Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue, recently illuminated some aspects of her meticulous planning for the upcoming Met Gala during an appearance on Good Morning America. The annual gala, a highly anticipated event in the fashion world, is set to take place on Monday, May 5, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Wintour, who has hosted the event for nearly 30 years, is known for her rigorous oversight of the gala’s details. Historically described as “militant” by former Met Gala planner Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Wintour’s approach has led to a reputation for stringent guidelines surrounding the event. There have been various speculations regarding her control over the event, including the belief that she personally approves all celebrity outfits. However, Wintour refuted this during her recent interview, stating, “No. Many call and ask our advice, so we try and help some of them as best we can. Some, no idea.”

Wintour’s comments come amid increasing excitement for this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The theme aims to celebrate the heritage and aesthetic of black dandyism, which flourished post-Emancipation and was notably prominent during the Harlem Renaissance.

Among the notable figures co-chairing this year’s gala alongside Wintour are actors Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams, as well as racing driver Lewis Hamilton and basketball star LeBron James. In her conversation with host Michael Strahan, Wintour praised Domingo’s planned attire as a “work of art,” while also expressing a degree of skepticism about Hamilton’s outfit, saying, “Lewis, I’m not sure I entirely believe him, says he doesn’t have a picture [of his outfit].”

In her biography Anna: The Biography, author Amy Odell detailed Wintour’s intricate planning processes and her unique interactions with Met staff. These include her habit of not recalling staff names, referring to them simply as “you.” According to Odell, Wintour takes care to hide museum artifacts she deems unattractive and maintains a list of those celebrities she considers “in” or “out” of vogue, so to speak.

The gala has become an emblem of celebrity culture, with stars like Beyoncé, Zendaya, and Cardi B consistently drawing public and media attention for their elaborate fashion choices. During the event, Wintour is reported to keep a close watch on every detail, including the precise timing of each guest’s arrival, their preferred mode of transport, and their outfit.

Instances of Wintour’s exacting nature were highlighted during the 2019 Met Gala, when she reportedly requested that Kim Kardashian take her seat, unaware that Kardashian was unable to do so due to the restrictive nature of her latex dress designed by Thierry Mugler. This anecdote further exemplifies Wintour’s hands-on approach to the event.

As anticipation builds for this year’s Met Gala, Wintour’s involvement and the buzz surrounding the evening continue to position it as one of the most significant events in the fashion calendar.

Source: Noah Wire Services