From what I’ve read, the theme was meant to highlight the Met’s new costume exhibit “About Time” which focuses on pieces that are too old and delicate to wear and how fashion reinvents itself across the ages.

The gala is a benefit for the Met’s costume collection. I suspect that the title of the story, not its significance, was the reason it was chosen for the theme. If they called it “About Time” there would be too many people strutting about with clock faces all over them. The garden broadens the scope of what people could wear in keeping with the theme. The $75,000 per person is not a big deal to people who routinely spend that much on a handbag. At least it’s funding something that anyone can go to the museum and enjoy.