Gilded Age: The Archival Photos that Could Have Saved this year’s Red Carpet
Archivist and Digital Curator Kimberly Annece Henderson talks Met Gala misses and sourcing style from history
Monday, May 2, 2022 marked the return of one of fashion’s biggest events: The MET Gala. This first-Monday-in-May tasked celebs (and the designer’s they were chosen to represent) with fashioning looks to fit the loose ‘Gilded Glamour and White Tie’ theme, coinciding with part two of the Met’s “exploration of fashion in the United States.”
Despite being given such a creatively fruitful theme as the Gilded Age–which was a period in American history during the 1870s - 1900, that saw rapid economic growth transform the socio-cultural landscape and created a matching facade of excess that could be seen in the exquisitely crafted wears of its beneficiaries–the event’s A-List attendees overwhelmingly missed the mark.
Only a select few truly understood the assignment, embodying the spirit of the era or at least referencing elements of style from that distinct late nineteenth century American fashion moment, like: Sarah Jessica Parker, Lizzo, Blake Lively, SZA, Yahya Abdul Mateenii, Laura Harrier, Ariana Debose, Cynthia Erivo, Paloma Elsesser, Nicole Coughlan, Billie Eilish, Kiki Layne (linear button style and dress structure of the 1900s), Emma Chamberlain, Gemma Chan, Precious Lee, and a handful of others. In contrast, the majority fell completely flat; some adorning looks that lacked anything reminiscent of the night’s themed era.
Without getting into those gory details, perhaps one of the most thoughtful style choices of the evening came from those who donned pieces that paid homage to historically significant gilded age influences. In some of the most beautiful full-circle moments, Cynthia Erivo and Sarah Jessica Parker honored the past, and the significance of Black American contributions to style during the era. In a red carpet interview, Erivo explained that the elegant headwrap paired with her Louis Vuitton white-lace look paid homage to Black women who were required by law to cover their hair during this era. Similarly, fashion designer Christopher John Rogers drew inspiration for SJP’s gown from the artistry of 19th century dressmaker Elizabeth Keckley, best known as the personal designer for Mary Todd Lincoln and other socialites during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.
With that, here are a few archival reference photographs that might’ve provided a wealth of inspiration, set of instructions, tutorial for the assignment, et cetera, et cetera:
