion," "Respectability," "Jook," "Heritage," "Beauty," "Cool," and "Cosmopolitanism."

Met Gala 2025: Indian Royalties Steal the Show

The 2025 Met Gala saw a sea of familiar Indian faces, making it one of the most talked-about fashion events. From Shah Rukh Khan's debut on the red carpet to Priyanka Chopra's fifth appearance, the list and their outfits will bedazzle you!

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan made his Met Gala debut this year, making him the first Indian male actor to walk the carpet. He looked dapper in an all-black Sabyasachi ensemble, complemented by statement gold jewellery. The floor-length, elongated coat in Tasmanian superfine wool with monogrammed Japanese horn buttons also had a huge ‘K’ necklace as he posed on the carpet. He wore an ultra-rare Patek Philippe Grand Complication watch worth £24 lakh and a rose gold Grand Complication Minute Repeater and Retrograde Perpetual Calendar.

Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra made a stunning entry at the Met Gala 2025. Plus one was her singer-husband Nick Jonas, who twinned in white outfits for fashion's biggest night. For her fifth Met Gala appearance, Priyanka chose a vintage Balmain polka-dotted white tailored suit, which was accessorised with a BVLGARI emerald neckpiece and black gloves. A dramatic black hat completed the look.

Priyanka and Nick have a personal history at the Met Gala. In 2017, they both represented Ralph Lauren, who shared a minibus and a table. It was Priyanka's Met Gala debut in a Ralph Lauren trench coat dress that made heads turn and went viral on the internet. While her entrance alongside Nick Jonas caused a stir, the trench coat dress's extended train caught the attention.

Manish Malhotra

Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who has styled countless celebs, made his Met Gala debut in a stunning gold-detailed black overcoat shrug and a crisp white shirt featuring dramatic bishop sleeves underneath with emerald-studded accessories that stole the spotlight.

Diljit Dosanjh

Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh served royal looks in his first-ever Met Gala appearance, recognising him as the first turbaned-Sikh artist to walk the red carpet. He wore an ivory sherwani designed by Prabal Gurung with gold embroidery and zari, detailed cuffs and a waistband. Diljit wore a long cape and layered neckpieces with rubies and emeralds. He also wore a diamond-studded kalgi, carrying a lion-headed kirpan on his turban. The outfit was inspired by Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala and captain of the first Indian cricket team to tour England.

Kiara Advani

Mom-to-be Kiara Advani dazzled in a strapless black gown with a white flowing train, and an artful gold breastplate that fitted her baby bump with grace, representing strength and femininity. This incredible design touched on the gala's message of individuality and craftsmanship, and was another demonstration of Kiara's elegance in maternity fashion. In a post, Kiara mentioned the look "transcends mere aesthetics, representing the intricate dance between inherited identity and reimagined culture across generations." Many even drew direct parallels from Aishwarya Rai's 2024 Cannes Film Festival red carpet look.

Isha Ambani

Reliance heiress Isha Ambani is a Met Gala regular. For 2the 025 theme, she wore an Anamika Khanna creation, who dressed her in an embroidered white corset paired with black tailored trousers and a floor-length cape, along with semi-precious stones and pearls, adding a traditional touch to an otherwise modern outfit. It took over 20,000 hours to execute the exquisite embroidery.

Natasha Poonawalla

With her Manish Malhotra outfit, socialite Natasha Poonawalla spotlighted Indian art. The pearl-encrusted bralette, peplum bodice, skirt, and caped jacket (with a long train and huge ruff) were all amalgamated in traditional Parsi Gara embroidery. Malhotra even said she was like a woman “draped in an exquisite fusion of armour, artistry, and ancestry."

Diya Mehta Jatia

Indian diamond heiress Diya Mehta Jatia, Shloka Mehta's younger sister, also attended this year's Met Gala. She wore a white suit by Bloni Atelier, accompanied by formal off-white pants and an abstract shirt with curved panels and a big collar. The event showcased Indian art forms—"From the royal Himalayan cashmere and the 9000 hand-embroidered white quartz to heirloom polki and the quiet rebellion of a Nehru cap," she stated on her Instagram post.

