4 months ago
In nan span of conscionable a fewer short weeks, “Heated Rivalry” has go a bona fide popular civilization phenomenon.
Based connected Rachel Reid’s bestselling “Game Changers” books, HBO Max’s queer lucky romance — originally produced by Canada’s Crave streaming work — became a smash deed practically overnight, pinch stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie going from virtual unknowns to certified Hollywood heartthrobs faster than you tin opportunity “hat trick.” Now, they’re gracing manner mag covers, making the talk-show rounds and signing with Hollywood’s biggest talent agency.
Williams and Storrie are besides practically guaranteed to people invites to May’s Met Gala, pursuing successful nan footsteps of nan “White Lotus” cast, nan “Riverdale” pack and nan stars of “The Bear.”
After all, nan ball’s not conscionable a monolithic fundraiser for nan museum’s Costume Institute; it’s besides Vogue’s biggest yearly branding exercise, a measurement for nan mag to asseverate that it’s still connected nan cutting separator of civilization successful nan integer age. And to do that successful 2026, let’s look it: Their gala needs a small lucky power connected nan step-and-repeat.
But who will person nan grant of outfitting our beloved puck buddies for their first Met ball? With designers surely clamoring to dress them both, let’s research nan options!
The frontrunner: Thom Browne
Come on, this conscionable makes sense. As nan existent president of nan CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) — an statement pinch adjacent ties to Vogue — Browne, famed for his impeccable tailoring, is fundamentally nan look of American fashion. Oh, and his longtime partner? None different than Andrew Bolton, nan Costume Institute’s curator successful complaint and nan mastermind down each of its exhibitions since 2006’s “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression successful British Fashion.”
As such, Browne’s 1 of nan Met Gala’s astir prolific dressers; past year, he created looks for astir a twelve stars, among them Demi Moore, Janelle Monáe, Tramell Tillman, Angel Reese, Zoe Saldaña and Saquon Barkley. (It didn’t wounded that nan evening’s dress codification was “Tailored for You,” a cleanable fresh for Browne’s marque DNA.)
The marque besides dressed Storrie for a New York Times shoot past month, truthful there’s history there.
To quote “SNL” nightlife master Stefon, a Thom Browne x “Heated Rivalry” Met Gala matchup would person everything: Sharp suits! Sporty stripes! Queer practice galore! Simply put, Browne’s nan 1 to hit for this peculiar job.
The Canadian contenders: Erdem Moralioglu, Jason Wu, Dsquared2
On nan different hand, really cool would it beryllium to spot a Canuck designer trade thing typical for nan stars of Canada’s hottest export? We could envision either nan New York-based Wu aliases Londoner Moralioglu — both regular presences connected nan Met Gala carpet — stepping up to nan plate.
Another action is Dsquared2’s Dean and Dan Caten, who precocious celebrated their 30th twelvemonth successful business pinch a splashy runway show featuring Doechii, Naomi Campbell and much awesome names.
Dsquared2’s nan marque down nan thigh-high lace-up sandals Rihanna wore arsenic portion of her 2017 Met Gala look — and speaking of shoes, nan Catens’ existent postulation conveniently includes a brace of $3,190 high-heeled crystal skates.
Sure, it mightiness beryllium reliable navigating nan treacherous Met depository steps successful those bad boys — but if Storrie was capable to master a Russian accent successful 1 week flat, he’s astir apt up for nan task.
The acheronian horse: Rick Owens
OK, truthful Owens isn’t precisely a Met Gala fixture. He and woman Michèle Lamy person attended nan starry shot precisely erstwhile (in 2017) and his reddish carpet contributions are constricted to a reddish fringed number for Rosalía and a brace of achromatic sweatpants (yes, really) for Timothée Chalamet, some successful 2021.
But dissimilar each nan different designers we’ve mentioned truthful far, Owens’ activity is really featured successful “Heated Rivalry,” pinch Storrie wearing a brace of his iconic drop-crotch pants (and thing else) successful Episode 4’s pivotal tuna melt scene.
And erstwhile asked astir his dream manner show induce successful a caller Harper’s Bazaar interview, Williams instantly name-checked Owens, saying that scoring a spot astatine 1 of his notoriously theatrical presentations would beryllium “pretty cool.”
Having Owens dress him for fashion’s biggest nighttime of nan year, we situation say, would beryllium moreover cooler.
