Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez makes thunderous political statement with ‘borrowed’ Met Gala gown
Aurora James, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gemma Chan, and Prabal Gurung attend The 2021 Met Gala. (Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images For The Met Museum/Vogue)
If anyone could be relied upon to make an iconic political statement about the rich at the Met Gala, it would be Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
For her Met Gala debut, New York representative AOC showed up to the event, full of famous, powerful and rich celebrities, wearing a “tax the rich” dress.
Her white gown, emblazoned with red words on the back, was accessorised with a matching “tax the rich” bag, and red shoes.
The outfit was designed by Brother Vellies, a sustainable brand started by Aurora James, who also founded the 15 Per Cent Pledge, which campaigns retailers to dedicate at least 15 per cent of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.
Sharing her outfit on Instagram, AOC wrote: “The medium is the message.
“Proud to work with Aurora James as a sustainably-focused, Black woman immigrant designer who went from starting her dream Brother Vellies at a flea market in Brooklyn to winning the CFDA against all odds – and then work together to kick open the doors at the Met.
“The Time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the Rich.”
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Getting ahead of commenters who would accuse her of hypocrisy for attending the event, she added: “And yes, BEFORE anybody starts wilding out – NYC elected officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met due to our responsibilities in overseeing our city’s cultural institutions that serve the public.
“I was one of several in attendance. Dress is borrowed.”
If you have to go to a posh do, this is the way to do it. ?? https://t.co/GdNa6HyOgn— Leanne Wood ?? (@LeanneWood) September 14, 2021
People criticizing #AOC need to sit down.
As a lone congresswoman she wields very little power to enact policy. To make a statement like this that will be seen by millions of people is perhaps one of the most useful and effective things she can do with her platform. https://t.co/3yPuO5jkgR— BetweenTwoGays (@BetweenTwoGays) September 14, 2021
mainstreaming these ideas is good. https://t.co/EzK0mAUsCh— TOPthony MORNtano (@theneedledrop) September 14, 2021
Elliot Page and Lil Nas X stunned alongside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Met Gala
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the likes of Lil Nas X, who served not one, not two, but three immaculate Met Gala outfits, as well as Elliot Page and Dan Levy.
The Met Gala marked Page’s first red carpet appearance since he came out as trans, and he showed up sporting a powerful queer symbol inspired by Oscar Wilde.
Levy donned an incredible costume from Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson and Cartier, to celebrate the “resilience and the love and the joy” of the LGBT+ community by featuring a portrait of a queer couple kissing featuring on his chest inspired by the work of American artist and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz.
Anderson told Vanity Fair that Levy was a “gay superhero”, and added: “Through his comedy, he is able to knock down cultural barriers.
“We just wanted to make something that allows him to make queer love visible and we found that through the seminal works of David Wojnarowicz.”
