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If today feels like a holiday, you’re not imagining things. After a busy weekend that saw “the fight of the century,” the birth of a new British princess and an epic Game of Thrones episode, people are sort of taking a pop-culture breather today in preparation for the onslaught tonight. The annual Met Gala is happening tonight in NYC. The theme – which was announced months ago – is “China: Through the Looking Glass.” Actually, that theme replaced the first announced theme, “Chinese Whispers: Tales of the East in Art, Film and Fashion.” Likely because “Chinese Whispers” has a negative connotation.

My first thought was that Anna Wintour is actively looking to court Chinese designers and most importantly, Chinese money. There’s a thirst for overpriced designer clothes and accessories in China, and Wintour is smart to court Chinese designers and Chinese money in a big way. But… there is a concern that the theme will lead to some big, BIG problems. Problems like… cultural appropriation, if not outright racism (accidental or otherwise). There are several women invited to this year’s Met Gala who already have a problem with cultural appropriation, like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. I’m also sort of worried about what Beyonce will do. There are also concerns that the focus on Chinese influences specifically will lead to some disasters when women arrive in, say, Indian or Japanese or Korean-influenced outfits because some Westerners don’t know the difference.

Fashionista did a big breakdown of what celebrities should avoid tonight, like “heavy ‘Oriental’-looking makeup” and “chopsticks in hair.” For real? People actually have to be told not to wear outright costumes? People have to be told not to “dress up” as a racist stereotype? Yes… this is going to be a disaster. The worst thing to happen to Chinese people since…Rupert Murdoch? Yes, Murdoch’s ex-wife Wendi Deng-Murdoch is one of the official chairs of the event, along with Jennifer Lawrence, Gong Li and Marissa Mayer. It’s going to be so messy you guys. We’ll have full coverage of the Met Gala all day tomorrow.

Photos courtesy of WENN.
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