This year’s Met Gala, held on September 13, has been a hot topic across the country and within the PDS community. For those who are unfamiliar with the event, the Met Gala is an annual benefit fundraiser for the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Following a yearly theme, the guests dress up in elaborate and interpretive looks,. 

After the cancelation of the Gala in  2020 due to the pandemic, most guests went above and beyond with their looks this year., Themed “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” outfits varied from being tributes to the styles of American icons, to wearing glittering red, white, and blue. With regard to this year’s looks, PDS students have plenty to share about the featured fashion. When asked about the Met Gala, junior Paige Gardner had a lot to share: “My favorite look was probably Yara Shahidi. I loved the shape of the dress and I think it was really classy. It almost looked royal. I also thought Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber’s outfits were really pretty. I was really confused by Kim Kardashian’s look when I first saw it, but I think the point of the Met Gala is to draw a lot of attention to yourself and that is what she did. But I feel like, in terms of the theme, the Met Galas in past years have been a lot better.” Junior Arden Bogle agrees with Gardner’s assessment, adding, “I wasn’t that amazed by Billie Eilish’s look.” Overall, despite believing that some outfits could have been better, both Bogle and Gardner enjoyed watching the event this year.

Some students do not see the point of the event at all, however. Junior Albert Zhou is not interested in fashion and believes “the Met Gala is a waste of time,” continuing to say that he does not see why celebrities use the fundraiser as an “excuse to dress up.”

Whether or not PDS students care about fashion, the 2021 Met Gala has been a common point of conversation within our community. From the excitement generated by the event throughout the media and PDS, students already look forward to what creative themes and outfits the next year will bring!