Stop the presses. I was going to start a post about how my taste in shoes has changed over the years but I needed to get something off my chest. My total disain over the vulgarity, the mindset of the super-wealthy, and the obsession with celebrity nearly did me in. No. I didn’t watch this display of trash with a suitcase of money although I understand it was on the Entertainment Channel and TikTok.
There is no way I would be even slightly interested in watching. But first, let’s take a trip back in time. To when I was much younger and it was a pleasure to watch the outfits and elegant ensembles that awards shows such as the Academy Awards.
Audrey Hepburn and Julia Andrews at the 1965 Oscars. Look behind them to the right. Sidney Poitier –he’s incredibly elegant in his tux. The two women dressed so simple and elegant.
The 1965 Academy Awards show was the first one I can remember watching, until it was time to go to bed–school was the next morning. But I recall women dressed so elegant and classic and having a very elegant way about themselves. Men seemed very gracious. I loved it.
As time went on, in my teens I branched out to the Grammy’s in addition to the Oscars. The attire at the Grammy awards was a bit more creative so to speak, but still remained tasteful.
Simon and Garfunkle looking very 1970’s and Joni Mitchell as hippie ethereal as ever. Mitchell’s look was something we teenaged girls could relate too.
Then it was back to the Oscars throughout time.
Julia Robert’s 2001 Oscar dress has remained my all-time favorite throughout.
Honestly, I could go on and on about my favorite Oscar looks. And over the years, my interest waned. Sure, it was still fun to watch only for the clothes and to see if any of my favorite movies or actors was awarded–but that’s all I needed to see. I didn’t worship the actors or get all parasocial the way people are today.
Hence, the MET Gala. Now, I’ve lived a long part of my life in NYC. Ever since childhood, I’ve been a visitor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s one of my favorites. And back then, prominent New York families donated to the museum. And kept quiet about it. They blended in just like their elegantly styled clothing. No attention brought to oneself. Keep it low key and unpretentious. No fanfare. In fact–here’s a quote from the NY Times:
“The first Met Gala was held in December 1948. Founded by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert to fund the newly created Costume Institute, this initial event was a midnight dinner at the Waldorf Astoria with tickets costing $50. It was not held on the first Monday in May until decades later. “
Then somewhere along the line Anna Wintour became the power that was behind the Met Gala and things changed. And yes, I am fully aware that the Gala is to raise funding for the Costume Institute. And the price to attend escelated. And one had to be invited to attend. Now, not to veer off subject, but…..over her years at Vogue, Wintour became enthralled with using actors-as-models. Something that completely turned me off because I loved my models. Patti Hansen, Helena Christanson, even Twiggy and Colleen Corby–models know how to sell clothing. And the great Grace Coddington, who worked at Vogue for Wintour was a model person. She abhored the actor-cum-model. Wintour’s obsession with celebrity has always been very cringe for me.
But she’s smart and knew that celebrities from A-list to Z-list would have the masses begging for me. That original $50 ticket is now an astounding One Hundred Thousand US Dollars. WTF has that kind of money except billionaires, mega-millionaires, luxury brands, actors and white-collar criminals? And let us not forget the brands such as Louis Vuitton that pay to have their ambassadors show up.
This year Jeff Besos of Amazon fame and his wife Lauren Sanchez of fake titty and filler fame were the sponsors. Meaning they paid millions to be considered sponsors.
How utterly vulgar. Her dress is falling off exposing two basketball-sized fake titties. The overfilled lips.
This is not classic. Nor is this elegant. This is ill-fitting, trashy and walk-of-shame looking.
This is the get up that Wintour wore. She looks like a green flamingo FFS.
Meanwhile, Besos makes his Amazon drivers pee in a plastic bottle, doesn’t give them a living wage, yet spends millions–maybe a billion or so to sponsor a fundraiser of delusion.
