There once was a time when even Kim Kardashian couldn't get an invite to the Met Gala.

Amy Odell, the author of "Anna: The Biography," told Time in 2024 that an invitation was a "really huge signifier that you are 'in.'"

Eaddy Kiernan, Vogue's contributing editor and Met Gala organizer, told Vogue in 2024 that the seating chart started getting prepped in December but ultimately came together a month before the event.

"We really try to think very carefully about who's sitting next to each other," Kiernan said. "Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire, but who may not even realize that they have a lot in common. So with each person, we really do take time to think, 'What will they talk about?'"

Such access and quality seating have the potential to yield incredible business outcomes.

Here's Blake Lively at the 2018 Met Gala, which was themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."

Guests of the 2019 Met Gala could enjoy "crispy sea bass hors d'oeuvres, bits of foie gras, or mini-BLT towers," The Associated Press reported.

Here's a tray of one of the signature cocktails served at the 2023 gala.

The 2021 exhibit was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion."

The Metropolitan Museum of Art said this exhibit included about 100 men's and women's ensembles from the 1940s to the present, each displayed in cases representing 3D quilt patches. The exhibit was organized into 12 sections, exploring emotions such as joy, wonder, desire, and nostalgia.

In accordance with 2024's theme, "Sleeping Beauty: Reawakening Fashion," the tablescape was inspired by children's storybooks that "felt a bit romantic and ethereal," according to caterer Olivier Cheng.

"Drawing on inspiration from the lush gardens and palaces of Sleeping Beauty's fantasy world, we really aimed to build our own bite-sized fairytale," he told Vogue.

Drawing on the night's magical theme, the menu featured a "spring vegetable salad with elderflower foam, raspberry vinaigrette, and olive crumble that resembles soil, complete with butterfly-shaped croutons," inspired by Sleeping Beauty's reawakening.

The night's main course was a "filet of beef topped with a tortellini rose" designed to resemble fantastical castles.

The tables at the event were decorated with "English ivy, candelabras, and lettuce plates," and dark burgundy roses in floral centerpieces.

For the dessert, Cheng said he drew inspiration from Snow White's emblematic apple, which he turned into an "almond cremeux molded into the shape of a miniature apple, blanketed with a bright red mirror glaze."

Dessert was gold-dusted truffles, chocolate-dipped cape gooseberries, and an amaretto Semifreddo cone topped with a gold pearl, Vogue reported.

Bieber's denim-on-denim outfit was more Canadian tuxedo than "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," but we'd still love to know how the room reacted to his performance.

The tradition of Met Gala performances started in 2010, when Lady Gaga sang "Bad Romance" as part of the year's "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibit.

Other notable performances include Frank Ocean's "Super Rich Kids" in 2014 and Madonna's "Like a Prayer" in 2018, per The Cut.

Vogue reported that she performed some of her hits, such as "Into You," "Seven Rings," and "We Can't Be Friends." She also performed a rendition of the Disney song "Once Upon a Dream" from "Sleeping Beauty," paying homage to the gala's theme.

Her performance ended with a guest appearance from her "Wicked" costar, Cynthia Erivo.

Here are the rappers Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and Doja Cat striking a pose in 2023.

The Met Gala started hosting its annual after-party in 2010.

Celebrities often change into different looks before hitting another round of red carpets and events.

Richie Akiva hosted the 2024 after-party.

Zendaya wore a one-shoulder, gold gown to the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" Met Gala. Michael Kors designed the sparkly dress, which had a high neckline.

The dress had the futuristic feel the theme required for the event, and her dramatic eye makeup added to the vibe. However, Zendaya's look wasn't one of the night's standout ensembles.

It looked like it could be worn to any red-carpet event, which isn't ideal for a Met Gala ensemble. 

The 2017 Met Gala celebrated Rei Kawakubo's avant-garde art through its "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" theme.

Zendaya arrived at the event in a yellow Dolce & Gabbana gown covered in red parrots and flowers. Red fabric flowed off the gown's off-the-shoulder sleeves and train.

The traditional silhouette contrasted with the funky pattern, perfectly embodying the theme. Simple jewelry and dramatic hair and makeup completed the look.

For her Met Gala debut in 2015, Zendaya wore a high-low Fausto Puglisi gown. The gown's black-and-red color scheme and the suns adorning the skirt nodded to the gala's theme.

Zendaya also wore a gold tiara with suns, making the look cohesive. She looked like a Met Gala veteran.

The 2024 Met Gala's theme was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," and it had a "The Garden of Time" dress code. As co-chair, Zendaya wore two looks on the Met Gala red carpet, first showing off a gown designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela.

Based on a 1999 Dior gown, the blue and green dress featured an asymmetrical neckline and was adorned with leaves and grapes.

She wore a feathered headpiece with the ensemble and dark makeup, combining a gothic and floral aesthetic.

At the "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" Met Gala in 2018, attendees examined the interaction between style and Catholicism. Zendaya celebrated the theme by wearing a gown inspired by Joan of Arc, designed by Versace.

The figure-hugging dress was made of chain mail and had an armor overlay on her neck, shoulders, and waist. A train flowed off the long-sleeve gown, adding even more drama to the ensemble.

Zendaya also wore her hair in a short, red bob for the event, fully committing to traditional depictions of Joan of Arc.

After arriving at the 2024 gala, Zendaya changed into a 1996 Givenchy gown and walked the Met Gala red carpet again.

The black dress had off-the-shoulder sleeves, a full skirt, a subtle peplum, and a lengthy train.

The gothic dress contrasted with a headpiece Alexander McQueen designed in 2007 to look like a bouquet of flowers.

Zendaya's second walk down the red carpet was iconic in and of itself, and the dramatic gown only added to the moment.

Many celebrities struggled with fashion choices for the Met Gala's "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, but Zendaya and Law Roach nailed it in their Tommy Hilfiger ensembles.

Zendaya's ball gown looked almost like a replica of Cinderella's dress in the eponymous Disney film, which Roach said at the time was a nod to the start of Zendaya's career on "Shake It Up."

It had white puffy sleeves, a low-cut and structured bodice, and a full skirt. Zendaya wore her hair in Cinderella's signature bun with a coordinating headband, completing her transformation into a princess. She even carried a small purse that looked like Cinderella's carriage.

When Zendaya arrived at the gala, the gown was a pale shade of gray.

Roach, dressed in the likeness of the fairy godmother from "Cinderella," then pointed a wand at Zendaya and lit the dress up so the skirt and bodice glowed from within, taking it to another level. 

Zendaya also left a glass slipper behind as she entered the gala, completing her performance as a Disney princess.

The look was everything a Met Gala ensemble should be: beautiful, unique, on-theme, and memorable. Plus, it served as a metaphor for the astronomical rise of Zendaya's career from her Disney days to superstardom, offering the perfect cherry on top of the look.

Zendaya's standout dress was designed by Fausto Puglisi. It had a sleeveless black bodice and a red miniskirt with embroidered suns. The latter piece was especially unique, as it extended into a train behind her.

To complete the look, she wore a gold sun headband and matching bracelet.

Her striped pants, as well as her single-sleeved crop top, were designed by Rosie Assoulin. Though both pieces are now sold out, they previously retailed for a combined total of $3,490.

Zendaya's long-sleeved gown had a plunging neckline that extended to her metal belt. The slit in her skirt, on the other hand, helped her show off black sandals that had 14 buckle straps each.

The actor's blonde cropped hairstyle also helped her stand out on the red carpet.

On the blue carpet, she was photographed wearing a white shirtdress underneath an oversize, ripped-up sweater. She completed the look by wearing over-the-knee boots with red laces.

She was an honoree that night and looked stunning in the Reem Acra design, which also had sheer pink sleeves covered in ruffles.

The green Zuhair Murad dress was made from transparent fabric, and it also had a plunging neckline and open back.

For a "Spider-Man: Homecoming" photo call, she paired a black-and-yellow striped cardigan with a blue tutu and white belt. The actor also wore white pumps and an updo hairstyle.

Her custom Ralph & Russo gown was bright pink, with a high neckline and rows of fabric that cascaded from her shoulders down to the red carpet. The dress also had a plunging cutout across the chest, as well as a thigh-high slit, which revealed her pink pumps.

Her high-neck top had long sleeves and was held together by pink buttons. Zendaya's pants, on the other hand, were wide-legged and reached her ankles.

Zendaya's dress had a floor-length velvet skirt and long sleeves covered with silver stars. Its bodice was almost entirely sheer, aside from two black horses that covered her chest.

Her billowing dress had balloon-style sleeves, a high neckline, and a giant bow on the side of her neck. To complete the bold look, Zendaya wore a black headband and polka-dot-print shoes.

Zendaya was one of three celebrities to wear an armor-inspired outfit that night. Still, her Versace gown stood out thanks to its sparkling skirt, scoop-style neckline, and metal padding.

