The Met Gala, one of the most followed fashion events of the year, once again rolled out its red carpet in 2024, presenting an array of avant-garde ensembles meant to embody the gala’s yearly theme.

In this post, we'll take a closer look at the top 5 standout suits from the 2024 Met Gala, analyzing the fabrics, details, and embodiment of the theme.

What is The Met Gala?

The Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Gala, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit. Each year's event is centered around the theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition, and attendees are expected to choose their fashion to match the theme of the exhibit. The Met Gala has become one of the most notable sources of funding for the institute and is regarded as one of the most prominent and exclusive social events in the world. It draws a high profile guest list of celebrities from the realms of fashion, film, music, and art.

What Was This Year’s Met Gala Theme?

This year’s Met Gala theme is “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name. "The Garden of Time" tells the story of Count Axel and his wife, who live in a beautiful villa surrounded by a magical garden. This garden has the power to slow down time through its flowers, which the couple uses to stave off the inevitable advance of a mob that represents the passage of time and the decay it brings.

To embody "The Garden of Time" as a dress code, attendees focused on several key elements:

1. Elegance and Sophistication: The characters in the story are described as elegant and sophisticated, suggesting that outfits should have a refined and graceful quality, possibly with classical cuts or silhouettes that evoke a timeless beauty.

2. Floral and Botanical Motifs: Given the central role of the garden and its flowers in the story, it's expected that floral patterns, botanical motifs, and nature-inspired elements will be prominent in the attire. This could range from literal flower designs to more abstract interpretations of growth, decay, and the natural cycle.

3. Metaphorical Representation of Time: Creative interpretations of time—its passage, its manipulation, and its effects—could be expressed through fashion. This might include designs that play with aging materials, garments that feature a mix of historical styles to represent different periods, or even modern wearables that incorporate futuristic elements.

4. Colors and Textures: The vivid imagery in Ballard's story suggests a palette that includes both the vibrant colors of flowers and the darker tones associated with the encroaching shadows and the concept of decay. Textures might vary from the delicate (to represent the fragile beauty of the garden) to the rugged or aged (hinting at the relentless march of time).

5. Narrative Elements: Incorporating specific elements from the story, such as references to the villa, the count and his wife, or the symbolic use of mirrors (as a means to reflect on the past and future), could provide a deeper layer of thematic relevance to the outfits.

Now Capitol Hill Clothiers is all about suits. So despite the guarantee of lavish and extraordinary dresses, full body costumes, and colorful hair and makeup, we will be focusing on the tailoring of the event. Particularly, the pieces with lapels. Despite seeming like a rather cut and dry, boring style option, a suit can embody all of these motifs while remaining classic and timeless. Let’s see who nailed it.

First, let’s start with examples of what NOT to wear at the Met Gala, exemplified by this year’s attendees.

There is a theme for a reason. I’m about as much of a menswear purist as it gets, but when the dress code calls for something specific, you abide by it. For this particular event, a normal suit or tuxedo is NOT the move, not matter how good it looks.

Even Tommy Hilfiger and Tom Ford, notable names in fashion decided to ignore the theme in lieu of their own preferences.

A simple lapel pin or your wife’s floral dress does not make your combined outfit appropriate for “The Garden of Time”.

The Best Themed Menswear Looks from the 2024 Met Gala

Honorable Mentions

Another year, another party that nobody reading this (or writing this) will ever be invited to attend. But luckily, we can all judge quietly from our couches and marvel at the excess and innovation that goes into the outfits worn on every first Monday in May. From the Capitol Hill Clothiers perspective, runway shows are an exaggeration of what a designer is capable of, pushing the limits of “clothing” as a concept. The Met Gala is, functionally, a runway show where the models are household names and the designers are dedicated to creating one outfit that will earn them the media’s attention for an additional day or so. When I see more understated garments and timeless looks that still embody the theme, it reminds me that there is always room to bend the rules and have a little bit of fun!

Anthony Bolognese - Capitol Hill Clothiers