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The first Monday in May typically plays host to one of the fashion industry’s most glamorous nights, the annual Met Gala.
However, this year’s event, which was due to take place on 4 May at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cancellation has left fashion fans around the world bitterly disappointed but the good news is that there are other ways to celebrate what would have been the biggest sartorial spectacle of the year.
To commemorate the occasion, social media users are taking part in the Met Gala challenge. But, what exactly is it and how can you join in? Here is everything you need to know.
What is the Met Gala challenge?
Following the postponement of this year’s Met Gala, Vogue and actor Billy Porter joined forces to create a new fashion challenge that aims to bring the event’s fashion-forward spirit to life.
The #MetGalaChallenge encourages people to recreate their favourite looks from the historic ball and share photos of their interpretations on social media.
Created with Sketch.
Created with Sketch.
1/26 Diana Vreeland, 1981
The legendary former Vogue editor attends the Met Gala in a black polka dot gown.
Rex Features
2/26 Bianca Jagger, 1993
Celebrating the 'Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style' exhibition.
Rex Features
3/26 Naomi Campbell, 1995
The model attended with Francesco Scavullo to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's 'Teatre de la Mode' exhibition.
Rex Features
4/26 Iman, 2003
The Somali-American model attended with husband David Bowie.
Rex Features
5/26 Nicole Kidman, 2003
The Australian actress wore Gucci to the Gala, which she attended with actor Adrien Brody.
Rex Features
6/26 Anna Wintour, 2003
The American Vogue editor arrived for the celebrations with Tom Ford.
Rex Features
7/26 Scarlett Johansson, 2004
The actress wore Calvin Klein.
Rex Features
8/26 Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006
The Sex and the City star attended with Alexander McQueen, wearing one of his iconic heritage check designs.
Rex Features
9/26 Elizabeth Hurley, 2006
The British actress wore Elie Saab couture.
Rex Features
10/26 Kate Bosworth, 2007
The actress wore Prada.
Rex Features
11/26 Cameron Diaz, 2007
The actress wore Dior by John Galliano.
Rex Features
12/26 Victoria Beckham, 2008
The fashion designer opted for a vintage Giorgio Armani gown while David Beckham wore an Armani tuxedo.
Rex Features
13/26 Kate Hudson, 2009
The Hollywood actress wore Stella McCartney.
Rex Features
14/26 Kate Moss, 2009
The British icon attended with Marc Jacobs, donning one of his metallic designs.
Rex Features
15/26 Alexa Chung, 2010
The TV presenter and model wore an androgynous suit by Philip Lim.
Rex Features
16/26 Taylor Swift, 2010
The singer donned a sequinned white gown by Badgley Mischka.
Rex Features
17/26 Sienna Miller, 2010
The British actress attended with boyfriend at the time, Jude Law, wearing a navy Pucci gown.
Rex Features
18/26 Diane Kruger, 2010
The actress wore Calvin Klein.
Rex Features
19/26 Kendall Jenner, 2014
The reality TV star made her Met Gala debut in a bespoke Topshop gown.
Rex Features
20/26 Cara Delevingne, Rihanna, Stella McCartney, Kate Bosworth and Reese Witherspoon, 2014
The five beauties all wore gowns by Stella McCartney.
Rex Features
21/26 Miley Cyrus and Zoe Kravitz, 2015
For the opening of the China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition, which was the subject of the documentary The First Monday in May, the two US starlets both donned gowns by Alexander Wang.
Rex Features
22/26 Beyoncé, 2015
The singer sparkled in a sheer Givenchy gown.
Rex Features
23/26 Kim Kardashian West, 2015
Arriving with husband Kanye, the reality TV star wore a gown by Roberto Cavalli.
Rex Features
24/26 Lady Gaga, 2015
The 'Joanne' singer wore Balenciaga.
Rex Features
25/26 Gigi Hadid
The model wore a gown designed by Tommy Hilfiger.
Rex Features
26/26 Rihanna, 2017
The singer wore Comme des Garçons.
Rex Features
1/26 Diana Vreeland, 1981
The legendary former Vogue editor attends the Met Gala in a black polka dot gown.
Rex Features
2/26 Bianca Jagger, 1993
Celebrating the 'Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style' exhibition.
