The Secret Meanings Behind the Stars’ Floral Looks at the 2024 Met Gala
The language of flowers, or floriography, is an enchanting world where blooms convey messages and emotions. At the 2024 Met Gala, with its “Garden of Time” dress code, attendees turned their outfits into living tapestries of meaning, each flower whispering tales to those who care to listen.
Exploring Floriography
Floriography is a poetic means of communication that dates back centuries. It assigns symbolic meanings to flowers—a language often more telling than words. This year’s Met Gala provided an abundant canvas for the exploration of these symbols through fashion.
Expert Insights: Karen Azoulay
To delve deeper into the floral motifs presented at the gala, we consulted floriography expert Karen Azoulay. Known for her book Flowers and Their Meanings, Azoulay offers a wealth of knowledge on botanical symbolism.
A Closer Look: Key Floral Moments
The red carpet was an open garden, each celebrity’s attire blooming with hidden messages.
Jack Harlow’s Lily-of-the-Valley Brooch
Jack Harlow adorned his ensemble with a Dior lily-of-the-valley brooch. According to Azoulay, this flower represents the “return of happiness,” perhaps symbolizing a personal or professional high point.
Bad Bunny’s Symbolic Bouquet
Bad Bunny captured attention with a fabric bouquet including the Puerto Rican flor de maga, roses, and flax. This blend reflects cultural roots, universal romance (roses), and storytelling (Sleeping Beauty).
Colman Domingo’s Elegance
Colman Domingo donned a suit with a calla lily brooch—a nod to the late 19th-century aesthetic art movement. Known for their beauty, calla lilies remind us of Oscar Wilde’s love for artful living.
Demi Moore’s Peony Statement
Demi Moore graced the red carpet in a Harris Reed dress with peonies, suggesting coyness. This floral choice ties back to folklore where nymphs were said to hide within petals.
Mike Faist’s Turnip Brooch
In an innovative twist, Mike Faist sported a Loewe turnip brooch. The humble turnip symbolizes remembrance and time—apt for the Garden of Time theme.
Quannah Chansinghorse’s Forget-Me-Nots
Quannah Chansinghorse integrated forget-me-nots into her look, reflecting both personal heritage (Alaska’s state flower) and the concept of memory.
Karlie Kloss’s Cherry Blossom Inspiration
Karlie Kloss’s Swarovski floral ensemble evoked cherry blossoms—symbols of beauty and impermanence. This reflects the Met Gala’s exploration of nature’s cycles.
Floral Tributes: From Poppies to Roses
Nelly Korda’s Tribute with Poppy Embroidery
Nelly Korda wore an Oscar de la Renta dress featuring red poppies, flowers symbolizing resilience and remembrance. This choice highlights the theme of growth amidst adversity.
Roses: The Quintessential Met Gala Flower
Roses dominated many looks, from Cynthia Erivo’s embroidered rose petals to Sarah Jessica Parker’s white rose motif. These blooms speak volumes about history, silence, and love.
Cynthia Erivo’s Rose Ensemble
Echoing ancient Egyptian royalty who adored roses for their scent, Erivo’s Thom Browne look celebrated the flower’s luxurious legacy.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s Secretive Roses
Parker’s Richard Quinn dress featured white roses, a symbol of confidentiality. It underscores the Met Gala’s exclusive nature.
Shakira in Rosy Red Carolina Herrera
Wes Gordon designed Shakira’s red rose-inspired Carolina Herrera gown. The color choice aligns with her personal and cultural ties to Colombia—a major rose exporter.
The Garden of Time: A Floral Narrative
This year’s Met Gala was not just a celebration of fashion but also an exploration of time through nature’s lens. Each floral element, whether on the runway or tucked into a brooch, contributed to this narrative of beauty, history, and symbolism.
As we look back at these vibrant moments, it becomes evident that flowers have been whispering their secrets to us for ages. The 2024 Met Gala was simply an exquisite amplification of these silent conversations.