Good morning. The Trump administration offered $1,000 to undocumented migrants who self-deport. Israel moved to escalate the war in Gaza. And jury selection began in Sean Combs’s federal trial. More news is below. But first, The Times’s Styles editor shows some of the best looks from fashion’s biggest night.
A dandy night
Early May means the world’s biggest celebrities are wearing outrageous clothes. It’s why we love covering the Met Gala, which raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume wing. The gala officially opens the Costume Institute’s exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” examining 300 years of Black fashion and the history of Black dandyism. Attended by the rich and famous and hosted, as always, by Anna Wintour, this year’s gala raised the most money ever in its history — $31 million. Yet the party and the exhibition about Black style have a different feel than its planners may have intended. The political landscape looked very different when the Met announced the show in October, The Times’s chief fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, explained. Back then, Kamala Harris, the first Black woman ever to top a major-party ticket, was in the final weeks of her campaign for the White House. Now, the federal government has targeted all things involving diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as programming related to race — especially in cultural institutions. The show has other political baggage, too. The Costume Institute has never had a Black curator, and the Met has its own history of racism. (This exhibition is the brain child of Andrew Bolton, the institute’s chief curator. It’s based on a 2009 academic text called “Slaves to Fashion” by Monica L. Miller, a Barnard professor who helped put the show together.) Despite many D.E.I. initiatives after 2020, the fashion world failed to make good on its promises; of the more than 15 recent appointments at the top of major brands, not a single one was Black. But if there were concerns last night, you wouldn’t have known as Wintour’s co-chairs, Pharrell Williams, ASAP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton and Colman Domingo, greeted guests like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Sha’Carri Richardson, Chappell Roan, Janelle Monáe, Kim Kardashian and Pharrell Williams. Harris skipped the red carpet but posed for photos before the event in her hotel room. She wore an asymmetric black silk gown with a choker neckline and one flowing white sleeve, designed by IB Kamara of Off-White. Celebrities sometimes struggle to interpret the dress code. But last night was a true celebration of Black designers, stylists and celebrities. See some of the most daring and memorable looks below. And if you’re so inclined, take a scroll through our slide show, which has every look you want to see. We added a new feature this year that allows readers to save their favorite looks and share them. It’s great fun.
Tracee Ellis Ross and her mother, Diana Ross, whose 18-foot train required several people to assist her up the stairs.
Lupita Nyong’o, in a mint green Chanel three-piece suit, hit a lot of the evening’s trends: a tie, a cape, a boater hat and a brooch.
Serena Williams got in on the night’s dramatic train trend. Hers included a ruched top that also cut a dramatic, long shape.
Sculpted curls were also a trend. Bad Bunny’s swoop poked out from under his wicker boat hat.
Doechii in Louis Vuitton.
FKA Twigs in Wales Bonner.
André 3000 accessorized with a piano strapped to his back.
Megan Thee Stallion’s billowing white furry coat extended far behind her. Related: The Styles desk picked its favorite looks from the night. See them here.
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Over the weekend, Israel decided to call in military reservists and escalate the war in the Gaza Strip again. The news reflects a sharp turn of events. Earlier this year, Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire. That deal held for months, during which Israel halted operations in Gaza and Hamas handed over some Israeli hostages. But the cease-fire ended in March. Now, it seems the war is truly returning. Why escalate now? Israel has pressured Hamas to return all of the remaining hostages, especially the 24 who officials believe are still alive. Officials also say that Hamas must disarm as part of any future deal. But Hamas has refused. Before it makes further concessions, it wants the war over and Israel out of Gaza. Israel hopes escalation will get Hamas to capitulate and return all of the hostages — while giving its troops a chance to destroy the group’s remaining infrastructure. What is Israel’s plan? The generals are calling up tens of thousands of reservists to expand operations in Gaza. They plan to occupy the region, forcibly relocate Palestinians in affected areas and oversee aid distribution. Israel has blocked all aid, including food and medicine, from entering the territory for more than two months. (Some aid workers are accused of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks, The Times explained, and a lawsuit claims that Hamas skimmed $1 billion in U.N. aid. But the blockade has led to starvation and the spread of diseases, as The Times documented.) With direct control, Israel says, it will allow distribution to resume. Will the plan work? Israeli leaders say that military pressure secured the release of hostages before. They hope to replicate that success. Critics argue that Israel has by now exhausted its ability to pressure Hamas with force. They worry more fighting will put the surviving hostages at risk. — German Lopez Related: Israel’s prime minister said the country was “on the eve of a forceful entry to Gaza.”
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