Kendall Jenner Debuted a Never-Worn Vintage Givenchy Gown at the 2024 Met Gala
It was “meant to be” for Kendall Jenner and the never-worn vintage Givenchy dress.
At the recent Met Gala, themed “The Garden of Time,” the red carpet dazzled with breathtaking gowns, and amidst the star-studded crowd, Kendall Jenner effortlessly stole the show. Solidifying her status as a fashion icon, Jenner was captivating in a 25-year-old Givenchy Couture dress, originally designed by the late Alexander McQueen. The dress, adorned with over 100,000 handsewn black and brass beads and sequins, features striking shoulder fringe and a daring cutout. The historical artifact is a true work of art that until now had never been worn by a living person.
Originally showcased in McQueen’s autumn/winter 1999 Givenchy Haute Couture collection, the dress was only displayed on a mannequin before being carefully preserved in the Givenchy archive for 25 years. When Kendall and her stylist, Dani Michelle, recently discovered the gown, it was a groundbreaking moment as she became the first person ever to try on the dress.
Describing the dress as a “sleeping beauty” that had been dormant for a quarter of a century, Kendall expressed her deep honor in being allowed to wear it, “It’s been sleeping for the last 25 years. It’s literally a ‘sleeping beauty,’” Kendall told Vogue ahead of the big night, paying homage to the inspiration behind this year’s Costume Institute exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. “It’s such a special moment,” she added. “I feel extremely honored that they’re allowing me to wear it.”
WWD / Getty Images
“The theme, to me, screamed archival,” Jenner said, adding that she also interprets it as “beauty that’s been slept on.”
Cindy Ord / Getty Images for The Met Museum/ Vogue
Her Stylist, Dani Michelle further explained that the dress is a tribute to the “darker queen of a Sleeping Beauty story,” while Kendall felt a personal connection to the night’s theme, expressing that the dress resonated with her on a deep level.
Due to its impeccable preservation, Kendall and her team were forbidden from making any alterations to the dress. Despite the restrictions, the dress miraculously fit her perfectly, a moment she described as fate. “I am so, so incredibly honored to wear it. I am the first human to wear it,” she told La La Anthony on the red carpet as the gown made its Met Gala debut. “It was a miracle that it fit. It was a miracle that we found it. It just feels meant to be.”
