Anna Wintour is most notably known for being the most powerful person in the fashion industry. Beneath her black Chanel sunglasses and signature bob she has made waves in the industry as the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, her assistance in helping fashion designers like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Marc Jacobs, and a permanent host of the Met Gala since 1999. When Wintour replaced Grace Mirabella as the Editor-in-Chief for American Vogue in 1988, she completely revitalized Vogue as she replaced most of the staff and gained the nickname “nuclear Wintour”.
Wintour revitalized Vogue and the Met Gala as original tickets for the charity gala were only $50, and the fundraiser was for the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event did not become a known social gathering amongst top celebrities until Diana Vreeland joined The Met to work as a Special Consultant to the Costume Institute in 1973. Some of the celebrities from that time who were invited were Diana Ross, Elton John, Cher, Andy Warhol, and Jackie Kennedy. Vreeland also introduced the idea of having themes at the gala. Wintour took the ideas from her predecessors and gained full creative control of the guest list, what they wore, the designer labels that had a table, and the designer and celebrity pairings. Now, a ticket for the Met Gala costs around $75,000.
There have been several criticisms towards Wintour and the Gala as outsiders state that it promotes elitism and Wintour has been under fire amidst claims of racism. The claims came in 2020 with employees stating that Vogue “tokenized the people of color they hired along with claims of racial discrimination and pay inequalities". Wintour has since apologized and admitted her wrongdoings in hiring few people of color and not doing enough to promote black designers. Andre Leon Talley has also stated that these messages “came out of a place of white privilege” and called her “colonial broad”.
Due to the history of these claims, it came as a surprise to many when the 2025 Met Gala theme was announced on October 9th as “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which is rumored to play homage to the late Andre Leon Talley and inspired by Monica Miller’s book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Dandyism refers to mainly men who are devoted to a certain type of dress and discipline. Black dandyism can be used as a means to defy racial stereotypes and refine black identity. Additionally, all of the co-chairs are black men, including Pharell Williams, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and LeBron James for the honorary co-chair. The exhibition will showcase the story of Black Dandyism as expressed through garments, drawings, films, excerpts, etc. As the Met Museum states on its website, “Taken together, these narratives offer a history and description of Black dandyism as a discrete phenomenon that reflects broader issues of power and race in the Black diaspora.” This theme is supposed to highlight Black individuals through this period of fashion, which is a huge step in diversifying the fashion industry and highlighting prominent Black individuals in fashion and media.
There are expressed concerns when it comes to cultural appropriation when it comes from white celebrity counterparts, ripping off black fashion rather than finding inspiration from it. Critiques have also stated that the Kardashians and other prominent white celebrities shouldn’t even be invited. While I don’t necessarily agree, this is a chance for Wintour to highlight black individuals at the Met Gala who deserve space and recognition, and with others outside of the black community, hopefully being able to educate themselves and wear appropriate attire. This theme also is a chance for men to showcase something rather than just a plain black suit. While Wintour shouldn’t be excessively praised for this idea, it is definitely a step in the right direction一if done effectively.
Article & Image Sources:
コメント