Gather up the camp counselors!
After a gander through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Gala exhibit, we clarify the definition of “camp,” and its earliest documentation dating back to the early 17th century.
Corsets, yards of silk ribbon and baroque pompadour shoes were amongst the first articles to fall under the camp category. “Se camper” literally means “to flaunt” or “to posture” and was the first recorded literary use of modern-day camp.
Roughly two centuries later, British cross-dressers Ernest “Stella” and Frederick “Fanny” flaunted their extensive drag wardrobe, which included corsets, silk petticoats and lavish hair extensions. Many of their ensembles were confiscated by police upon their arrest in 1870. A letter from “Fanny” dating two years before their arrest states, “My ‘campish’ undertakings are not at present meeting with the success which they deserve.”
Leading into the twentieth century, Camp inspired designs were adopted by Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Chanel. Sanctioned elements include but are not limited to neons, ruffles, feathers and a manic amount of glitter— not to mention the fundamental portrayal of objects morphed into accessories and outerwear. Take, for example, Lagerfeld’s dripping shower nozzle necklace, designed for Chloe for autumn/winter 1983-84. On display at the Met’s Camp exhibit, this literal representation is the perfect camp accessory and perhaps a missed opportunity for Kim Kardashian in her dripping Theirry Mugler corset dress.
Not to mention Miley Cyrus and her sequined, Avante-Garde Yves didn’t quite make the “camp” cut. Perhaps we could have seen her in a piece from the Victor and Rolf 2019 Spring Couture, or an ensemble from the Balmain Haute Couture Spring 2019 Collection. Both Regina Hall and Harry Styles fell extremely short of the theme on the Gala’s pink carpet. Unfortunately, “underwhelming” and “camp” lie on opposite ends of the fashion spectrum.
On the other hand, Katy Perry’s chandelier “dress”, styled by Jeremy Scott for Moschino couldn’t have been more perfect for the affair. Her hamburger follow-up was another success, serving up an unforgettable look for the event’s official afterparty. Billy Porter and his ten-foot wings, paired with his lavish entrance are inevitable “high-camp” while Cara Delevigne’s rainbow Dior ensemble kept perfectly on theme.
Upon surveying each of Met Gala’s 203 carpet looks, it appears that many celebrities have missed the mark in the name of camp. Despite the abundance of looks that failed to follow the theme, the minute handful of successful “camp” attire are ingrained in the name of Met Gala history.