As the world awaits this year's Met Gala on Monday, May 6, the event's theme “The Garden of Time” along with the 2024 Costume Institute exhibition "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” has everyone excited to see which renowned ensembles will be recreated on the red carpet. The Met Gala offers a stage where art and fashion intersect, presenting designs that are as expressive as they are exquisite. Aiming to explore the diverse aspects of fashion history, its cyclical nature, and future implications through approximately 250 rare pieces from the Costume Institute's permanent collection, this year’s gala adopts a theme that can also be seen by travelers from across the globe on New York City’s Broadway stages.
There's no better place to see fashion revive itself than on Broadway's stages, where threads from every era come together in intricate ensembles. Just as this year's Met Gala will take classic looks from years past and reinvent them, Broadway - and each show that has been in The Broadway Collection over the years - consistently reimagines historical fashion trends, putting a modern lens on the past.
In 2018, The Cher Show, a dynamic production chronicling Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre Bono Allman, better known as Cher, opened on Broadway to depict her journey from dreamer to Oscar-winner. The musical's triumph stemmed from its remarkable costume designs as Bob Mackie, Cher's dedicated designer, contributed significantly to the visual spectacle of the show with a range of fabrics from glittering sequins to rich satin. Cher’s style under Mackie was innovative and her unique silhouettes attracted attention, from bell bottoms of the sixties to daring high-thigh-slit gowns. Cher's style aligns well with this year's Gala: a celebration of fashion's evolution, the incorporation of fresh perspectives, and carrying the legacy forward.
Currently playing on Broadway to rave reviews from travelers of all ages, SIX presents an innovative take on Henry VIII's wives, portraying them as pop divas. This musical revolutionizes history with captivating costumes mirroring each queen's story, such as Anne Boleyn's scandalous green dress to Catherine of Aragon's golden-black ensemble - think Tudor puff sleeves paired with a high-hemmed dress and headpieces reminiscent of 15th-17th century paintings. Reflecting the 2024 Met Gala, SIX seamlessly merges past and present trends, demonstrating fashion's power through traditional elements in modern ways.
One of the newest shows coming to the Broadway stage, The Great Gatsby transports audiences to the vibrant Roaring Twenties with designs by renowned costume designer Linda Cho. With Cho's expertise by blending original period pieces with modern elements, audiences can anticipate a revival of flapper dresses, feathered headbands, cloche hats, and sleek suits echoing the fashion of the era. The Great Gatsby offers a contemporary reimagining of 1920s trends, reflecting the innovation often witnessed during the Met Gala each year.
The cast of The Cher Show on Broadway
