W
hile awards season officially ended with the Oscars last week, those of us who have been glued to our Instagram feeds to see who’s wearing what need not despair—the first Monday of May is fast approaching! Held annually at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum, the Met Gala is considered by many as “the Oscars of fashion.” The fundraising event is held at the museum’s fashion and textile’s arm, the Costume Institute, and the theme of the Gala is a celebration of that branch’s corresponding Spring exhibit. “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” will span over 400 years of fashion history and will be organized around 15 historically relevant pieces, including a bodice that dates back to the 17th Century Elizabethan era, and a ballgown from 1887 created by the English courturier Charles Frederick Worth.
Header image courtesy of Al Zain
One of the most exciting aspects of the event each year is seeing how those who scored the coveted invitation interpret the theme through their attire, and yet based on the submissions we received from COUTURE’s talented designers and brands for this editorial, flora and fauna will be in full effect.
Tariq Riaz
Loosely inspired by the short story of the same name, the dress code for this year’s Met Gala is “The Garden of Time.” One of the most exciting aspects of the event each year is seeing how those who scored the coveted invitation interpret the theme through their attire, and yet based on the submissions we received from COUTURE’s talented designers and brands for this editorial, flora and fauna will be in full effect. And yes, Miranda Priestly, we know, “Florals? For spring. Groundbreaking.” But when you gaze upon the micro-mosaic earrings from Sicis or admire the intricately carved high karat yellow gold necklace from LALAoUNIS, florals seem extremely inventive.
And of course, the garden theme can be expressed quite literally, like in the sweet, vintage German intaglio ring by Francesca Villa featuring sun flowers, or more interpretively through form and color, like in Etho Maria’s swoon-worthy bib necklace made up of over 37 carats of cabochon cut green sapphires and diamonds, in an array of spring-like colored gemstone hues or in diamonds evoking drops of dew. The submissions from our designers and brands also call to mind how bustling with life nature is, with butterflies, serpents and fungi making dazzling appearances, and simply solidifying our pronouncement that any one of these designs would be a welcome addition to the parade of beauty walking up those famous stairs on May 6.