Anna Wintour issued a rare apology on the first Monday of May for causing confusion with the theme of her annual Met Gala. Despite the event raising funds for the Costume Institute’s exhibit, Wintour expressed regret for asking guests to dress according to the theme “Garden of Time.”
The confusion arose when Wintour and curator Andrew Bolton decided on the theme, which Wintour later admitted may have been too vague. Many attendees took the theme literally, donning floral and time-inspired outfits, with Jennifer Lopez wearing nearly 100 carats of diamonds.
Outside the gala, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered, leading to the arrest of 27 individuals by the NYPD. The situation mirrored the themes of J.G. Ballard’s short story “The Garden of Time,” where a wealthy couple barricade themselves in a garden using crystal “time flowers” as protection from an angry mob.
The article drew a comparison between the events at the Met Gala and the occupation of Columbia University by anti-Israeli protesters, highlighting the lack of protection for the students and staff compared to the elite attendees at the gala.
Ultimately, the article pointed out the similarity between the destructive tendencies of both the protesters outside the gala and those occupying Columbia University. In the end, the elite’s belief that they are immune from the chaos may prove to be false in a dystopian reality.
