Out of almost every event on the fashion calendar, the Met Gala is the one that garners the most audience participation. As armchair critics, we sit on our sofas (or watch from our offices) peeking from behind a screen, with lots to say about every look that ascends the steps of the Met. We praise, we critique and commend, often declaring we could do much better whilst also sitting firmly in our seats and not doing much at all. Unlike us though, the students at Manchester Metropolitan University have put their money where their mouths are, hosting their own alternative Met Gala just ten days after the actual event. On May 15, the uni’s Fashion Society took on the mammoth task of producing the aptly titled ‘Manchester Met Gala’ for the second year in a row, and invited us behind-the-scenes for all the fun, fashion and debauchery – so, what’s it really like going toe-to-toe with Anna Wintour herself?

“The real Met Gala is a huge source of excitement and inspiration for myself and so many of my friends,” says Amelia Godel, president of the Fashion Soc. “We love doing themed costume parties, so when we had the opportunity to do this on a larger scale with the Society, we thought it would be a perfect excuse to dress up.” But while this year’s Met Gala theme was met with a confused reception (and subsequent confused looks), Godel opted for an altogether different dress code. “I’ve always loved Greek mythology, and long been fascinated by different religions and their depictions in fashion and art,” said the president. “We thought that ‘Gods & Monsters’ would be an interesting theme to get people to think a little outside of the box, encouraging them to be innovative [but] also being pretty accessible.”

While Manchester’s fashion students don’t have the kind of budgets that Met Gala attendees do, what they do possess is an unbridled sense of creative freedom. On the night, student Conor Hau arrived to the Deaf Institute as modern day Poseidon, with elfin prosthetics on his ears and dino-spikes protruding from his spine; Katie Alice Long appeared with bundles of nymph-like extensions and a seashell bra, a Di Petsa-coded goddess of love; society vice president Henry Pawsey gave his own chilling rendition of Nareau the spider god in a shredded body stocking and webbed beauty look; and Godel herself descended on the night as a Biblically accurate angel, with lashings of silver and a delicately feathered face.

“We aim to help people find a sense of belonging in the Manchester creative scene” – Amelia Godel, MMU Fashion Society president

The night was soundtracked by MMU Fashion Soc resident DJs AdomasLP and Zeewa, bringing everything from club drum workouts to Detroit techno and Chicago house, while K.h0lle and Princess Elf Bar also brought their own mix of underground sounds and hyperpop bangers. Live performances from musician Hunnygloss and drag performer Blaze also got the crowd going, but while it was a night of debauchery and fun, it’s nice to know that, like the actual Met Gala, all proceeds are going to a worthwhile cause.

“This year we are donating funds to the Albert Kennedy Trust, which helps young LGBTQ+ people facing homelessness and housing difficulties, and The Pankhurst Trust, which supports women in Manchester facing domestic violence,” said Godel, on behalf of the Fashion Soc. This might’ve been a chance for Manchester’s most fashionable students to let their hair down and give Wintour a run for her money, but behind those designs are a very real impetus for change. “We aim to help people find a sense of belonging in the Manchester creative scene,” finished Godel, “which is also about creating a safe space for the queer members of our fashion community.”