Criticism Mounts as Critics Question the Relevance of the Theme Amid America’s Current Challenges
The 2022 Met Gala has come under fire for its choice of “Gilded Glamour” as the theme, especially given the pressing socio-economic issues America is grappling with. Held on Monday, 2 May, in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the event was part of the Costume Institute’s ongoing American fashion exhibition.
The gala’s theme, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” focused on 18th-century American fashion, continuing from the previous year’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” Vogue, under Anna Wintour’s leadership, announced a white-code dress code for the occasion, encouraging attendees to draw inspiration from the Gilded Age (1870-1890), a period marked by industrial prosperity but also stark wealth inequality.
The theme sparked criticism for its perceived disconnect from the socio-economic realities facing many Americans today, with some arguing that it celebrated opulence at a time of significant hardship for many.
