No, Matthieu Blazy Did Not Put Bhavitha Mandava in "Jeans" for the Met Gala
Fashion *is* art, after all…
Chanel‘s newest ambassador, Bhavitha Mandava, made her Met Gala debut this year, walking the green-hued carpet in a look that has since become the subject of widespread controversy. Typically, controversial outfits at the Met don’t stick to the theme, are overly provocative, or, at times, pretty tone-deaf. This look, however, was none of those things.
Harking back to Mandava’s runway look from Chanel’s Metier d’Art show, the outfit was comprised of a beige muslin half-zip sweater worn over a white muslin top and printed muslin pants. The pants featured a blue denim effect, mimicking the look of jeans and despite the outfit requiring 250 hours of work, the visible craftsmanship was subtle, leading many to believe that Chanel’s Matthieu Blazy had simply put Mandava in jeans and a jumper for one of fashion’s biggest nights of the year.
In a sense, this appeared to be true and amongst the sea of gowns, historic references and opulence, it’s easy to see why the look caused a little shock and awe. However, looking below the surface, understanding the time it took to create the garments and what they represented for Mandava and her own sense of style, it’s clear that there’s definitely more to the story.
Some critics were quick to point out that Chanel never dresses its other ambassadors in this way, namely the likes of Margot Robbie and Lily-Rose Depp, but they also failed to include Mandava’s perspective or typical approach to dressing. Sure, it’s not the classic couture gown, but with over 200 hours of work, an optical illusion that went viral and “Fashion As Art” as this year’s theme, we can safely say that Blazy understood the assignment, even if it’s only after we saw the workings out…
For more Met Gala looks, check out our roundup of what this year’s guests wore.
