Met Gala 2018: 11 Pressing Questions Ahead of the Event

The Met Gala: It’s the time of year when celebrities, fashion insiders, and other high-profile names come together, at the invitation of Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to celebrate the Costume Institute’s exhibit in truly impeccable style. (Disclosure: Vogue and Glamour are both published by Condé Nast Publishing.)

We know the who (Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, along with co-chairs Rihanna, Amal Clooney, and Donatella Versace; and a yet-to-be-revealed mega-watt guest list), the when (the first Monday in May, which this year falls on the 7th), and the where (the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, duh) for the 2018 gathering. We also know the title of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” which, according to Vogue, is “designed to create a dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art in the museum’s holdings.”

But so many of the specifics we look forward to every year—who wears what, who shows up with whom, who will break the event’s strict “no selfie” rule—are kept strictly under wraps until the guests arrive. (Vogue never comments on the guest list, nor does it reveal who will perform inside the Met Gala ahead of the event.)

Ahead, we run through some of the real, though not urgent—or, really, super crucial—questions we found ourselves pondering ahead of the 2018 Met Gala. All musings are entirely speculative, of course. But that doesn’t make them any less fun.

What iconic, random grouping will we get from the Met Gala’s annual restroom gathering?

The Met Gala has a strict “no social media” policy, but…those in attendance are among the most-followed individuals in the world, so you know they’re going to find the loopholes. For the past few years, celebrities gather in the museum’s bathrooms to snap some of the most unexpected group pictures of all time. Where else can you get Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Brie Larson, Lily Aldridge, Paris Jackson, Ashton Sanders, Frank Ocean, P. Diddy, Kim Kardashian, A$AP Rocky, Luka Sabbat, and Slick Woods in the same shot?

Will Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik reunite on the red carpet?

Another mainstay of the Met Gala red carpet? Celebrity couples setting a new bar for #couplegoals, year after year. It’s also been the platform for many to make their public debuts: In 2017, it was Selena Gomez and The Weeknd; in 2016, it was Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik. So, who will we find ourselves shipping after the red carpet gets rolled up at the end of the night on Monday? As rumors about Hadid and Malik getting back together continue to circulate, we have to wonder if they’ll attend—and maybe even walk the red carpet—together. Something about the Met Gala just sets the tone for romance. After all, let’s not forget: It’s widely rumored this is where the Taylor Swift/Tom Hiddleston relationship began.)

Will Kylie Jenner use the Met Gala to make her first red carpet reappearance?

Kylie Jenner has kept a low profile over the past year, as she was awaiting the arrival of her first child, Stormi Webster. And though she’s kept her fans up-to-date on her goings-on via social media, she has yet to make a public appearance in 2018. (Well, unless you count Coachella.) Will she use the Met Gala—an event she’s attended twice—to mark her first red carpet of the year? Hm…

Will the Ocean’s 8 cast arrive as a squad?

It’s the perfect opportunity considering the film is literally about seven women who rob the Met Gala. What better way to promote your movie than all of the actresses showing up together to the actual Met Gala? Plus, cast member Rihanna is a co-host that evening. Your move, Warner Bros.

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Will Rihanna release new Fenty Music?

Speaking of Rih, she’s also an obvious guess at the evening’s entertainment. When Katy Perry co-hosted the event last year, she performed. (This was right after the release of “Bon Appétit.”) What better occasion to spotlight some of the new Fenty tunes fans have been eagerly awaiting? It’s been more than two years since Anti, just saying.

What the hell is Madonna going to wear?

The Queen of Pop’s been taking the Catholic Church to task for her entire career—need we remind of you of the burning crosses in the “Like a Prayer” video, or when she literally hung herself on a cross during her 2006 Confessions Tour? This year’s Met Gala theme—”Heavenly Bodies”—was basically tailor-made for her, so it’ll be interesting to see what new buttons she pushes if she attends, and whether she decides to bring her own wine to the red carpet again.

Will anyone quietly make their exit five minutes into the event?

Demi Lovato left the Met Gala early in 2016. So did Amy Schumer. Some people just aren’t into galas. We wouldn’t be surprised if at least one celebrity shows up, sees how many stairs they have to climb to get into the event, and then bounces before even getting a glimpse of André Leon Talley’s cape.

Or: Who’s going to settle in for a mid-stair nap?

At the 2017 Met Gala, Diddy was working the red carpet, as celebrities do—until he decided he was good and simply reclined on the steps for a minute. Honestly, it was a mood. Stairs are hard! Fancy clothes are hard! Walking up stairs in fancy clothes is hard!

What will be the most outstanding example of self-promotion on the red carpet?

At the 2015 Met Gala, Madonna arrived wearing a dress with Rebel Heart, the name of her then-just-released album, splashed across it. Last year, Katy Perry donned a headpiece that said—you guessed it!—Witness, the name of her album. This begs the question: Which celebrity is going to use this very high-profile event to get their promo on? Please, Ariana Grande, don’t hesitate to wear sunglasses with the phrase “Sweetener” on the eyes.

Is Beyoncé going to decide at the last minute to go?

In 2012, Beyoncé decided the day of the Met Gala that she wanted to go, so Givenchy scrambled to put together her look. Only Bey can turn up to a $30,000-per-head event unexpected and still shut the whole red carpet down. Ms. Wintour and company will always have a place for her.

Finally, who’s going to blatantly ignore the theme and just wear a pretty dress?

Answer: Everyone, probably—except for Rihanna. Bow down to the Met Gala queen.

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