Rex Features
3/26 Naomi Campbell, 1995
The model attended with Francesco Scavullo to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's 'Teatre de la Mode' exhibition.
Rex Features
4/26 Iman, 2003
The Somali-American model attended with husband David Bowie.
Rex Features
5/26 Nicole Kidman, 2003
The Australian actress wore Gucci to the Gala, which she attended with actor Adrien Brody.
Rex Features
6/26 Anna Wintour, 2003
The American Vogue editor arrived for the celebrations with Tom Ford.
Rex Features
7/26 Scarlett Johansson, 2004
The actress wore Calvin Klein.
Rex Features
8/26 Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006
The Sex and the City star attended with Alexander McQueen, wearing one of his iconic heritage check designs.
Rex Features
9/26 Elizabeth Hurley, 2006
The British actress wore Elie Saab couture.
Rex Features
10/26 Kate Bosworth, 2007
The actress wore Prada.
Rex Features
11/26 Cameron Diaz, 2007
The actress wore Dior by John Galliano.
Rex Features
12/26 Victoria Beckham, 2008
The fashion designer opted for a vintage Giorgio Armani gown while David Beckham wore an Armani tuxedo.
Rex Features
13/26 Kate Hudson, 2009
The Hollywood actress wore Stella McCartney.
Rex Features
14/26 Kate Moss, 2009
The British icon attended with Marc Jacobs, donning one of his metallic designs.
Rex Features
15/26 Alexa Chung, 2010
The TV presenter and model wore an androgynous suit by Philip Lim.
Rex Features
16/26 Taylor Swift, 2010
The singer donned a sequinned white gown by Badgley Mischka.
Rex Features
17/26 Sienna Miller, 2010
The British actress attended with boyfriend at the time, Jude Law, wearing a navy Pucci gown.
Rex Features
18/26 Diane Kruger, 2010
The actress wore Calvin Klein.
Rex Features
19/26 Kendall Jenner, 2014
The reality TV star made her Met Gala debut in a bespoke Topshop gown.
Rex Features
20/26 Cara Delevingne, Rihanna, Stella McCartney, Kate Bosworth and Reese Witherspoon, 2014
The five beauties all wore gowns by Stella McCartney.
Rex Features
21/26 Miley Cyrus and Zoe Kravitz, 2015
For the opening of the China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition, which was the subject of the documentary The First Monday in May, the two US starlets both donned gowns by Alexander Wang.
Rex Features
22/26 Beyoncé, 2015
The singer sparkled in a sheer Givenchy gown.
Rex Features
23/26 Kim Kardashian West, 2015
Arriving with husband Kanye, the reality TV star wore a gown by Roberto Cavalli.
Rex Features
24/26 Lady Gaga, 2015
The 'Joanne' singer wore Balenciaga.
Rex Features
25/26 Gigi Hadid
The model wore a gown designed by Tommy Hilfiger.
Rex Features
26/26 Rihanna, 2017
The singer wore Comme des Garçons.
Rex Features
In a video shared on Vogue’s Instagram, Pose star Porter said: “The time has come for the challenge to end all fashion challenges.
“Pick an iconic Met Gala look from years past and recreate in your home.”
How can you take part?
Anyone can join in with the challenge and to be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is re-create your favourite Met Gala look from over the years and post a photo of yourself alongside the hashtag #MetGalaChallenge.
Porter and Vogue will then select a handful of the best posts to feature on the @voguemagazine, @metmuseum, and @metcostumeinstitute Instagram pages.
What looks have people been recreating?
Since the challenge first began Instagram has been flooded with DIY outfits inspired by celebrity looks of the past.
Some of the most popular looks include the extravagant yellow Guo Pei robe-gown that Rihanna wore in 2015, which prompted a flurry of memes, and Beyonce's "naked dress" from the same year.
Mindy Kaling was one of the first celebrities to take part in the challenge and chose to recreate Jared Leto’s 2019 outfit which saw him carry a prosthetic version of his own head.
“Recreating one of my favourite Met Gala looks ever with the help of a tarp, some Christmas lights and packing tape. I think Alessandro Michele would approve,” the former Office star explained.
“Your turn, post your look with #MetGalaChallenge by 5/3 and @voguemagazine will choose select looks to feature on social.”
See more of our favourite posts below:
If you need some outfit inspiration, read our roundup of the best Met Gala dresses of all time here.