Undergraduate Research

In America: A Content Analysis of the 2021 Met Gala

Authors: Mary Beth Clarke , Sara Jablon-Roberts (Johnson & Wales University)

Abstract

This study examined the 2021 Met Gala and how its theme In America: A Lexicon of Fashion was integrated into the outfits seen on the red carpet. This research answered the question of: How was the 2021 Met Gala theme interpreted via the attendees' red-carpet attire? This study was conducted using the method of content analysis, where digital images of the Met Gala attendees were analyzed to learn of their components. This method was supplemented by additional internet research to provide more context. The findings show that the attendees' outfits had many influences, including icons, personal heritage, activism, and red-carpet norms, to name a few. The implications of this study are that "America" can have varying meanings for different people, depending on their values and lived experiences, and that "America" truly is difficult to define. 

Keywords: communication, American culture, red-carpet fashion, fashion interpretation, constant comparison

How to Cite: Clarke, M. & Jablon-Roberts, S. (2022) “In America: A Content Analysis of the 2021 Met Gala”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15841