Met Gala 2024 live updates: Red carpet looks as celebrity guests arrive in ‘Garden of Time’ dress code

The actors are both dressed in Loewe and have subtle garden-inspired touches. O’Connor is wearing floral shoes while Faist has a radish-shaped brooch.

Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe and honorary chair of tonight’s event, also created the costumes for “Challengers.”

Mindy Kaling arrived to the Met Gala dressed in Gaurav Gupta.

The showrunner and actress said the beige dress, which has many swirls, is called the “melting flower of time.”

Tyla is dressed in Balmain for tonight’s gala.

The South African singer’s gown is inspired by the “sands of time,” she told Vogue, a nod to the “Garden of Time” theme.

Tyla revealed in a red carpet interview with ET that her dress is made with real sand. She is also holding an hourglass bag.

Ayo Edebiri, wearing a dress that features floral appliques, has become somewhat of a fashion icon over the past year.

It’s “The Bear” star’s first Met Gala. Many of her fans were eager to see what she’d wear on the carpet.

Co-chair Jennifer Lopez, now attending her 14th Met Gala, said she still appreciates the event for the people she gets to meet.

“So many artists come together from different genres, from music, from film, from fashion. You have businessmen here, private equity,” Lopez told Vogue on the red carpet. “There’s all kinds of people here tonight. And so it’s not often that you get that mix of all different kinds of society.”

Lopez added that her custom Schiaparelli gown has 2.5 million bugle beads and took 800 hours to create.

Many of this year’s A-list attendees actually showed up on time to show off their looks on the Met Gala steps.

Co-chairs Zendaya, J.Lo, Chris Hemsworth and Bad Bunny arrived before the livestream kicked off.

But other stars, including Matt Damon, Lea Michele, Mindy Kaling, Greta Gerwig and Rebecca Ferguson, arrived on the carpet sooner than expected.

Jessica Serfaty Michel took this year’s theme as literally as possible.

The “Days of Our Lives” star is turning heads on the carpet with her bright red gown embellished with colorful flowers.

In a red carpet interview with co-host La La Anthony, Wintour invoked the dress code for the night, saying it takes a “garden of time” to prep for the annual Met Gala.

“I’m just so grateful for the army of people who put this together,” Wintour said. “We start planning it over a year in advance. We’re already onto 25 and 26. God is in the details.”

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons arrived on the red carpet sporting a clock bag in a subtle interpretation of the theme.

Zendaya was dressed by Maison Margiela, who also dressed fellow co-chair Bad Bunny. Her gown nods to the themes of the natural world on display during tonight’s event.

Zendaya has not attended the Gala in recent years. Her last appearance was at the 2019 event, “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”

Jennifer Lopez stepped out on the red carpet in a sheer silver gown that quickly had the words “best dressed” flying on social media. The superstar is wearing a custom Schiaparelli gown, according to Vogue.

Lopez is one of tonight’s four co-chairs alongside Chris Hemsworth, Bad Bunny and Zendaya.

Less than 10 minutes until the official red carpet livestream kicks off. Keep following along for updates from the NBC News team.

Vogue’s editor-in-chief and overall queen of the Met Gala is wearing a floor-length embroidered floral cape over a white dress, all by Loewe.

Jonathan Anderson, Loewe’s creative director, is an honorary chair for this year’s event.

Vogue tweeted that the cape was inspired by a piece in the “Sleeping Beauties” exhibition originally designed by Charles Frederick Worth.

Bad Bunny, one of tonight’s co-hosts, was dressed by Maison Margiela for this year’s Met Gala.

Some believe the dark florals are an homage to the protagonist in the short story “The Garden of Time,” which inspired this year’s dress code.

The artist also held a floral bouquet in hand, made of the same material as his jacket. According to Vogue, “The flora inside the bouquet tells a story all its own: there are Flor de Maga, the national flower of Puerto Rico; roses, a symbol of beauty and purity; and the flax plant, which Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on in the famed fairy tale.”

Last year, Serena Williams and Karlie Kloss announced their pregnancies at the Met Gala.

Will another celeb surprise us with a baby bump on the carpet? We’re keeping an eye out.

For years, celebrities have taken the opportunity to share political messages through their Met Gala looks.

Some attendees have put direct statements on their garments. For instance, during the 2019 gala, Lena Waithe wore a jacket with embroidered text paying homage to the pioneers of camp: Black queer people.

In 2021, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wore a white gown with the words “Tax the Rich” on the back, a bold — and controversial — statement at an event known for its wealthy clientele.

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Blake Lively fans are eager to see if the star will make her way to this year’s Met Gala.

The actor is known for her iconic looks each time she attends the event.

Social media users are praising Reece Feldman’s pleated floral skirt-suit, which is accessorized with a dog-shaped bag.

Feldman is a creator known for interviewing celebrities on the red carpet.

Vogue.com’s red carpet hosts — LaLa Anthony, Ashley Graham and Gwendoline Christie — have all made it to the carpet in their themed attire.

Graham told Entertainment Tonight that her handmade Ludovic de Saint Sernin dress took “over 500 hours” to make.

