Famously icy Vogue editor Anna Wintour has given some rare insight into her Met Gala planning, as she addressed one of the many rumored rules that she is believed to have set for the party.
Each year, on the first Monday of May, Hollywood’s biggest celebrities stomp the red carpet in their most extravagant and lavish outfits for the annual star-studded ball, many of which are compulsively talked about by the public.
Branded by some as the biggest night in fashion, the high-profile fundraising gala – which is set to take place this Monday, May 5, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City – has been hosted by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna, 75, for nearly 30 years now.
But the magazine mogul has earned a fierce reputation over the years for the intense measures that she takes to ensure that everything goes smoothly… with a past biographer claiming that Anna meticulously plans every detail of the evening and hand picks the guest list herself.
There’s has even been rumors that every outfit worn by the stars has to be approved by the 75-year-old, but according to Anna, that’s not the case.
She was quick to dispel the claim during a recent appearance on Good Morning America.
When host Michael Strahan asked her if it’s true that she insists on seeing all the ensembles ahead of the event, she replied with a smile, ‘No.
‘Many call and ask our advice, so we try and help some of them as best we can. Some, no idea.’
Vogue editor Anna Wintour has given some rare insight into her Met Gala planning, as she addressed one of the many rumored rules that she is believed to have set for the party
During an appearance on Good Morning America on Friday, Anna shut down rumors that every outfit worn by the stars has to be approved
While chatting with Michael, Anna revealed that she had seen co-chair Colman Domingo’s look and described it as a ‘work of art.’
Colman will serve as the co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala alongside Anna, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and basketball star LeBron James.
‘Lewis, I’m not sure I entirely believe him, says he doesn’t have a picture [of his outfit],’ she continued, when asked if she knew what the rest of them were wearing.
‘Pharrell and [A$AP] Rocky have both described to me what they’re wearing. It sounds perfect.
‘I trust Lewis. Lewis totally knows what he’s doing.’
The theme this year is ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ – based on Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
It is meant to pay homage to black dandyism, a style with European roots which started post-Emancipation and came out in full force during the Harlem Renaissance.
Back in 2022, biographer Amy Odell detailed Anna’s extensive planning ahead of the event in her tome Anna: The Biography.
When host Michael Strahan asked her if it’s true that she insists on seeing all the ensembles ahead of the event, she replied with a smile, ‘No’
The annual star-studded ball has become one of the most talked about and coveted events. Beyoncé (left), Zendaya (center), and Cardi B (right) are pictured at the Met Gala over the years
The magazine mogul has earned a fierce reputation over the years for the intense measures that she takes to ensure that everything goes smoothly
She spoke with various Met staffers and other people who have worked with Anna, and according to the writer, Anna doesn’t learn Met staff names – but instead, she simply calls them ‘you’ – tries to hide artifacts from the museum that she finds ‘ugly,’ and keeps a list of those who are ‘in’ and ‘out.’
Former Met Gala planner Stephanie Winston Wolkoff described Anna as ‘militant’ during the weeks leading up the gala, while chatting with Amy for the biography.
During the party, Stepanie explained that Anna wants Vogue staff to know every single detail about each celebrity’s arrival – including when they’re going to get there (every star has their own prearranged time), what car they’re going to come in, and what they’re wearing
And Anna reportedly pays attention to every single detail throughout the night.
Former director of Vogue and longtime friend of Anna’s, Lisa Love, recalled the executive asking her during the 2019 Met Gala, ‘Can you please tell [Kim Kardashian] to sit down?’ when she noticed that the reality star was standing throughout the dinner.
It turns out, Kim physically couldn’t take a seat due to how tight her custom, latex Thierry Mugler dress was.
