With just days away until the annual opening of the brand new Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Costume Institute aptly named the "MET Gala" which is hosted by Vogue magazine's Editor In Chief, Anna Wintour, I am going to explore this year's theme of "CAMP" and take you down memory lane recounting all of the times that Zendaya has served us "Camp" fashion on the red carpet.
When the MET Costume Exhibit Committee revealed earlier this year that the MET Gala theme would be "Camp: Notes On Fashion" it left many not familiar with the theme itself perplexed on what it is supposed to be, a far cry from the literal theme of Catholicism from last year's "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination" for which Zendaya stunned everyone with her Versace interpretation of Saint Joan Of Arc.
So, What Is Camp???
Camp, as defined in Susan Sontag's 1964 Essay "Notes On Camp" is a "Love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration," she also defines Camp as "Esoteric" meaning something that is understood by only a small number of people with a piece of specialized knowledge or interest. According to the MET Museum's historical notes on Camp, the style has been around since the Victorian Era and has re-emerged throughout the various fashion eras in many different subcultures.
So where does Zendaya fit into all of this? She fits into this theme considering that many of her famous red carpet looks over the years have blurred the lines between exaggeration and seriousness. Her looks have always been extreme enough to spark a conversation amongst many people, including those who love fashion, and even those who don't get fashion. She has always experimented with her looks and is fearless enough to wear very extreme looks that the average person wouldn't. Also, it has been a part of the vision and influence of her "Image Architect" Law Roach who once said, "If you put a pretty girl in a pretty dress, it can become boring". Also because "Camp" is not only about the look, but also the entire performance. Zendaya has always noted she has always loved the Red Carpet aspect of her career because it always allowed her to dress up and become different characters.
Zendaya's Campiest Looks
Zendaya over the years has blessed us with many looks that fit perfectly within the theme of CAMP, and here is a list of them, starting with the first look.
In September 2014, Zendaya attended the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party wearing a whimsical look from Emporio Armani's Fall 2014 RTW Collection. The look itself was a conversation starter because of the oversized hat, which was most likely inspired by Pharrell William's Grammy look from earlier that same year.
In May of 2015, Zendaya attended her very first Met Gala, which was themed "China: Through The Looking Glass", and called on the right designer, Fausto Puglisi, to create her look. The silhouette of proportions of the dress was so exaggerated that Zendaya commented in her MET Gala interview that she had arrived at the event on a truck.
In October of 2015, Zendaya went to Paris Week for the first time to attend the Vivian Westwood Spring 2016 Runway Presentation wearing a look from the Vivienne Westwood Spring 2015 RTW Collection. The look consisted of a gold embroidered lamè dress accompanied by an exaggerated red tartan train.
In December of 2015, Zendaya attended Rihanna's Diamond Ball Charity event in Los Angeles, wearing a two-piece outfit from Rosie Assoulin's Spring 2016 RTW Collection. The look consisted of having super wide palazzo pant which is a tricky silhouette to pull off yet it looked like perfection on Zendaya.
In July of 2017, Zendaya was in Paris to attend Fashion Week and strutted through the streets of Paris wearing a runway sweater look(sans trousers) from Viktor & Rolf's Fall 2016 CTR collection. Viktor & Rolf's collections have always been aligned with the theme of Camp, and their pieces are featured in the Exhibition.
In October of 2017, Zendaya attended the In Style Awards wearing a full multi-layered tiered dress from Schiaparelli's Fall 2017 CTR runway collection. Schiaparelli, much like Viktor & Rolf has always had the aesthetic of Camp throughout many of their collections, Schiaparelli is also featured in the collection.
In December of 2017, Zendaya attended the London Fashion Awards wearing a look from Vivetta's Fall 2017 RTW Collection. Vivetta is a new emerging label based in Milan and is known to have elements of Camp into their clothing aesthetic in the whimsical literal iteration, in this case, it would be the strategic horse cut out embellishments on the bust area.
A few days later, Zendaya attended the New York City Premiere of "The Greatest Showman" wearing a runway look from Viktor & Rolf's Spring 2018 SOIR Collection. This look consisted of Viktor and Rolf's signature precision asymmetrical laser cut tulle skirts.
In December of 2017, Zendaya made sure her very last major red carpet moment of the year was a memorable one by wearing a butterfly dress designed by Jeremy Scott for Moschino Spring 2018 RTW Collection.
In February of 2018, Zendaya attended the Chanel BAFTA's pre-party in London wearing not one, but two runway looks combined together layering a dress over a pantsuit from Fatima Danielsson's Spring 2018 RTW Collection.
In March of 2018, Zendaya attended the Lancôme Pre-Oscar party wearing an oversized Zoot Suit from Marc Jacobs Fall 2018 RTW Collection. The exaggerated proportions of the suit make it Camp, and Zendaya wore it effortlessly.
In May 2018, Zendaya attended the Tiffany & Co. "Paper Flowers" Collection Launch in New York City wearing a look from Dice Kayek's Fall 2014 CTR collection. The archive look consisted of an A-Line silhouette with oversized puff sleeves and an oversized Pussy Bow collar.
In June of 2018, Zendaya attended the "MTV Movie & TV Awards" in Los Angeles wearing a look from August Getty Atelier's Spring 2016 "The Thread Of Man" Collection. The Brown Leather Umbrella Shaped dress was the look that gained talked about look for this blog.
In December of 2018, Zendaya attended the AME Jewelry Launch in Los Angeles wearing a tiered feathered confectionary look from Marc Jacobs' Spring 2019 Collection. This look was the definition of Camp and Mao of MAO PR has even remarked that this looked like a real-life Rene Gruau painting. What is even more special about this look is that it is also featured in the MET Gala "Camp" Exhibit.
In February of 2018, Zendaya attended Paris Fashion Week in preparation for her Tommy X Zendaya Collaboration wearing a look from Marc Jacobs Fall 2019 RTW Collection. Marc Jacobs has continued incorporating the same Camp elements from his Spring Collection into his Fall Collection, and Zendaya was the first to wear them.
The MET Gala red carpet begins on May 6, 2019, at 6 PM. It will be televised on the E! Network, check your local listings.
Photo Credit:@zendaya on Instagram, Getty Images, and Zoey Grossman
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