Her gown had a sparkling yellow bodice, which was wrapped with purple silk that extended into a single sleeve draped down her back. Additionally, Zendaya's skirt had a tall slit that extended above her thigh.

Designed by Marc Jacobs, Zendaya's sleeveless dress was partially made from pink-and-orange feathers. She paired it with pink pumps and wore her hair in an updo.

At a Lancôme event, during which Zendaya was named the brand's Global Ambassador, the actor wore a red, long-sleeved jumpsuit. Each sleeve had red ruffles attached, and her outfit perfectly matched her bright heels.

While visiting "Good Morning America," Zendaya was photographed wearing a sleeveless shirtdress covered in car blueprints. Her pants were also covered in the daring design.

Zendaya's three-piece ensemble comprised a suit-style jacket, loose shorts, and tall boots — all of which had the same red-and-white print.

Her Armani Privé gown had a red sleeveless top that connected to her black high-low skirt. The daring gown was also backless and paired perfectly with her pointed pumps.

Her tuxedo-style crop top and sleek black trousers were custom made for her by Armani. She paired the outfit with sheer black tights and Christian Louboutin pumps, which retailed for $845 at the time.

Her green Vera Wang gown had a sheer strapless bodice and a silk floor-length skirt with a slit. She also wore matching green heels and a cuff-style bracelet.

Designed by Peter Do, her daring outfit included a button-up shirt, pleated pants, a skirt, and a cropped jacket with shoulder pads.

She walked the Critics' Choice Awards red carpet in January wearing a bright two-piece designed by Tom Ford. The outfit included a metallic breastplate and a mid-rise skirt.

Her edgy look, designed by Christopher Esber, cost $1,035. That night, Zendaya also wore Vhernier jewelry and $695 Christian Louboutin pumps.

Rahul Mishra Couture designed her outfit and her jewels were from Bvlgari.

The purple-and-green dress was a vintage Versace design. Stylist Law Roach coordinated the look, and Zendaya revealed on Instagram that the outfit was inspired by Beyoncé wearing the same dress during her first performance of "Crazy in Love."

She wore a sleeveless, tan dress custom-made by Balmain.

It had a scoop neckline and ruched bodice, as well as a floor-length skirt with a small train and a bold slit that extended almost to her hip. On Instagram, Balmain revealed that the gown was created from leather "using an exact model of the star's bust."

The actor completed the look with pointed Louboutin heels in the same color as her dress, diamond studs, an emerald ring, and a statement snake necklace. 

Designed by Alaïa, the two-piece set had a purple long-sleeved top that fit almost like a bralette. Its long sleeves also had tiny holes in them, as did its high-waisted skirt.

The latter part of the outfit was form-fitting up to her knees, where it was covered in a thick, fur-like material.

She wore the backless Vivienne Westwood top with a high-waisted, checker-print skirt and cream-colored pumps.

She wore a red Vera Wang ensemble that included a strapless bra and a floor-length skirt. The latter stuck out as it had a round ruffle of fabric around her hips.

Zendaya also accessorized with diamond jewelry and rosy makeup.

Her Roberto Cavalli dress was backless but with a piece of gold jewelry attached to the open space. It was shaped like a scorpion and extended from her shoulders to her backside.

Valentino designed her long-sleeved dress, which had a form-fitting bodice, mermaid skirt, and thin train. She wore it with a messy bun and diamond jewelry.

The Italian fashion house also created the black ball gown she wore to the actual ceremony.

Her see-through jumpsuit was bedazzled with Valentino's monogram, as was her matching blazer.

She wore no bra or shirt underneath but added dark shorts and pointed heels.

First, she hit the red carpet in a black, vintage Versace gown with neon-green detailing.

While it was vibrant in color, it also stood out thanks to its split bustier bodice and gathered fabric across the back of its skirt.

The two-piece set from Prada's 1993 spring collection included a bra with star-shaped cups and a floor-length skirt with matching shapes across its cutout waistline.

From the front, Zendaya's Louis Vuitton ensemble looked chic and classic. It featured a gray vest atop baggy brown trousers and white pumps.

When she turned around, however, Zendaya revealed just how daring her outfit actually was. The halter top had no fabric across her back, only a loose belt that held it together.

At the movie's Mexico premiere, for example, she wore a custom two-piece set from Bottega Veneta.

It included a high-waisted skirt with a leather waistband and thigh-high slit, as well as a long-sleeved crop top that revealed the underside of her chest.

It made for one of the most daring looks Zendaya wore throughout the "Dune" press tour.