Christie wore a a custom creation designed by Maison Margiela’s John Galliano, according to Vogue.

Their live stream kicks off at 6 p.m. ET.

Emma Chamberlain is back and ready to spark more conversation as the internet’s favorite Met Gala interviewer, serving as Vogue’s red carpet correspondent for the fourth year in a row.

From her immediate rapport with stars like Billie Eilish and Gigi Hadid, to her ongoing flirtatious bit with Jack Harlow, the social media personality has built a reputation for creating viral red carpet moments with celebrities at the annual event.

Chamberlain’s look for tonight took over 640 hours to make, according to Vogue.

TikTok, one of the Met Gala sponsors, launched a portal with various tabs for users to check out the red carpet looks, the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the event and information about the exhibition.

TikTok users will be able to watch a livestream of the red carpet on Vogue’s profile. The app launched a polling feature that will allow users to vote on their favorite Met Gala looks this year.

The Marc Jacobs social media account is bringing its playfulness to Instagram ahead of the Met Gala.

The brand asked its followers to guess who it will be dressing tonight. The post has four silhouettes and numerous guesses in the comments.

Eugenio Casnighi, a model and greeter who went viral during the 2023 Met Gala, claimed in a TikTok video that he was fired ahead of the 2024 event. Last year, Casnighi was spotted in images behind Kylie Jenner throughout the evening. He said he was hired as a model and greeter in 2022 and 2023.

“It’s Friday and the Met Gala is on Monday and they let me know today that they cut me off, they fired me because I went viral last year,” Casnighi said in the video. “So basically they said, ‘You made it about yourself so we can’t have you work there anymore.'”

A spokesperson for The Met did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a statement to NBC News, Casnighi said, “I am a little sad I won’t see in person all the looks and the celebrities, but maybe there will be some surprises about me tonight, who knows! All the best to the foundation and the people working and attending there.”

This year’s Met Gala red carpet isn’t actually red.

Early photos from the Metropolitan Museum of Art show a cream carpet, bordered by greenery and wall murals that reflect this year’s dress code, “The Garden of Time.”

Even VIPs have to follow rules sometimes.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour told “TODAY” that cellphones are not allowed at the Met Gala — and neither are garlic, onion or chives.

Attendees must also abide by a seating chart, which Vogue staffers created.

The glamorous fundraising gala raises millions every year for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which houses the world’s most comprehensive costume collection.

Proceeds from the Met Gala, which is charging $75,000 per ticket this year, make up the institute’s main source of funding as it exhibits, conserves and studies more than 33,000 objects spanning global fashion history.

Celebrities always showcase their most bold looks at the Met Gala. And their definition of bold always seems to vary.

Take last year, for example, when not one, but two people wore cat costumes on the carpet. Jared Leto and Doja Cat both showed up in feline-inspired attire. wserved as a nod to the gala’s celebration of the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, whose cat Choupette was basically a celebrity, also.

Only time will tell if there will be any animal-themed attire this year.

Magazine giant Condé Nast, which owns Vogue, reached an eleventh-hour deal with its union, averting a strike on a pivotal night for the media company.

The union, which represents over 500 employees at Vogue, Vanity Fair and other publications, pledged to do “whatever it takes” ahead of the Gala to make its demands heard.

The agreement includes a $61,500 starting salary floor, $3.3 million in total wage increases and eight weeks of severance for employees affected by layoffs. 

This year’s Met Gala is sponsored in part by TikTok, with CEO Shou Chew serving as an honorary chair.

Chew is slated to wear something from Ralph Lauren, according to The New York Times. His presence at fashion’s biggest night of the year comes at a precarious moment for the company, which faces a potential ban from the U.S. government. President Joe Biden signed a bill last month that presented ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, with an ultimatum: sell to an approved buyer or be banned in the U.S. 

Some extreme costumes and styles rocked by celebrities at the Met Gala can stir an internet frenzy, making the Met Gala a very meme-able event.

Kim Kardashian’s head-to-toe black Balenciaga attire in 2021 provided meme fodder for many. In 2015, Rihanna’s gold Guo Pei gown, which featured a fur-lined cape with a 16-foot train, also generated commentary online. And of course, last year, when both Jared Leto and Doja Cat showed up dressed as cats, the internet couldn’t resist making memes.

Rihanna, perpetual queen of the Met Gala, recently shared that she was going to focus on her hair and makeup this year. 

Speaking to Extra, the singer-turned-entrepreneur said she is “keeping it real simple” compared to looks she has donned in the past. 

Some fan favorites from previous Met Galas have included a papal-inspired bejeweled set for the 2018 “Heavenly Bodies” theme, and a show-stopping yellow gown with a massive train for the 2015 “China: Through the Looking Glass” event. 

Some fans are already gathering outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in hopes of catching a glimpse of celebrities when they start walking the carpet later this afternoon.

Before it became the most glamorous and star-studded night in fashion, the Met Gala started off as a fundraising benefit attended primarily by New York City socialites, according to the Met Museum’s website.

The first gala, which cost $50 per ticket, was held in December 1948 to raise money for the Met Costume Institute. It was a midnight dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan.

