Next Story
Newszop

Met Gala 2025: 6 bizarre rules that celebrities have to follow

Send Push
The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
05th May, 2025 23:00 IST
With the clock ticking down, the fashion nazis are buzzing with excitement for the 2025 Met Gala. Held annually on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Met Gala is more than just a red carpet event . Celebrities, designers, and tastemakers from across the globe come upon the museum’s iconic steps, dressed in some of the boldest and most extravagant fashion outfits ever seen.

But beyond the glitz and flashing cameras, the Met Gala is also a closed-door affair, organised under strict rules and traditions. Met Gala evening is curated down to the last detail, from what guests wear to what they eat and even where they sit.

This year’s theme is “Tailored for You,” which sits well with the Costume Institute’s newest exhibit, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. The event will celebrate the elegance and legacy of Black Dandyism and the impact of Black designers on fashion. While the red carpet will dominate headlines, what happens inside the Met Gala is tightly sophisticated and largely mysterious. Here are some rules that must be followed at this biggest night of fashion.

No phones, No selfies

Despite its social media buzz, the Met Gala has a famously strict “no phones” rule once guests step inside. While the red carpet is a media frenzy, the rest of the night, including private tours, dinner, and performances is completely a no-no to cameras. This rule is often quietly bent, with some celebrities sneaking in bathroom selfies, but officially, no content is allowed to be filmed or posted from inside the event.

No Garlic, No Onion, No Parsley
Fashion first, even at dinner. Anna Wintour , Editor-in-Chief of Vogue and the mastermind behind the Met Gala, ensures that no food served that could possibly risk a fashion faux pas, or a fashion mistake. Items like garlic, onions, and parsley are banned to avoid bad breath or stray herbs in smiles. Messy foods like bruschetta are also off the menu to prevent wardrobe disasters.

No smoking
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Met due to the priceless fashion pieces and historic artifacts on display. As curator Andrew Bolton once told Gayle King, smoking in the galleries is a surefire way to never get invited back. That said, it’s well known that some guests have found sneaky ways to light up in the bathrooms.

The entry at the Met Gala is worth a fortune
An invite doesn’t mean a free ticket. The Met Gala is a fundraising event for the Costume Institute, and seats come with a hefty price tag. In 2024, Time reported that a single ticket cost $75,000, while a table went for $3,50,000. These costs are often covered by fashion houses in exchange for celebrities wearing their designs.

Outfits must be pre-approved
Wearing just any outfit won’t work at the Met Gala. Every ensemble must be approved by Anna Wintour herself which also forms an integral part of the process and it has its own term, AWOK, meaning “Anna Wintour Okay.” This ensures that all looks align with the evening’s theme and aesthetic standards.

You can’t choose where you sit
Even if you pay some high dollar prices, you don’t get to pick your seat. Seating arrangements are carefully curated by Vogue’s team to build new connections. According to Ward Durrett, Vogue’s director of special projects, spouses are intentionally seated apart, and personal dynamics are factored in. Planning for this starts as early as December.

You may also like

NewsPointGenZNewsPointVideosNewsPointGamesNewsPointCricket
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now