Fashion’s most anticipated night, the Met Gala, will transform its red carpet into a fantastical “The Garden of Time” on May 6th. Inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story, the theme blends nature, science fiction, and a subtle dystopian edge.

The accompanying Costume Institute exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, showcases 250 exquisite yet fragile historical garments. As a nod to the “Sleeping Beauty” fairytale, delicate pieces will rest within glass displays. With a focus on sustainability in fashion, the exhibition is “an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion,” said Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute.

This year’s star-studded co-chairs promise exciting red carpet interpretations: Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth join Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also join as honorary chairs.

Ballard’s unsettling science fiction often explored ecological collapse and technology’s dark side. While “The Garden of Time” offers a floral starting point, its undertones invite darker or gothic ensembles in contrast to overtly cheerful interpretations.

The Met Gala theme has a history of alternating between literal and conceptual ideas, ensuring surprises and spectacle from fashion’s biggest stars.

Ntianu Obiora
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Ntianu Obiora is a versatile creative professional with over a decade of experience in publishing, marketing, communications, and digital strategy. She is the Online Editor at THEWILL DOWNTOWN