John Galliano, Anna Wintour
Celebrity

Met Gala Organizers Weigh Backup Themes Following John Galliano Drama

The Costume Institute is reportedly considering pivoting to its permanent collection after complications surrounding the controversial designer.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Fashion's ultimate night out might be forced to pivot its creative direction behind the scenes at Vogue and Manhattan's most famous museum. Organizers responsible for putting together the annual Met Gala are actively evaluating their creative options following recent industry complications surrounding designer John Galliano. The high-profile event, held every May at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, relies on a seamless narrative to bring together global pop stars, Hollywood actors, and elite designers. However, behind-the-scenes friction and fallout have reportedly pushed decision-makers to quietly brainstorm alternative routes to preserve the prestige of the star-studded fundraiser.

What Are The New Met Gala Options According to new reports, event insiders are closely examining how to adjust the Costume Institute's upcoming showcase. One major contingency plan currently being discussed involves shifting the core focus of the exhibition entirely away from individual fashion figures. Instead, curators are considering a concept built squarely around the Costume Institute’s own permanent collection. Pivoting to an archive-focused retrospective would give the museum a massive range of historic fashion to draw from. The Met’s legendary Costume Institute vault houses tens of thousands of garments and accessories spanning multiple centuries. Utilizing this vast internal library would allow curators to put together a breathtaking, high-concept exhibition without tying the evening's narrative to any single controversial figure.

John Galliano, Anna Wintour
John Galliano, Anna Wintour

Will The Met Gala Change Its Exhibition Theme By highlighting broad historical movements and archival treasures, the museum can effectively sidestep potential backlash while delivering the high-octane glamour that pop culture fans expect. An archive-based theme also offers top celebrity stylists and luxury fashion houses maximum creative freedom when custom-dressing their star clients for those iconic museum steps. Though representatives for the Metropolitan Museum of Art have not publicly finalized or announced their official theme selection, internal discussions remain very active as organizers carefully weigh their choices. Balancing the interests of global sponsors, elite fashion houses, and a hyper-critical public requires careful maneuvering from everyone involved. For now, A-list PR teams and fashion lovers across the globe will have to wait for the official reveal from event leadership. But no matter which concept ultimately wins out in the planning room, all eyes will inevitably be on Manhattan when the first Monday in May rolls around.

The photos · 6

John Galliano, Anna Wintour
The designer stepped aside following backlash from civic leaders, board members, donors and Jewish groups. He is shown here with Anna Wintour in London in 2016.
Wintour, shown here with Galliano at The Fashion Awards at Royal Albert Hall in 2021, has ceaselessly championed the designer.
Winour and Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton have wanted to do an exhibition on Galliano for years. Wintour and Galliano are shown here in January 2025 at the Dior show in Paris.
Galliano was convicted in a French court in 2011 following two separate antisemitic and racists outbursts.
Galliano, shown here at the Met in 1996, has several pieces in the Costume Institute’s permanent collection.

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People also ask

Why is the Met Gala reconsidering its theme?
Organizers are evaluating alternative options following recent complications and controversy surrounding designer John Galliano.
What is the proposed backup plan for the Met Gala?
One major contingency option involves building the exhibition around the Costume Institute's extensive permanent collection.