Two Stars Break Met Gala ‘Rule’ And Risk ‘Not Being Invited’ Again

The first Monday of May is fashion’s biggest night, where the famous and fashionable take over the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has come and gone as the gala was on May 4.

Rather than another red carpet event, the Met Gala serves as a fundraiser for the museum and celebrates the opening of its spring exhibition, operating under a set of unspoken rules to preserve the exclusivity of its status.

Strictly invitation only and personally approved by Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Met Gala chairman Anna Wintour herself, there is no buy-your-way-in option. Guests must be at least 18-years-old, a policy enforced by Vogue in 2018, making the event an adults-only event, as the evening is not suitable for younger attendees. However, among the strict and secret rules and etiquette of the Met Gala, the age requirement was broken this year by two A-listers.

First attended in 2003, for the actress Nicole Kidman’s seventh appearance at the Met Gala, she brought a special guest, and they broke a major rule. Kidman walked the steps of the Met in a sequin red Chanel gown, accompanied by her daughter, Sunday Rose, 17, in a pink Dior gown.

Along with Kidman breaking the age requirement policy, Beyoncé did as well, attending the event with her daughter, Blue Ivy, 14. Blue Ivy made her debut at the Met Gala in a Balenciaga-designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli cream gown paired with a matching jacket and a pair of shades.

While both Kidman and Beyoncé served as co-chairs for the year’s Met Gala and set the tone for the evening, they quietly challenged the rules of the Met Gala.

The rules of the gala are set to protect the privacy, secrecy, and sanctity of the night, which celebrates an expansive collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects representing seven centuries of fashionable dresses and accessories from the fifteenth century to now, according to The Met.

The Met Gala enforces a series of additional rules apart from the age restriction, such as its no-phone policy to protect the sanctity of the night, separating seating couples to encourage social interaction amongst others, and even menu limitations excluding garlic, onions, parsley, or bruschetta from the menu to maintain a polished and elegant appearance all evening. If an attendee breaks one of the rules, they might not be invited back to future Met Galas, according to People.

Still, this is not the first time the Met Gala’s rules have been broken, as many celebrities have taken forbidden bathroom selfies, taken smoking breaks in the bathroom, or shared behind-the-scenes of the event on their social media.

Defined by its exclusivity and access, the Met Gala is a night where rules are broken, serving as a reminder that fashion itself is rooted in breaking rules.