The event that every fashion lover and fashion critic looks forward to the most; is the time when celebrities come forward wearing the most exquisite, or sometimes even the most oddly unique designs. It’s the Met Gala we’re talking about. This is the time of the year when the world stops and stares to take a look at the creativity that is on display, worn by their favorite icons and created by renowned and popular fashion names in the industry. It is a sight to behold. But the gala isn’t simply about dressing up in costumes that stand out. There is much more to it. There is always a theme that is to be taken as inspiration, and the costumes worn are all inspired by it. This year, the event paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld, the late fashion designer popular for revitalizing Chanel. However, along with this, there are also certain rules that the guests attending the Met are obligated to follow. And trust us when we say that they aren’t what you’d expect. So make sure that you check them out below:
1. No Selfies Allowed
Yes, you heard that right. Such fancy dresses, such innovative ideas, and no selfies allowed. In 2015, it was reported that the use of social media had been banned from the event in order to clamp down on celebrities spending the majority of the evening on their phones. Since we all know the power social media holds over us, and being a celebrity with a huge fan base, the urge to keep your followers updated on every move that you make is even higher. But that obviously prevents one from enjoying the present moment, which is why a notice sent to all the guests stated that “the use of phones for photography and social media will not be permitted inside the gala”. Apparently, the ban at the Met Gala has been disregarded by numerous guests in the past, with beauty icon and reality TV star Kylie Jenner taking a bathroom selfie at the Gala back in 2017.
2. Bad Breath? More Specifically, Onion Breath? Big NO:
Let’s be real. Bad breath is a major turnoff, regardless of who or where you are. It’s a basic part of your hygiene and concern for the other person that you approach as well. Nobody likes taking the conversation further if this is the condition. And are you really going to an event like this with onion breath? No, right? According to The New York Post, certain food items are purposely omitted from the menu at the request of Anna Wintour herself. A former Vogue employee told the publication that parsley is banned to avoid the risk of the herb getting stuck in people’s teeth, and neither onion nor garlic is served at the event so as to avoid any bouts of bad breath.
3. No Smoking Inside the Museum:
Back in the Gala of 2017, celebrities like Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, and Marc Jacobs were spotted smoking cigarettes inside the bathroom at the Met Gala, which is strictly not allowed. That same year, it was reported that board members and donors had expressed their disappointment over the guests smoking at the event, with one saying it was “disrespectful to the art collection”. And it really was. So for the Met Gala next year, a statement was issued saying it was illegal to smoke at the Met Gala from then on. And since then, no reports of celebs smoking here and there in the museum have been seen, so it is safe to say that this rule has been followed diligently ever since.
4. No Under-18s Allowed:
This one was a surprise, even to us. But if we look at the guests, we really haven’t seen any underage celebrities attending the event recently either. That’s because a decree came out in 2018 stating that underage celebrities aren’t allowed to attend the gala. Previously, it was thought that the new age restriction had been introduced due to the 2018 Met Gala theme “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”, but a spokesperson for the event confirmed that the decision had been made because “it’s not an appropriate event for people under 18.”
5. Seating Arrangement:
According to Ward Durrett, spouses are never seated next to each other. “The whole point of these things is to meet new people and to be interested in what others are doing. What’s the point if you come here to hang out with your husband?” she added.
Anna Wintour herself is very strict on who is to be seated next to whom, and hence a lot of brainstorming goes into the same. While this too might come as a surprise, it’s the Gala we’re discussing here, so nothing is truly much of a surprise.
See Also: 6 Best Makeup Looks from Met Gala 2023
