The annual Met Gala returned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York last night and was all about Karl Lagerfeld, to whom this year’s theme ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ is dedicated.
The guests, made up of the usual celebrities, were told beforehand that they should take an “authentic approach” to the dress code and ideally wear an archival look or a modern design from one of the labels the late designer helmed – including Chanel, Fendi, Jean Patou and Chloé as well as his own label.
Although the decision to place Lagerfeld at the center of this year’s event drew some public criticism, as the internet has highlighted the designer’s many controversial comments throughout his career, particularly on the #MeToo movement and various body types , celebrities nonetheless flocked to present creations honoring his creative output.
Co-chairs included Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, tennis star Roger Federer, actresses Michaela Coel and Penélope Cruz, and Grammy Award-winning actress Dua Lipa – who wore a wool-tweed dress from the Chanel Fall/Winter 1992 Haute Couture collection the gala..
Loyal ambassadors and plenty of Karls
A handful of Chanel ambassadors were in full gear. Actress Kristen Stewart wore a complete look from the house’s Cruise 2016/17 collection, including a white jacket, gabardine trousers and a silk-chiffon blouse. Jennie Kim, singer of K-pop band Blackpink, made her Met Gala debut in a 1990’s Chanel mini dress. Former brand ambassador Margot Robbie returned to the label in a black silk dress inspired by the SS23 collection.
Of course, there were other references to the French fashion house throughout the evening. Nicole Kidman walked the cream carpet in the pink tulle dress she wore as the face of the 2004 Chanel No.5 campaign. The dress caused a stir in the first 180 seconds of its popularity, but it turned heads at the Met Gala with its 250 pink ostrich feathers and over 3,000 crystals.
Another way to honor Lagerfeld was by “finding a Choupette” — a nod to the designer’s Birman cat, which some took literally. Known for her tongue-in-cheek approach to fashion, singer Doja Cat stepped out in a form-fitting Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with cat ears, feline-inspired facial prosthetics and claw-like nails. Actor Jared Leto went a step further and portrayed Choupette in a cat costume.
Others opted for more subtle nods to the furry companion, as evidenced by Janelle Monae and Chloe Fineman’s cat-shaped accessories. However, Choupette himself did not appear, although many rumors were circulating in advance. On the cat’s official Instagram page, she posted, “Many people invited me to walk the red carpet at the 2023 Met Gala in honor of Daddy, but we chose to stay peaceful and cozy at home. We pay tribute to my daddy every day since he left and we are so touched that there is another day dedicated to him.”
Others chose to act in the spirit of Lagerfeld, who often wore a tailored black suit with a high-necked shirt and black tie. Cardi B paired the tie and shirt combo with a blooming skirt designed by Chenpeng Studio. She then slipped into a pink ensemble, with the combination of the two looks appearing to be a nod to Lily-Rose Depp’s dress from Chanel’s SS17 haute couture show. Kendall Jenner, on the other hand, reinterpreted Lagerfeld’s classic as a Marc Jacobs bodysuit, replacing the tailored look with sequins and floaty sleeves.
Designers and celebrities honor Lagerfeld’s design codes
Kim Kardashian, who is known for beating Met Gala rules with her daring take on previous themes, appeared in a beaded Schiaparelli corset, a nod to Lagerfeld’s favorite necklaces in his Chanel collections. While the look was less controversial than her infamous Marilyn Monroe act last year, it was compared to a look she wore in a 2007 Playboy photo shoot.
Versace also graced the red carpet, dressing several celebrities, including Anne Hathaway, whose dress combined Lagerfeld’s design codes – like the bold use of tweed – and those of the Italian luxury house, and brought to life through cut-out parts patched together with oversized safety pins awakened. Meanwhile, Daniel Lee made his Met Gala debut, and many of the guests wore tailored looks that reflected his first collection for the brand. British rappers Stormzy and Skepta both wore tailored jacquard suits in black and “knight blue”, while model Liberty Ross wore a rose-print silk chiffon dress.
Trains were another popular look on the Met Gala carpet, with many taking the opportunity to use the extra fabric for their own Lagerfeld references. While Lily Collins went for a graphic black and white Vera Wang look with “Karl” written on the train, Jeremy Pope’s interpretation was even more literal. The American actor created drama on the steps wearing a 30ft Balmain cape with a huge imprint of Lagerfeld’s face. He wore the look alongside design creator Olivier Rousteing, who announced in a statement that the cape was made from 5,000 meters of silk chiffon.
Another Met Gala favorite was Rihanna, who arrived fashionably late in an elaborately crafted take on the theme. The Valentino design featured a floral applique hood, which she soon removed to reveal a form-fitting white dress and baby bump. The singer appeared arm in arm with partner Asap Rocky, who wore a Gucci tartan skirt over decorated jeans. Apparently nodding to the theme, he paired the kilt with a black suit jacket, tie and Lagerfeld-style sunglasses.
This translated post previously appeared on FashionUnited.com