Mona Patel

Mona Patel, an Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist, made a statement at the 2025 Met Gala in a Thom Browne ensemble following her introduction of a butterfly dress in her 2024 Met Gala debut. Patel's look consisted of a halter-neck shirt peeping out from a sharply cut suit, accented by a black, beaded corset-style bodice; the outfit came together with the waist pulled in, and she appeared on the carpet with a robot dog named 'Vector’ which was created in collaboration with MIT. The ‘dog’ wore a tiny tuxedo and was attached to a diamond-studded leash of well over 1,000 carats! Patel wore a hat designed by Miodrag Gubernic and a kinetic moving spine, which Lisa Jiang and Timothy Bowl created.

Other Notable Guests

Former Vice President Kamala Harris debuted at the 2025 Met Gala, attending the prestigious event in line with its theme. Harris wore a custom-designed black silk gown by IB Kamara, featuring a dramatic white statement sleeve, a long scarf, and a pleated skirt.

On a rainy night in Los Angeles, Hollywood A-listers shone in front of fans in fashion statements, as the balance of the evening was focused on red carpet looks from the Met Gala guests. Kim Kardashian wore a stunning bodycon and a full-length gown. Rihanna made her red carpet appearance by revealing her third pregnancy. Zendaya wore a bridal theme from Burberry, and Miley Cyrus looked incredible in Alaïa. While the red carpet featured striking looks from Madonna wearing Tom Ford, Diana Ross wore a gown embroidered with a family tree, and Stevie Wonder later performed in the art gallery.

Other notable attendees included Demi Moore, Hailey Bieber, Sydney Sweeney, Cardi B, Pamela Anderson, Lewis Hamilton, Bad Bunny, Jeff Goldblum, Gigi Hadid, Halle Berry, Nicki Minaj, Sabrina Carpenter, James Corden, Lana Del Rey, Mindy Kaling, Doja Cat, Whoopi Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Nicole Kidman, and more.

Cultural Footprint & Meme Culture

The Met Gala has evolved from a fundraiser to a cultural phenomenon. Designers and celebrities utilise the gala to showcase innovative fashion internationally and serve as global trendsetters and conversation starters. The Met Gala also deals with broader societal issues; themes have explored religion, technology, and cultural identity. The theme for the 2025 Met Gala about Black dandyism illustrates the confluence of fashion, race, and identity, highlighting the importance of clothing and design contributions from Black creators while putting Black style into the context of cultural narratives.

Also, memes. Yes, people judge the outfits of those on the Met Gala carpet in their pyjamas and make memes. The recent meme circulating is Shah Rukh and Priyanka’s outfits in their movie Don and their 2025 red carpet appearances, which are alike. Going back a little, who can forget Priyanka Chopra's debut appearance, which launched a meme-fest in India due to the long train? Some turned her dress into Egypt, a potato peel, a picnic blanket, cream on a cold cup of chai, and more. Rihanna's outfit at the 2015 Met Gala was dubbed an 'omelette' dress, while Jared Leto sported a furry cat costume with an enormous cat head. Kim Kardashian's bizarre Met Gala 2021 outfit was dubbed a Dementor from Harry Potter, and Katy Perry's 2019 chandelier outfit is still a relatable meme.

A Fund-raising Juggernaut

The 2025 Met Gala raised an astonishing $31 million, breaking a previous record of $27.8 million set in 2021. As noted previously, proceeds from the Met Gala go, in part, toward the Costume Institute's exhibitions, acquisitions, and capital improvements. The gala is also a massive contributor to fundraising efforts for the Costume Institute, with cumulative giving exceeding $200 million as of 2019.

The $31 million does not include the gala planning costs, which can reach seven figures. The gala hosting will start on Monday evening when the red carpet is rolled out. A procession of pop stars, fashion icons, royalty, and superstars from the sporting world will walk the red carpet, endure endless flashbulbs in clustered proximity to waves of publicity and excited observers.

The riches of the haul—and enthusiastic interest in the gala—reinforce its position as the flagship benefit among cultural institutions in the city and one of the most desired tickets on the planet. The Met's haul dwarfs events like a September gala for the New York Philharmonic (which returned almost $4 million) and the 2024 event for the Whitney Museum of American Art, which garnered approximately $5.2 million.