FLANNELS THINKS:
WHY JEANS AND T-SHIRTS DO DESERVE CELEBRATION
In the wake of the 2027 Met Gala theme change, we explore how ‘boring’ might be exactly what fashion needs to appreciate again.
If there’s one thing we never thought we’d see, it’s jeans being embraced – nay, encouraged – on the Met Gala carpet. But 2027’s new theme, extraORDINARY: Fashion and The Poetics of the Everyday, has made it an inevitability.
Following the cancellation of the initially planned John Galliano: Horizons exhibition at the Costume Institute, a celebration of archetypal garments has taken its place – to the horror of many fashion fans. As a designer defined by theatrics and overexaggeration, Galliano’s Met Gala promised something wholly distinctive. Now, we’re faced with the possibility of a polar opposite.
Although the official dress code is yet to be announced, the exhibition is set to focus on familiar garments and everyday materials and objects. Specifically, it will explore how design can transform these commonplace things. Although backlash has been rife, with many believing that the Met is completely out of touch, this could actually be one of the most expansive Met Gala themes for years – and exactly the kind of celebration the fashion industry is crying out for.
VINTAGE INFLUENCES
Taking it back to the 90s and early 2000s, everyday denim and tank tops were regular features on the red carpet. Britney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kiera Knightly are amongst those who embraced jeans for formal events, which were welcomed without question. Modern and foolproof, dressing down was a natural fit for young A-listers cutting their teeth.
But gradually, casual was filtered out and couture was ushered in. Today, audiences often have more interest in the complexity and intricacies of outfits worn than the event itself. A sartorial faux pas is more likely to dominate social feeds than recipients of awards, and even the least fashion-conscious regularly chime in on wardrobe reviews post-event.
Whilst these moments offer a space to showcase fashion artistry in its purest form, the fun and playfulness of getting dressed has more or less been removed from countless cultural events. The sequin tops, feather boas, and low-rise trousers of film premieres past would be cringed at if executed anything less than perfectly today. As a result, a huge element of what makes fashion so impactful has disappeared for fear of public failure.
COMFORT OVER COUTURE
It’s no secret that everyday dressing has turned sharply towards comfort as of late, with athleisure and loungewear booming. Gone are the days of heels and suits for the office – you’re more likely to spot young commuters in trainers and joggers. Fashion insiders may have been lamenting this shift, but the demand remains higher than ever.
Although it might seem like a knock-on effect of months spent in lockdown several years ago, dressing down has long dictated the trend cycle. In fact, low-effort, everyday outfits have become some of the most influential – and remain talked about far longer than many of the most theatrical couture looks.
Think of Princess Diana in an oversized sweatshirt and bike shorts, or Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in dark wash denim; these seemingly ‘boring’, regular outfits have remained culturally relevant, referenced, recreated, and discussed for decades.
BEAUTY IN THE BASICS
Our now constant exposure to visual stimulation and innovation leaves us overlooking the beauty and history of basics. Their ubiquitousness might make them less exciting, but it doesn’t remove the craft and consideration that went into the first interpretations of contemporary clothing.
Modern jeans were designed by Levi Strauss in 1873 as sturdy work trousers, and they have since gone through countless iterations to become the accessible (and overlooked) staple we know today. This thought brings us back to Miranda Priestley’s speech in The Devil Wears Prada; a colour is never just a colour, and jeans are never just jeans. There is historical significance to even the most unsuspecting of pieces.
After Galliano’s axe, what better way to celebrate fashion than by embracing the backbone of the industry as a whole? Examining The Poetics of the Everyday makes room for the pieces that transcend trend cycles, and have the power to curate a sense of identity in the masses, to be recognised.
Not to mention, there are infinite ways that basics have been – and still can be – reimagined through a couture lens. And isn’t that much more compelling than a theme that demands exaggerated gowns made big and bold for the sole purpose of garnering public approval?
What we see as ‘lazy’ or ‘low effort’ dressing now was good enough for movie premieres in the 90s, and it’s about time we consider why attitudes changed so drastically. Long live basics.
