Supermodels Boycott “Muse” Gala

Last night’s Vogue-sponsored Costume Gala at the Met Museum wasn’t without its fair share of controversy. And, no, I’m not talking about Madonna’s thigh-high boots and bunny ears, nor am I referring to Helena Christensen’s frock fit for figure skating, which was outfitted with crystals spelling out the aforementioned magazine’s moniker. In fact the tempest in question instead had to do with the supermodels that didn’t show up at all last night -- the result of Anna Wintour snubbing a particularly revered (not to mention Michelle Obama-approved) Parisian designer.

The Met’s “Model as Muse” exhibition, the opening of which was being celebrated last night, fails to include any representation of famed French fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa’s work (an omission for which the designer blames Wintour, according to this piece in the New York Times). In protest of his having been excluded, Alaïa pulled designs of his, which were to be worn by seven different models to last night’s gala. Supermodels Stephanie Seymour, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell decided to forgo last night’s festivities; in the case of Seymour and Campbell, it was officially out of protest. Of her decision, a spokesperson for Campbell told the New York Times, ““As Naomi has been the muse of Azzedine Alaïa for 23 years, she feels she doesn’t want to attend unless she can represent his work.” While the exhibit’s overlooking of such an influential designer is no doubt condemnable, the omission has other implications as well. Campbell is one of only a handful of non-white models who have ever achieved supermodel status. So, to exclude the designer with which such a revolutionary model has had a long, influential relationship seems in especially poor taste given the exhibit’s intention of paying homage to “the model.”