Entering the Enchanted Realm

The 2024 Met Gala, known for its opulent themes and star-studded guest list, welcomed attendees into a fantastical vision. Upon stepping into the Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, guests were met with an awe-inspiring centerpiece: a towering tree constructed from wood and fabric.

This enchanting structure reached from floor to ceiling, its roots firmly planted on the ground while branches stretched towards the vaulted ceilings. Surrounding this central piece were silkscreen panels depicting lush greenery and woodland scenes, creating an immersive forest-like atmosphere.

Conceptualizing Magic

Eaddy Kiernan, Vogue’s contributing editor who assists in planning the Met Gala annually, explained that the vision was to create a romantic landscape. “We wanted to craft an environment where everyone felt as though they were stepping into an enchanted forest,” she noted.

Linking Nature and Fashion

The theme of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” provided the inspiration for the gala’s décor. Curated by Andrew Bolton with contributions from Wendy Yu, the exhibit drew connections between 250 culturally significant garments across different eras through a common thread—nature.

• One room featured pieces inspired by poppies, highlighting vibrant floral designs.
• Anchoring another area were garments drawing influence from snakes and seashells, embodying the essence of their natural inspirations.

Dreaming Up a Mythical Arbor

Renowned set designer Derek McLane embraced this nature-inspired theme by designing a moody, mythical arbor aesthetic reminiscent of the Pre-Raphaelite era. Kiernan elaborated on this choice, stating that “the 19th-century British art movement rejected classical studied art in favor of an approach that was sincere and true to nature.”

Bringing Fantasy to Life

The execution of this ambitious vision fell into the hands of event planner Raúl Àvila. He shared with Vogue that it took six months from conception to realization, culminating in a “beautiful and mysterious” tree centerpiece.

To ensure flawless assembly during the Met Gala, initial construction occurred in a warehouse setting. This step was crucial for identifying potential issues before they could disrupt the event’s grandeur. “We assembled everything first to make sure we weren’t missing anything,” Àvila explained. “It would be too late to fix any problems on-site.”

Creating Illusions in Real-Time

A week prior to the gala, the team disassembled and transported their creation to New York City. On the night of the Met Gala and into Monday morning, they meticulously reassembled the centerpiece in the Great Hall.

The result was nothing short of magical: an illusion so convincing that attendees felt as though they had wandered into a forest somewhere mystical and far away, Àvila remarked.