By Basant El-Faramawy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute will launch a new exhibition titled “extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday” with the 2027 Met Gala, replacing a planned retrospective of British designer John Galliano that was canceled amid controversy over his past antisemitic statements.
New Theme Announced
The new show, announced Thursday, will explore how designers transform ordinary garments and materials such as jeans, puffer jackets, paper and plastic. It draws from the museum’s collection, loans and new acquisitions to examine “how designers rework familiar garments, everyday objects, and commonplace materials through craft, construction, material experimentation, and conceptual wit,” the institute said.
Galliano Show Canceled
The Galliano retrospective had been announced in July with fanfare, but was scrapped a month later after pressure from donors, city officials and the Jewish community. Galliano, formerly creative director of Christian Dior, was fired in 2011 after racist and antisemitic comments surfaced, leading to a conviction in France. He later returned to fashion at Maison Margiela.
Bolton's Challenge
Andrew Bolton, the institute’s head curator, said he had no backup plan when the Galliano show was canceled. The idea for the new exhibition emerged from his work on the previous “Costume Art” show, which led him to consider how everyday clothing carries meaning through wear, memory and movement. “Everyday clothes carry extraordinary amounts of meaning,” Bolton said. “We have a favorite T-shirt, we have a favorite pair of jeans, and we wear them until they literally fall apart.”
Met Gala Details
The 2027 Met Gala, traditionally held on the first Monday in May, will serve as the exhibition’s opening fundraiser. The event’s hosts and dress code will be announced later. The gala date coincides with Holocaust Remembrance Day, a factor that drew criticism from New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, who had opposed the Galliano exhibit.
Criticism and Context
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a longtime Galliano supporter, called the designer’s decision to withdraw “very courageous” and said both he and the museum have her full support. Galliano issued a statement acknowledging the pain caused by his past words and expressing deep remorse.
