Ashley Graham has descended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As one of the hosts of Vogue’s Met Gala 2024 livestream, the model will be reporting on the looks worn by her peers, alongside actor Gwendoline Christie, La La Anthony (who also hosted last year), and special correspondent Emma Chamberlain.
The model made a fabulous arrival at the gala in a black crystal-adorned dress by Ludovic de Saint Sernin. Her interpretation of this year’s dress code—“The Garden of Time”—shone through in her intricately detailed ensemble, which featured golden flower motifs at the hips and a contrasting lace-up leather bust. The sheer gown allowed Graham’s footwear choice, a simple black heel, to peek out from underneath its shimmering train.
“This dress is a true work of art, each piece of metal and Swarovski crystal was meticulously hand placed; 500 hours of hand work went into this extraordinary gown—they understood the assignment,” Graham posted on Instagram earlier today.
She accessorized with a matching black crystal shawl, which she draped over her arms and behind her back. Among the over 20 pieces of jewelry from Jared she wore—valued at over $85,000 in total—were a pear-shaped gemstone ring and an asymmetrical ear stack with a constellation of different diamonds. The glimmering earrings were exposed by her edgy updo, complete with spiked micro bangs. Graham’s glam, impeccable as always, consisted of glittering gold eye shadow, crimson blush, and a glossy lip in the same brick red.
In 2023, the model honored the theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” by wearing a body-hugging pink gown designed by Harris Reed. The dress, a nod to Chanel Haute Couture of the mid-’80s to the early ’90s, featured a dramatic sculpted skirt and opulent neckline.
This year’s dress code, “The Garden of Time,” is inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name. The theme suggests the intrinsic connection between time and natural beauty—leaving attendees to interpret it as they please.
“The Garden of Time” also complements the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which will include about “250 objects spanning four centuries” from the institute’s vast collection, all of them “visually united by iconography related to nature, which will serve as a metaphor for the fragility and ephemerality of fashion,” according to a press release. The exhibition will feature a number of modern technologies in its display, too, “from cutting-edge tools, artificial intelligence, and computer-generated imagery to traditional formats of x-rays, video animation, light projection, and soundscapes.”
Maya Ernest is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to features that investigate personal style, social media trends, and thoughtful consumption.