The 2021 Met Gala, themed "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," celebrated modern American fashion and marked the event's return after its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dress code was "American Independence." The gala took place in September, instead of May, and was a more intimate affair with only about a third of the usual guest list invited to participate. The theme was chosen to honor the American Fashion Institute's role…