Anna Wintour has addressed her reaction to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s now-famous “Tax the Rich” gown from the 2021 Met Gala.
Ocasio-Cortez wore a dress by Aurora James of Brother Vellies with the slogan painted in red on the back, a look that drew widespread attention. In a new conversation with The New Yorker, Wintour said she did not notice the message during the event.
Wintour recalled that AOC was seated at her table that evening. Standing in the receiving line, she said she was greeting guests and only saw AOC from the front as people passed by.
Before the dinner, Wintour approached AOC and told her she admired the dress. She only became aware of the political statement after seeing post‑event coverage the following day.
Wintour added that fashion can serve many purposes and acknowledged that the dress clearly reflected something important to AOC. She also noted that, despite the attention the gown later received, the evening itself had been pleasant.