Organized by Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s Curator in Charge, with assistance from Stephanie Kramer and Emily Mushaben, the 2027 theme invites visitors and gala attendees alike "to see the everyday anew." For those who live in jeans and t-shirts, the exhibition speaks directly to the staples of modern wardrobes, while simultaneously challenging perceptions of what constitutes high fashion.
The scope of the exhibition is designed to approach its subject from two distinct yet interconnected directions. The first focuses on the elevation of archetypal garments—such as the aforementioned everyday t-shirts, denim, and other universal wardrobe basics—elevating them from casual wear into high-concept fashion statements through meticulous craftsmanship, tailoring, and conceptual design. The second direction examines how humble, and sometimes even "disposable," materials like paper, aluminum, and plastic are radically recontextualized and transformed by designers into high-fashion creations.
This newly announced theme arrives as a replacement for a previously planned John Galliano blockbuster exhibition that was slated for 2027. That earlier project was ultimately canceled after becoming a significant cultural flashpoint, leaving the Costume Institute with the monumental task of conceiving an entirely new direction under a compressed timeline and heightened expectations.
Reflecting on the pivot, Bolton speaks candidly about the pressure and the creative challenge of replacing a major designer showcase. "I didn’t have a plan B," Bolton notes. "It was really important to come up with an exhibition that wasn’t just a masterwork show or something that we could do a little bit more easily. I wanted it to be as challenging and as provocative and as beautiful as a John show would have been." He adds that ensuring the concept had immediate relevance to the modern world was paramount. "That was really important to me: to come up with an idea that wasn’t a substitute. And it had to have some sort of contemporary resonance."
In developing the concept for "extraORDINARY," Bolton looked backward to move forward, finding his initial spark of inspiration in the Costume Institute’s 2026 exhibition, "Costume Art." That preceding show placed the dressed body at the center of the aesthetic experience. According to Bolton, that exploration naturally led him to contemplate the tactile and sensory ways people interact with clothing on a daily basis. "It led me to think more about how we experience clothing in everyday life through habit and touch and movement and sensation," he explains.
The thematic focus on the everyday is expected to heavily influence the red carpet interpretations at the 2027 Met Gala, challenging celebrities, designers, and stylists to reinterpret common wardrobe items and unconventional materials through haute couture lenses. Rather than relying solely on traditional notions of opulent evening wear, attendees may find themselves exploring the boundaries of utilitarian fabrics, industrial supplies, and everyday silhouettes.
Providing a visual preview of what visitors can expect when the doors open, pieces from Jun Takahashi’s fall 2024 Undercover collection have been selected to greet guests at the entrance to the exhibition, setting an immediate tone for how familiar forms can be subverted and reimagined.
As preparations begin for both the exhibition and the star-studded gala, the Costume Institute continues to solidify its reputation for tackling complex, thought-provoking themes that bridge the gap between historical garment study and contemporary cultural commentary. With "extraORDINARY," the museum aims to prompt a widespread reexamination of the clothes people wear without a second thought, proving that high art and high fashion can be found in the most familiar places.