It pisses me off. We are in a time of a pedophile, criminal president who, I swear has dementia. His administration caters to his war dreams–even though he’s a draft dodger. People are losing medical benefits, they cannot afford groceries and gas is at an all-time high. Meanwhile, that thing in the white house gives tax breaks to his billionaire friends while the rest of us pay 1/3 or more in taxes. Our country is in a bad way, and yet, this delusional group of wealth just go on as though nothing is happening.
And don’t get me started with the morons who idolize these celebrities like the Kardashians who’s claim to fam was Kim going pee-pee on Ray Jay.
Sorry Kim but Jane Fonda did it much better as Barbarella. Beyonce, you’re no goddess. And Heidi Klym looks like a tampon ready to be pushed into the origin of the world.
My biggest disappointments were seeing photographs of Stevie Nicks, Alyssa Liu and Bad Bunny at the Gala. Stevie has always been a favorite singer. I love her independent nature–her liberal thinking but after her attending the Gala–I’ve lost respect. Alyssia Liu and Bad Bunny? Shame on you. You think Besos and his wealthy friends would want you both as anything more than a housekeeper and gardener or driver? Yet, you could have made a better statement by not attending.
Stevie. I’ve lost respect for you even though you could care less.
Alyssa, you may be the greatest skating champion, and you are adorable and I’m happy for you that you are an ambassador for LV. But your fame has apparently left you out of touch. Remember where you come from!
Bad Bunny. After the best Superbowl half-time show of all time, you show up at the MET Gala. At a time like this when people are suffering and racist behavior seems to be the norm, you showed up,. I give up on humanity after this one.
I can’t say any more about the Gala because I remain thoroughly disgusted. The display of vulgarity was too much for me.
Tomorrow I go back to writing about my shoes.
You said it, sister.
Mrs. Dr. Evil was supposed to be, I guess, dressed as the woman in John Singer Sargent’s Madame X. My daughter’s comment: “More like Madame XXX.”
Hi Debra. YES. I read about that and I saw that painting at a Sargent exhibition in Paris last year. The painting wore it better. And classier. Mrs. Dr. Evil looked like trash!
My thoughts exactly. I have seen the painting and oh dear – she just looks cheap.
I agree 100%.
Hi Shanron! Great Minds think alike!
I agree – i didn’t watch it – but I was looking at some of the gowns on the internet. They were mostly horrible. Venus Williams, however, wore a lovely gown.
ON another note – not at all related – I live in Chicago and today attended the MOCP (Museum of Contemporary Photography) at Fifty exhibit. Included in the exhibit was a photo from 1912, Titled A.F.C. Grand Prix: Automobile Delage by Jacques Henri Lartigue! I’m sure a relative of your husband.
Hi Bonnie! That indeed is a photo taken by my husband’s grandfather–its a pretty well-known photograph! Thanks for mentioning it. Ugh those outfits. Lena (I think that’s her first name) Dunham had a red contraption on and someone commented she looked like a blood clot. I couldn’t stop laughing at that comment!
I just went internet diving and see that grandpa was a pretty famous photographer and renaissance man. He who still has influence today on some film directors
I agree 100%.
Hi Rebecca. Right? I think those of us with are brain have finally had it!
Ugly is in style. Bad taste predominates. We should notice who was not at the gala. People who do not need to make fools of themselves to stay in the public eye. Poor Heidi Klum must be desperate.
Hi Charlene. Oh how true your words are. Klum seems to be very thirsty these days.
I was so happy to see your post on this. I didn’t watch it. I’ve seen some photos on social media and honestly thought they were all disgusting or ugly or both. There may have been people dressed tastefully but they aren’t up on social media. I don’t even know where we start with these people. Enough! I remember watching the Oscars and the Emmys etc. Just to see what people wore. I don’t even bother recording them anymore. It’s always disappointing. Thanks for your post!
I agree with you 100%!
