FASHION: The theme for the annual Met Gala incorporated prestigious technology into the latest fashion.
By Avelina Maier, Staff Writer
Every year, the glamorous Met Gala takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City on the first Monday of May. Huge stars hit the glamorous red carpet and show off their stunning outfits that fit in with the annually released theme. The theme parallels this year’s introduced exhibit at the museum– Manus x Machina: An Age of Technology. As expected with a technology-tied theme, metallic accents paired with sleek, slick-backed hairstyles made a prominent appearance during the evening.
As people arrived to the venue, they glimmered under the lights as the camera flashes cast a reflection on their shimmering clothing. Models Alessandra Ambrosio, Cindy Crawford, and the Kardashians’ youngest, Kylie Jenner, were among those who opted for sterling-hued looks. ‘Homeland’ star Claire Danes was glowing, quite literally, with a dress that could light up, designed for her by Zac Posen.
On the far end of the scale lay Karolina Kurkova, who looked stunning wearing the IBM and Marchesa ‘cognitive dress.’ It’s first ever debut on the double helix carpet, this dress was the epitome of intelligence, style, and advanced technology. The data-driven dress changes colors based on an analysis of fan sentiment in real time. The exhibit is meant to reflect technology’s growing constancy in our everyday lives. Haute couture, such as Chanel that dates back to 1909, was seamlessly incorporated into the new fashion.
The exhibition itself charts the evolution of fashion from the invention of the sewing machine to the onset of mass production that has enabled fast fashion juggernauts like Zara and H&M to thrive. As the exhibition progresses, it is evident that technology and fashion are getting closer. Driven by the advent of 3D printing, computer modeling and laser cutting techniques, fashion and technology are closer than ever. Andrew Bolton, curator of the exhibition, said that he will hopefully “debunk some of the mythologies of the handmade and machine.” “Traditionally the handmade has been seen as being about luxury, about superiority and it’s also been seen as something that’s elitist,” Bolton continued. “Whereas the machine has been about progress and the future. On the other side, it’s been about mediocrity and dehumanization.”
As the exhibit displays the coalition between the old and the new, not only does it apply to fashion, but to our society as a whole. Technology is sometimes frowned upon, but it can be incorporated into our culture in ways we could never imagine.