She wore a silver suit of armor with see-through panels, designed and created by Thierry Mugler in 1995.

Roach told podcast host Recho Omondi that he and the actor began talking about styling the piece before "Dune: Part Two" began filming.

They eventually flew to Paris to meet with the fashion house's creative director, Casey Cadwallader, and, after some convincing, scheduled a fitting.

Roach told Omondi that the suit ended up fitting Zendaya like a glove, and he cried.

Bob Mackie designed Zendaya's sparkle-covered gown for a 2001 collection.

The vintage piece had crisscross pieces of sheer fabric across her chest, small straps that crossed over her waist and hips, and a form-fitting skirt with a tall slit.

Nolan has a reputation for drawing ensemble casts of A-listers, but "The Odyssey" may be his biggest project yet.

Universal announced on Monday that Damon will play the film's lead hero, Odysseus, and shared a first look of the actor in his costume.

Other stars linked to the film include Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Himesh Patel, Lupita Nyong'o, Benny Safdie, Bill Irwin, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Samantha Morton, Corey Hawkins, Nick Tarabay, Jimmy Gonzales, Maurice Compte, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, and Mia Goth.

Damon, Hathaway, Pattinson, Patel, Safdie, Irwin, and Elliot Page have all previously worked with Nolan.

Hathaway confirmed the casting to Women's Wear Daily in December 2024, shortly before Universal announced the film.

Holland told the "Dish" podcast in December 2024 that he's in the movie but didn't "know anything" about the plot.

Other actors, such as Bernthal, Fernandez, Yee, Garcia, Leguizamo, and Gonzales, seemingly confirmed they would be in the film by posting reports of their castings on their Instagram.

No other roles have been announced for any of the actors, but the major characters left in the story include Odysseus' son Telemachus, the beguiling witch Circe, the monstrous one-eyed cyclops known as Polyphemus, and Poseidon, the sea god.

Homer is the attributed author of two ancient Greek poems that were composed in the 8th or 7th century BC, both of which tell the story of the Trojan War.

"The Iliad" narrates the end of the war, while "The Odyssey" tells of the 10-year struggle by Odysseus to return to his island home, Ithaka.

During the journey, Odysseus and his crew fight against a man-eating cyclops, powerful giants, and sirens. They defeat witches and sea monsters, and anger Zeus and Poseidon. But Odysseus has Athena on his side, trying to help him get home.

Meanwhile, a band of suitors are trying to take over Odysseus' kingdom in Ithaca, supplanting his son Telemachus and convincing Penelope to marry one of them.

In a dramatic conclusion, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar and sneaks back onto the island, where he observes the actions of the suitors before reclaiming his family and kingdom.

This will be Nolan's first film about Greek mythology, breaking away from his regular sci-fi and war films. Nolan will also write the script.

Nolan's "The Odyssey" will be partly filmed on the island of Favignana near Sicily, Variety reported.

Known in ancient times as Aegusa, or "goat island," it's thought to be the inspiration for the fantastical island where Odysseus lands with his crew and stops to rest, barbecue goats, and drink wine before his run-in with the Cyclops.

Shooting on the island, which is set to begin sometime in the Spring, is being handled by the Italian company Wildside, which also oversaw the production of Edward Berger's Oscar-nominated drama "Conclave" in Rome.

Per Variety, the scenes shot in Sicily are said to take up the bulk of the mythical action in the movie, while locations in the UK and Morocco are also being used.

Several filmmakers have brought Homer's work to screen over the years, including the Oscar-winning Coen brothers and Oscar-nominated German director Wolfgang Petersen.

Petersen's "Troy," which premiered in 2004 and starred Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, was based on Homer's "The Illiad." It was the most commercially successful Homer adaptation, grossing $497 million worldwide. However, it received mixed reviews, with some criticizing it for not translating Homer's story well. The film holds a 53% Tomatometer rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

Pitt told The New York Times Magazine in 2019 that he was "disappointed" by the film, and the experience made him pivot toward "quality stories" for the rest of his career.

The Coen Brothers' "O Brother, Where Are Thou" and the 2004 "The Spongebob Squarepants Movie" are two other Hollywood that are movies loosely based on "The Odyssey."

Homer's work has also been adapted into multiple TV series, including 1997's "The Odyssey," which starred Christopher Lee and Vanessa Williams.

The most recent adaptation was "The Return," directed by Italian filmmaker Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus. The film, which is a retelling of the final sections of the epic poem, received positive reviews from critics but took less than $1 million worldwide.