Preach! What happened to the days when the uber wealthy quietly supported their communities and did not make everything transactional? The word vulgar doesn’t even begin to describe what Anna Wintour has unleashed on the country. My contempt for Bezos and his trollop of a wife has no bounds. #boycottamazon
100% agree! Tasteless, vulgar, trash.
I always look forward to the Met Gala photos just for the outlandish clothing, but this year’s theme was just dumb. I don’t think Wintour really cares anymore. She’s milked that cow for enough. In the past (as in several years ago), you would see some classy yet weird outfits. Now, it’s just to show off that you were invited and who wanted to dress you. I had no idea it cost that much to go. And, I don’t support Amazon and have never had Amazon Prime. I cannot believe MacKenzie Scott was ever married to that guy. And, I’m guessing Heidi Klumm had a procedure go wrong which gave her the reason to wear whatever she was wearing! It has become such a money grab in every way.
OMG someone wrote that Mrs Boobos looked like a blow up sex doll and they’re not wrong! I never knew that sex dolls were considered ‘art’ but In this day and age no surprise. Glad that Meryl Streep stuck to her guns and (once again) refused to attend. Word is that Wintour begged her to go as you know Devil Wears Prada 2 was just launched and how cool it would be if Amanda Priestly was actually at the Met Gala. So disappointed that Anne Hathaway did go and that for some unknown reason Beyoncé had to break her vow of not attending this year and brought her fourteen year old (with her boobs pushed out of her gown) to this farce. We won’t discuss Madonna who is entering nolongerrelevanttryingtoohardhasbeen territory. At least Kylie Jenner’s Oops my dress fell off costume had some irony though I’m sure she didn’t get it. Vogue says it was ‘chic,surreal illusion’ No it was a Halloween costume that a bunch of teenage girls could have created. Agree with you about Stevie Nicks…why she do that? So she could duet with Sabrina Carpenter aka Man’s Best Friend 😉 Stevie Girl you have more class in your little finger than SC will ever dream of so…why??????
The whole thing was disgusting…
I could not agree more. On so many levels it was a vulgar out of touch display of obscene wealth. And of the irrelevant trying desperately to be relevant again.
You couldn’t have said it better. I completely agree with EVERYTHING you wrote here. I have much respect for those boycotted this fiasco. Meryl Streep is one of them.
There was one costume I thought was interesting, though. It was the glass bubble dress, worn by a woman who is a skier and now model. Can’t remember her name, but the dress truly was an amazing work of art.
I look forward to your post about shoes. I’m a shoe person and can’t wait to read it!!!
It was a real “Let them eat cake.” moment!
I don’t watch much tv at all and certainly wouldn’t have watched this, but i agree with you 100%.
Hi Tina! And thanks. I got my tea from the online universe. No way would I watch any of those Wildebeests on TV!
I so agree. I am also disappointed by some of the brand names who decided to attend. However, the Bezos couple did not disappoint. They were the very personification of vulgarity. And we all saw it. Those photographs live forever.
Hi Francine. Yeah. I could not believe the number of hypocritical people attending. Don’t effing preach to me if you are going to support a billionaire who doesn’t pay taxes and treats employees like shit.
I agree with absolutely everything you say. Vulgar and obscene. And why do these women think that exposing everything is a good idea. And Heidi Klym – yikes!
Hi Penny. It’s amazing how society has regressed. I swear. That MET Gala? Nobody shouid have attended after Bezos and the Blow Up Doll were the sponsors. I’m disgusted. I should have figured though–look who is in the White House!
Love this post! And totally agree! It can only get worse now that Bezos and the party doll he married bought the Gala. Yep, lost respect for a lot of the celebrities that buy into this.
Hi Mary Catherine! I still do a double take with your name because Catherine Wynne is my born name! That said–Alyssa Liu and Bad Bunny totally blew my mind that they were there. WT actual F??? Stevie Nicks? A Melania in disguise. Every single one of them are filth!