The Met Gala is the biggest fashion party of the year. For weeks, months, celebrities and their PR teams offer advice on what attracts them. What outfit do we want to score with, what signals do we want to send to the outside world, how do we want to attract attention?
The whole world watches when Hollywood superstars and It-girls walk the red carpet. Mate of the Met for Years: Kim Kardashian (40). She also appeared at this year’s event on Monday evening (local time).
In this outfit: Kim is completely in a veil, unrecognizable face, meter long hair and dressed in black from top to bottom. She celebrates her look on Instagram (253 million followers!), designed by luxury label Balenciaga.
The ensemble, designed by creative director Demna Gvasalia, consisted of several parts. On feet: Jersey shoes. Kim covered her hands with black gloves. On legs: leggings. On the upper body: A T-shirt dress, under a bodysuit. The head is covered with a mask from which only the tail protrudes backwards. Not a millimeter of skin was visible.
The “creative” idea behind Kim’s look is said to have come from ex-husband Kanye West, who is said to have encouraged her to make this pitch-black alternative.
But this dress has more than a bitter taste. Because it is reminiscent of the pictures that went around the world just a few days ago. Recordings depict women who go to university in Afghanistan.
Who has been sitting completely on screen in the lecture hall ever since the country was again in the hands of the Taliban. Recording: A gruesome Taliban propaganda show. The unmistakable message: This is how education for women should work in the future – if at all!
Students do not study with men, not even in curtained classrooms. Instead, in a burqa completely stripped of veils and linga!
What signal is a fashion icon like Kim Kardashian sending to the world at the moment?
Bild’s Vice President Paul Ronzimer (currently in Doha) on Kim’s Met Gala appearance: “Kim Kardashian makes fun of Afghan women with her full veil. Kim’s photos reflect the influencer and complete ignorance of the fashion scene.”
Because: “You shouldn’t underestimate this: A woman who has millions of followers eventually becomes the propaganda tool for those who stand for the veil. Even if Kim Kardashian doesn’t want that at all.”
And further: “I find it fundamentally problematic to make such a statement. It ends up being available to worldwide promotional arrangements. They take a picture of Kim, show her to young girls, and say, ‘ Look, it’s cool in New York too. We want this cover. See what Kim Kardashian is doing – this is what it is.’ That’s what gets sent through these photos in the end.”
Ronzheimer also describes on BILD LIVE how a young woman on the site reacted to Kardashian’s appearance: “I sent a picture of Kim Kardashian’s look to a woman who is still hiding in Afghanistan. This woman told me : ‘It is very sad to me that celebrities do not know what kind of signals they are sending.’ ”
This woman – representative of many – wants nothing more than to be able to live according to Western values. So, for example, you can go to school or university completely unaided.
In the end, you have to wonder what mentors Kim Kardashian and her team do throughout the day. Whether they follow the news for at least five minutes a day. Ultimately, there are reports of how women are oppressed in Afghanistan in America as well.
Pop culture practitioner. Bacon expert. Explorer. Tv maven. Wannabe student. Subtly charming social media nerd.