Channel Your Inner Met Gala 'Camp' in 5 Flashy Clothing Items

I admit, I too was thrown off when I first heard the Met Gala theme. Images of the great outdoors and smores came to mind, and I wondered how it would be portrayed in a high fashion exhibit. Once I looked up the true meaning of Camp, however, I was even more confused.

Susan Sontag’s essay Notes on “Camp,” in which the writer made a list of 58 definitions, inspired this year’s theme. In her essay Sontag describes Camp in varying facets, such as definition 10 which states that “Camp sees everything in quotation marks. It’s not a lamp, but a ‘lamp.’ Not a woman, but a ‘woman.’” Definition 19, however, states that “the pure examples of Camp are unintentional; they are dead serious.” Extremely confusing, right?

After scouring Vogue’s website to comprehend the theme, I finally began to understand what Camp is getting at. I think Sontag’s definitions 24 and 25 best explain Camp in the context of fashion.

Definition 24 states “when something is just bad (rather than Camp), it’s often because it is too mediocre in its ambition. The artist hasn’t attempted to do anything really outlandish.” Definition 25 connected the dots for me, describing “the hallmark of Camp is the spirit of extravagance. Camp is a woman walking around in a dress made of three million feathers.” In other words, the boldest and most over top the top clothes, in the best ways possible.

Now that we know what in the world the Met’s elites were thinking when they chose the theme, here is how you can add a little Camp into your everyday style. Even if you can’t make it to the Met Gala this year (I know my invitation was lost in the mail), celebrate Camp on May 6, 2019 with these extravagant trends.

1. The power suit is a Camp must. Wear one of these to your next internship interview and you’ll surely get the position.

2. Puffy sleeves are this season’s extravagant way to make a statement.

3. Wear patterned pants to your next class to channel “the sensibility of high culture” that Sontag emulated.

4. What better way to be Camp-y than by wearing neon! Add a splash of bright color to your day and it will feel like you’re on your way to the Gala.

5. We all know accessories complete a look, so finish off your outfit with a trendy hat and strut your way down the red carpet. Or red bricks, in our case.