What do M.I.A., Alexander Wang, The Gap and Anna Wintour have in common, you ask? They are all participating in this year's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala. And I couldn't be happier about the seemingly odd mix of fashion icons.
Stay with me.
The theme for this year's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala is the American Woman. And you can't pay tribute to the American Woman without discussing democracy. For example, our First Lady, Michelle Obama, the quintessential American woman, regularly mixes high and low-end designers in her wardrobe from Alexander McQueen to J.Crew.
So it's fitting that affordable retail chain, The GAP, is sponsoring the MET Gala this year with Patrick Robinson, Oprah Winfrey and Anna Wintour as co-chairs.
But that's not all.
GAP is collaborating with past and present CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners to design gowns for the MET Gala worn by today's celebrity fashion darlings. The result? True democracy.
Designers, Alexander Wang, Rodarte, Sophie Theallet and Thakoon are creating gowns for The Gap as part of this unique collaboration.
And as for the fashionable celebrity muses, Alexander Wang will dress M.I.A. and Zoe Kravitz, Thakoon will design for Kerry Washington and Riley Keough, Sophie Theallet will outfit Jessica Alba and Vera Farmiga and Rodarte gets Kirsten Dunst and Jamie Bochert. (See a few pics of the starlets below in their past red-carpet splendor. I live!)
Love it! Starting May 5th and spanning the entire month, Gap will display the gowns at their pop-up shop at 680 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street. Gap is also hosting a silent auction of the gowns at www.gap.com/gownauction with all proceeds benefiting The Costume Institute.
Since I am in no place to bid on an original, one-of-a-kind Alexander Wang gown, I'll be looking out for the Gap's limited edition t-shirt collection in celebration of its sponsorship of the MET Exhibition: "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity."
The styles blend Gap's classic aesthetic with the unique fashion sense of celebrated American women past and present. Here's what Patrick Robinson had to say about the t-shirt line:
"As I worked on the collection of t-shirts with the team, we were very inspired by how relevant the themes of the exhibition are to the way women dress today, even though they celebrate women's style from the past. It's a collection that takes the simplicity of that classic American piece of sportswear – the t-shirt – to a new level that is still very easy to wear."
Styles include The Heiress, The Haute Bohemian, The Suffragist, The Patriot (shown below), The Flapper and The Screen Siren. (I'm going for the Haute Bohemian, I'm in a free-spirited, boho mood this summer). The t-shirts range from $34.50-$44.50 and are available at Gap stores and on Gap.com.
How fabulous! Can't wait to see how these gowns turn out! And I'm thrilled to see the industry leaders (aka Anna Wintour) democratizing one of the most elite traditions in Fashion.
Now true democracy would be giving The Glamazons an invite to the event, but I am totally content and psyched to attend the afterparty! (One step at a time, Glams). Especially if it means I get to see M.I.A. in Alexander Wang for Gap in person --- that's all I need to be satisfied, hehe.
What collaboration are you most excited for, Glamazons?
Kisses,
Coutura
Photo Courtesy of The Gap.