The first Monday in May is round the corner, and the social debates and decoding surrounding this year’s dress code are not slowing down.

“Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and “The Garden of Time” are the ambiguous themes hinting at what to wear – if you’re lucky enough to read these lines from a personalised invite.

The gala theme reflects the exhibit – a journey through vintage fashion treasures deemed too fragile or historically significant to ever be worn again; spotlighting conservation and raising the important topic in today’s fast-moving fashion culture of buying clothes to love, repair and care for a lifetime.

The main consensus with “The Garden of Time” is that attendee looks will relate to nature in some way... and we agree; tying into a short novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard. This story depicts an elderly couple, content with their manor of precious objects and sprawling gardens, unaware of the army encroaching upon their curated paradise. In the end, it shapes a simple yet all-too-human narrative of creation and destruction which circles back to the earlier message around fashion consumption.

So, if ‘sleeping beauties’ isn’t in fact a nod to princess dressing, what can we expect the celebrities to walk the Met Museum steps in on Monday May 6th? Self-professed Met Gala fanatics, we’ve compiled the key style themes to expect from designers, and our favourite pieces to look red carpet-ready even without an invite.

TIMELY FLORALS

Floral prints are no surprise given all the botanical clues Vogue have been leaking. But to really stand out from the crowd, opt for flowery prints with impact - dark and dramatic or rose-inspired with a twist – on stair-sweeping gowns that flatter from every angle.

BLOOMING DETAILS

Look to corsages, rosettes and vine-like ruffles if garden-inspired prints feel too literal for your tastes. These details add a sense of whimsy and organic charm to event dressing. Go big with bold sculptural frills or subtle with little satin flowers.

DELICATE TEXTURES

Relating to the dress code’s footnotes on delicateness and perfect fragility in the context of nature, dress yourself in fine fabrics designed to be worn with love. From sultry lace to flowing chiffons, these silhouettes will be appreciated by Met Gala fans in the know.

INTO-THE-GARDEN HUES

Ethereal shades of aged gold, forest green and cream are likely to paint the gala red carpet (and perhaps the interiors), with the theme of the night surrounding a narrative of an irresistibly beautiful garden. So embrace the colour story on equally irresistible dresses.