The Met Gala, New York City’s premier fashion event, once again brought together the industry’s elite to pay tribute to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Held annually as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s famous Costume Institute, the Met Gala is known for its star-studded guest list and extravagant ensembles. This year’s theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” inspired attendees to showcase Lagerfeld’s signature style and legacy.
Guests were encouraged to wear outfits that reflected Lagerfeld’s distinctive look, which included a white ponytail, dark sunglasses, and a love for his pet cat, Choupette. The color palette of black, white, blush, and pearls echoed Lagerfeld’s classic Chanel designs.
Nicole Kidman dazzled on the red carpet in a vintage Chanel Haute Couture gown from Lagerfeld’s 2004 collection, which she had previously worn in a 2004 Chanel No. 5 advertisement.
In contrast to last year, when Kim Kardashian attracted attention for crash dieting to fit into a Marilyn Monroe dress, this year, she opted for a pearl-embellished Schiaparelli outfit inspired by her recent visit to Karl Lagerfeld’s Paris office. Her sisters, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, also made a splash at the event, with Kendall in a black and silver sequined bodysuit and Kylie in a red gown with red and blue drapery.
Lil Nas X turned heads in a pearl-covered, silver-painted ensemble. Other stars showcased designs from fashion houses closely associated with Lagerfeld, such as Margot Robbie in Chanel, Allison Williams in Patou, Kate Moss in Fendi, and Cara Delevingne in a Lagerfeld Couture creation.
Rihanna stunned in an all-white gown, while pregnant Serena Williams wore a form-fitting black dress adorned with pearl strands. Doja Cat honored pet Choupette with cat-inspired makeup and a sparkling silver dress. Dua Lipa wore a white corseted Chanel dress first worn by Claudia Schiffer in 1992, while Lila Moss chose a peach gown from one of Lagerfeld’s final Fendi collections. Olivia Wilde captured attention in a unique violin dress from Lagerfeld’s 1983 collection.
The 2023 evening was truly an unforgettable tribute to Lagerfeld’s impact on the fashion world.
The Met Gala has been a prominent fixture in the fashion world since its debut in 1948. Throughout the years, this prestigious event has attracted celebrities, designers, and style icons who come together to showcase their flair and ingenuity based on various themes.
Some unforgettable past themes include 2018’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” which spotlighted lavish religious-themed attire, and 2019’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” where guests celebrated the whimsical and quirky side of fashion.
The 2020 Met Gala was initially scheduled to have the theme “About Time: Fashion and Duration,” to explore the connection between fashion and time. However, the event was postponed and eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Met Gala theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” This theme was chosen to celebrate American fashion and its various influences, with a focus on the evolving language of fashion in the United States. The event took place on September 13, 2021, after being postponed from its traditional May date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.