Saint RiRi
The oh-my-God Met gala
It’s the perfect time for Madonna to show up in an evening gown inspired by the other Madonna and for RihannRihanna to don some couture that is simply divine. All theth stars, in fact, are set to wear their SSunday best for this year’s Met Gala, whose theme anticipates the museumuseum’s upcoming exhibit “Heavenlyenly BBodies: Fashion and the Catholiclic ImImagination,” which will feature everyeverything from vintage papal vestmentments to clothing by gay, leatherlovinloving, bodybuilding designer ThieThierry Mugler. SecuSecular fashionistas will get a sneak peekp at some of the exhibit’s offerinofferings in Rome on Monday. The exhibit has the unlikely endorsedorsement of the Roman Catholic ChurChurch, with one small catch: Papalpal oofficials asked that their clothinging items, some of which have nevenever been seen outside the Vatican,can, be displayed separately from thothose of the modern designers. MMonday’s preview is scheduled to take place at the historic Palazlazzo Colonna and will include VoVogue editrix Anna Wintour anand Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi, prpresident of the Pontifical CCouncil for Culture. The full clothing exhibit opens to the public May 10 through Oct. 8 at the Metropoliitan Museum of Art’s Costume IInstitute in Manhattan. The gala — chaired by cohosts Rihanna and Amal CClooney — will be held May 8. New York’s Timothy Cardinal Dolan has been invited to the gala but hasn’t committed to attending or strolling down the red carpet, his rep told The Post.
“It is uncertain at this point if the cardinal’s schedule will permit him to attend . . . but he is grateful for the invitation,” said Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the Archdiocese of New York.
Designers and fashion houses that will be part of the exhibit include Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Valentino, Christian Dior, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana.
The collection includes a Chanel wedding gown from 2017 inspired by First Communion dresses and Valentino garb in the likeness of 16thcentury monk robes.
There will also be a Dolce & Gabbana dress from 2015 patterned after a Madonna mosaic and an elaborate white-and-gold number from Dior’s 2000 collection that made its catwalker look like a blinged-out cardinal.
The seemingly odd coupling of fashion and faith makes perfect sense, according to the museum.
“The Catholic imagi-nation is rooted in and sustained by artistic practice, and fashion’s embrace of sacred images, objects, and customs continues the ever-evolving relationship between art and religion,” said Met President Daniel Weiss.