Reviving Fashion’s Past: Exploring Met Gala Inspirations and Vintage Reimagings

Reviving Fashion's Past: Exploring Met Gala Inspirations and Vintage Reimaginings - Threaded Together Podcast

Join the Threaded Together Podcast as we dive into the enchanting theme of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser: ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.’ Discover the legacy of vintage garments and explore how they influence modern fashion and entertainment. We’ll discuss famous reinterpretations recently seen at the Met Gala, the designer codes behind these creations, and how you can incorporate these themes into your own sewing projects. Whether you’re creating your own Met Gala look or sewing from home, this episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in fashion design, fashion history, DIY sewing projects, and Met Gala highlights.

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Highlighting Iconic Fashion Reinterpretations:
  • Last year at the Cannes Film Festival, Natalie Portman wore a Junon dress reinterpretation by Dior’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, which nearly ‘broke the internet.’ Initially, it was mistaken for the original, sparking widespread interest and discussion. Read more about this moment on Vogue UK.
  • This wave of reinterpretations continued, with Anya Taylor-Joy wearing a less literal but equally stunning Dior Haute Couture version of the Junon dress at this year’s Oscars. Details of her look can be found on W Magazine.
Influential Fashion Moments: The Charles James Butterfly Dress
  • At the 2014 Met Gala, themed “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,” notable interpretations included Donatella Versace’s dress with an olive body-hugging bodice and voluminous tulle train, and Alexa Chung’s sculptured sheath dress designed by Nina Ricci. See all the looks from this event on The Cut.
  • Further inspiring interpretations continued, as seen with the dress designed by Zac Posen for Katie Holmes at the 2019 Met Gala, a stunning layered tulle dress in multiple shades of purple. Learn more about the original Charles James butterfly dress at Fashion Institute of Technology.
Iconic Chanel Moments in Fashion Exhibitions and Films
  • For the 2015 exhibition “China Through the Looking Glass,” Steven Meisel captured a model in a gold-embroidered evening dress from Chanel Haute Couture’s Autumn 1996 collection. Explore more about this exhibition on Vogue.
  • Chanel’s archival pieces were also highlighted in the 2018 Met Gala theme “Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and celebrated again in Karl Lagerfeld’s 2023 collections.
  • In the film realm, for Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Princess Diana in “Spencer,” Chanel recreated Look n°82 from the Spring/Summer 1988 Haute Couture show. Two versions of this dress were made, one with embroidery for indoor scenes and one without for outdoor scenes. Further details can be found in a Vogue article about this dress.
Exploring Organic and Sculptural Fashion at Upcoming Exhibitions
  • The teaser for the upcoming exhibition showcased two remarkable Alexander McQueen dresses: the Spring 2001 Shell Dress and the Spring 2011 Butterfly Dress, highlighting McQueen’s use of organic materials. One standout piece includes the rapidly decaying Flower Dress seen at last year’s McQueen exhibit. More on this in Vogue’s article.
  • Discussion also touched on a teased book for the exhibit, initially mentioning sculptural garments and unconventional materials like a delicate nylon dress by Iris Van Herpen. This line has since been removed from the description, sparking anticipation for a creatively charged Met Gala runway, contrasting sharply with last year’s Lagerfeld-themed event.

What’s Next . . .

Next Month’s Exciting Topic: Dive into Swimwear!


We’re gearing up for a thrilling episode on swimwear just in time for summer! We’ll be sharing essential tips on handling the tricky stretchy parts of swimwear to ensure they stay put where you want them. We’ll also explore sustainable swimwear fabrics and discuss how to choose and work with eco-friendly materials for your DIY projects.Tracy will discuss her experiences with making swimwear, noting there’s always something new to learn. She’ll also cover a popular item on every maker’s list: the elusive dry robe and Rebecca teased, “to find out what in the world a dry robe even is, you’ll have to tune into our next episode!”

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