Vaccine themed fashion

The 2021 Met Gala may not be happening until September, but aspiring designer Brendan McCann brought some vaccine-inspired glamour to the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the "first Monday in May."

The striking photos have gone viral, garnering tens of thousands of likes and shares. McCann told TMRW that it also led to an outpouring of support and connections with other designers and creatives.

"It's so flattering and really overwhelmingly kind," McCann said of the response to his post. "Especially at a time like this, when you learn to appreciate others and others' input so much (after) spending so much time by yourself and being isolated like we've all been for a year or so."

McCann told TMRW that the elaborate outfit was made mostly of materials that he already had at home and are simpler than they might appear: The hand-drawn vaccination cards were made with oaktag and poster board, supported by old wire coat hangers, and the clear plastic of the syringe is a table cover glued into place. The needle is actually made of a retractable back scratcher with the end removed. In all, the project took about a week to complete.

"I had, I would say, probably 75% of the things, just from other projects that I've done or other things that I've made in my craft box," he said. "I did go to the dollar store and pick up a few things I just didn't have that I knew I needed ... That's just always something that I've done; it's kind of my style. I don't want to say it's all household items, but it's all stuff that you would just have in your apartment."