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Everyone has heard of the Met Gala. Organised by fashion world A-listers, since it was first staged in 1948 the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s annual fundraising party in New York has grown into one of the biggest fashion industry nights of the year. These days, it attracts some of the biggest names in Hollywood and raises upwards of $30 million annually, with tickets to the invite-only spectacle costing around $50,000 each.
The UK has never really had an equivalent event, but it looks like that might be about to change with the arrival of the British Museum Ball. London’s most iconic museum announced the party this morning, describing it as a ‘landmark, annual event’ that will ‘establish a new highlight on the international social calendar’.
Masterminded by the British Museum’s director Dr Nicholas Cullinan, the first edition of the event is co-chaired by Indian billionaire heiress and arts patron Isha Ambani. The glamorous affair will take place over the closing weekend of the museum’s current exhibition, Ancient India: living traditions, with a pink theme that’s apparently inspired by ‘the colours and light of India’.
And by the look of it’s star-studded organising committee, the event will be a real flashy affair. Featured among the 100+ committee members are celebrated designers including Miuccia Prada, Bella Freud, Philip Treacy and Giles Deacon, artists and writers like Zadie Smith, Grayson Perry and Hew Locke, fashion world elites such as Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful, and A-list celebrities like Alexa Chung and Idris Elba.
Guests at the sold out event will apparently be treated to a drinks reception and speeches in the museum’s magnificent Great Court, before enjoying dinner amid some of its most iconic artefacts. There’ll also be a silent auction running throughout the evening, as well as musical performances from Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar and Grammy Winning conductor and composer Jules Buckley, whose orchestra will be joined by a very special surprise guest.
Are we jealous not to be on the guest list? We guess. But if you ask us, the best part of any big fashion world event is getting to critiquing all the outfits from the comfort of your sofa while wearing stained sweatpants and no bra. And we can’t bloody wait for that!
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