It wasn’t until decades later that the Met Gala began to resemble the iconic cultural event it is today.

Zendaya, who is a co-chair of the Met Gala, is returning to the event for the first time since 2019. Notably, her last Met Gala look five years ago was a Cinderella-inspired gown that changed color with the wave of a wand.

The actress is having quite the year, with her “Challengers” and “Dune: Part Two” press tour looks turning her into even more of a red carpet force of nature.

Zendaya’s longtime stylist, Law Roach, will be styling her once again for tonight’s affair.

New York City has no shortage of hotels, but The Carlyle or The Mark Hotel are usually the go-to spots for celebrities as they get ready for the Met Gala.

Both hotels are conveniently located on the Upper East Side, within a few blocks of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Mark is home to the largest penthouse suite in the U.S. and the unofficial “pre-red carpet,” where fans and photographers gather to catch the first glimpses of stars like Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid and Anna Wintour on their way to the Met Gala.

“Timing is essential on the day,” The Mark’s General Manger Etienne Haro said in an interview with PEOPLE. “A celebrity’s journey is monitored so that our transportation coordinators can get the right car in front of the hotel at the right time and ensure the process is flawless.”

With just a few hours until the carpet, it’s officially celeb watch time.

Actresses Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Ayo Edebiri of “The Bear” are rumored to be on the invite list for the first time, according to to Page Six. Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of Jeff Bezos, is also rumored to make her Met Gala debut.

Kendall Jenner is reportedly attending (though there’s been no confirmation from any of the Kardashian-Jenner family members). And K-pop fans are speculating on whether members of the popular boy band Stray Kids will make an appearance, after some members hinted at preparations on social media.

Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya co-chair alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. 

TikTok CEO Shou Chew and Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson are honorary co-chairs. 

Kim Kardashian caused an internet frenzy two years ago when she wore Marilyn Monroe’s infamous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” gown to the 2022 Met Gala.

Originally worn by Monroe to President John F. Kennedy’s birthday fundraiser in 1962, the gown was valued at more than $10 million when Kardashian borrowed it from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum. But her choice to wear the historical garment stirred viral backlash when a Monroe historian shared photos online comparing the gown’s condition prior to and after the Gala, causing many online to accuse her of damaging the gown.

In 2021, Kardashian’s head-to-toe black Balenciaga also proved to be meme fodder.

We’re keeping an eye out for the entrepreneur and reality star queen on tonight’s carpet.

Celebrities like Zendaya and Rihanna are not paying their way to the Met Gala. Instead, they are invited by high-profile brands who purchase entire tables at the event. These tables go for upward of $350,000, according to The New York Times. 

For the rich but not famous, individual tickets can be purchased for $75,000, but final approval of the guest list and the seating chart must go through Wintour.

The theme of this year’s Met Gala is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which is also the title of the Costume Institute’s new exhibition. The exhibition celebrates and finds unique ways to display clothing that has been deemed too fragile to be worn again — hence “sleeping beauties.” 

The dress code is “The Garden of Time,” in reference to the beauty of nature and garments. The dress code is derived from a 1962 short story of the same name, written by J.G. Ballard. Vogue has suggested the dress code might evoke many floral and botanical looks on this year’s carpet.

Wintour told TODAY that “the idea of ‘Sleeping Beauties’ is taking these masterpieces from different periods.”

“And because so many of them are very fragile, and have to be laid flat, they can’t even be displayed on a mannequin or in any other way,” she said. “They are laid flat, behind glass wall and around them are the inspirations that are muses, as (curator Andrew Bolton) calls them.”

Taylor Swift, who will embark on the European leg of her Eras Tour on Thursday, is not expected to attend this year’s Met Gala. Swift and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, declined their invitations, according to TMZ. 

Swift last attended in 2016, when she sported a bleach-blonde hairstyle that would go down in infamy as “Bleachella.”

Kelce, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, has never attended the Gala. He was spotted at the Kentucky Derby over the weekend.

Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and queen of the Met Gala, sat down with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager to talk all things 2024 Met Gala.

“This exhibition broke my cardinal rule,” she said, sharing that she fears she “unleashed a lot of confusion” about the theme (Sleeping Beauties) and gala dress code (Garden of Time). “We came up with the title ‘Sleeping Beauties.’ It’s wonderful, it’s poetic, its romantic, but actually it could be many, many things.”

Wintour said she predicts people will be wearing a lot of flowers on the red carpet. Watch the full interview below.

The red carpet arrivals typically begin around 5 p.m. ET and end around 8 p.m. ET. Most red carpet livestreams, including Vogue’s, will begin at 6 p.m.

But some of the most well-known guests tend to show up on the later side: Last year, Rihanna made her red carpet appearance at about 10 p.m.

As usual, Vogue will livestream the red carpet arrivals on its website.

Content creator Emma Chamberlain is slated to return as the magazine’s special correspondent. Actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony and model Ashley Graham are serving as carpet hosts for the publication’s official stream. 

The event will also be broadcast on “Live From E!” on the E! network. Social media platforms like X, TikTok and Instagram are typically bastions of memes, hot takes and outfit reviews on Met Monday.