Kim Kardashian, 44, sparked controversy at the Met Gala on May 7 with her waist-cinching dress, leaving fans worried about her health.
Kim arrived at the gala in a striking silver corset dress by Maison Margiela, paired with a cardigan. Many viewers were shocked by how unnaturally small her waist appeared. The tight corset pushed her body upward, making her chest appear purple, with visible blue veins.
On social media platform X, one user asked, “How many ribs did she have removed to fit into that dress?” Another wondered if the pressure from the corset could land her in the hospital. Many people questioned how Kim was able to breathe in the restrictive outfit.
One fan commented on Kim’s Instagram post, “I admire you as a mother and entrepreneur, but this tight waist makes you look tired and doesn’t send a good message. I know my comment isn’t important, but it needed to be said.” Some speculated that Kim’s choice of corset was a way to promote her shapewear brand, SKIMS, which she launched in 2019.
In an interview with Vogue, Kim shared behind-the-scenes details of the outfit preparation. Two days before the event, her team helped her lace up the corset tightly. “I can’t describe how it feels to be pulled in like that,” she said, admitting that breathing was difficult but she loved the look.
To complement the dress, she wore anti-gravity shoes made of thick, transparent plastic with no heels to avoid tripping. The designer also crafted matching underwear to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions.
History with Corsets
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to corset style. At the 2019 Met Gala, she wore a similarly waist-cinching dress by designer Thierry Mugler, inspired by actress Sophia Loren’s wet dress in the 1957 film Boy on a Dolphin. Kim revealed on Instagram that she learned how to breathe in corsets using a method taught by world-renowned corset maker Mr. Pearl, who has worked with designers like Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen.
In addition to Mr. Pearl’s breathing technique, Kim famously followed an intense diet regimen to fit into tight outfits. According to the Daily Mail, she went on a crash diet to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s diamond-studded dress for the 2022 Met Gala. She admitted to crying during the first fitting because the dress was too tight.
In an interview with Vogue in 2022, Kim explained how she lost seven kilograms by cutting out starch and sugar for three weeks. She wore a sauna suit twice a day, ran on a treadmill, and ate only vegetables and protein. “I didn’t starve myself, but I was extremely disciplined,” she said.
Controversy Over Unrealistic Beauty Standards
Kim’s weight loss methods, particularly for the 2022 Met Gala, received widespread criticism. Some fans argued that dieting just for a dress was irresponsible, especially when broadcast on national television, as it could set a harmful example for young viewers. Others praised Kim’s beauty at the event but voiced concerns that her actions reinforced unrealistic beauty standards.
Kim Kardashian’s Impact and Legacy
Kim Kardashian, born in 1980, is an American reality TV star best known for the show Keeping Up With the Kardashians. She has amassed over 100 million Instagram followers and is a prominent figure in Hollywood. According to Forbes, she has a net worth of $1.7 billion. In addition to founding SKIMS in 2019, she launched her skincare brand SKKN in 2022. Kim was married to rapper Kanye West from 2014 to 2021 and shares four children with him.
The 2024 Met Gala
The 2024 Met Gala will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the US, with the theme Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. This year’s event will honor timeless outfits so old that they can no longer be worn, only displayed in glass cases like relics. The gala will feature around 250 pieces spanning more than 400 years of fashion history, including notable items like Charles Frederick Worth’s 1877 silk satin evening gown.
