Met Gala 2020: Anna Wintour joined by Florence + The Machine in YouTube livestream

‘This is a time of grief and hardship for millions, and the postponement of a party is nothing in comparison,’ says Anna Wintour

(YouTube)

Fashion icon Anna Wintour ensured the first Monday of May was marked with a celebration, despite the cancellation of the Met Gala.

Last month Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief, announced that the annual celebration would not take place as planned on 4 May due to the ongoing pandemic.

An annual fundraising event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Met Gala usually attracts some of the world’s biggest stars.

But with much of the world on lockdown, A-listers from London to Los Angeles have been forced to stay home.

Instead, famous faces from around the world joined Wintour for “A Moment With The Met,” streamed on YouTube.

Wintour started with a short history of the Met Gala before addressing the audience.

“Normally on the first Monday in May, I would find myself on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, greeting the guests for the annual Costume Institute Gala,” she said.

“This is a time of grief and hardship for millions, and the postponement of a party is nothing in comparison.”

Wintour then explained that Vogue plans to make a donation to the Costume Institute and A Common Thread in an effort to help the fashion community during the pandemic.

“If we are to come out of this pandemic stronger and more resilient, we must emerge from it connected as never before,” she added.

Wintour then introduced British singer Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine to the livestream, broadcast on Monday.

Welch has been a regular at the gala since 2011 when she performed in the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Wintour said that Welch told her that the performance was one of the “most extraordinary moments of her life”.

“She [Welch] very graciously told me that it was one of the most extraordinary moments of her life,” Wintour explained

“I am so touched and so grateful that she has agreed to sing for us tonight,” she added before Welch came into the shot.

Welch then performed 2009 hit “You’ve Got The Love,” in front of a fireplace in what appeared to be her home in south London.

Cardi B then introduced Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director and Off-White founder, Virgil Abloh, who played a DJ set that included tracks by Michael Jackson and David Bowie.

The designated theme for this year’s celebration was “About Time: Fashion and Duration”.

Wintour said she hoped that the Gala would be able to return in October this year.