MET Gala 2023

The MET Gala, on the first Monday in May, is always a night of debate, fashion, and drama. This year, the MET Gala honored Karl Lagerfeld, an incredible designer and a controversial figure.

For celebrities invited to the Gala, the outfit is everything. The few minutes each guest spends ascending the steps of the MET in NYC could spark controversy, praise, or any range of reactions from fashion lovers around the world. Whether it was his time at Chanel, Chloé, Fendi, or even his namesake brand, Karl Lagerfeld, this year, the best-dressed guests paid a powerful homage to Lagerfeld's legacy.

Let’s take a deeper look at some of our favorite looks of the night. 

Doja Cat

For her debut MET Gala look, Doja Cat attended dressed as Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld's beloved cat. The famous Choupette was so beloved by Karl that he nicknamed his favorite models the "Choupettes." Doja Cat and her stylist and creative director Brett Alan Nelson worked for six months in collaboration with co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta, Laura Kim, and Fernando Garcia, to create Doja's bespoke hand-beaded backless gown featuring a face-framing hood, a feather train, topped by a pair of cat ears. For her feline makeup, Doja and Nelson worked with prosthetic artist Malina Stearns for an elegant homage to Choupette. And to complete her look, there's a million-dollar diamond sitting in the middle of her forehead. Doja Cat was dramatic and surprising, as always.

Cardi B

Cardi B, a Grammy-winning musician, is also a collector of Chanel bags and has sat front-row at the fashion house's runway shows in the past. Every year, Cardi B serves us memorable looks at the MET Gala. This year, the artist took it to the next level. She had a total of four MET looks for her arrival, ascent up the MET Stairs, the Gala itself, and the afterparty. Starting with her first look, a beautiful pink tulle gown by Miss Sohee, was actually a decoy look for her big moment on the steps. However, this first look was good enough for the Gala itself. Her second look, a Chenpeng Studio gown, was a total embodiment of Karl. The gray hair, high white collar, and black tie paid homage to Karl's classic look. The skirt of the gown was covered in Chanel-inspired camellia roses, a favorite of Coco Chanel. Cardi finished the look off with massive pearl earrings. Cardi B quickly changed once she made it up the MET steps. For her third look, Cardi wore a Richard Quinn tweed gown. The houndstooth gown was clearly a nod to the tweed suits that Chanel was known for. Finally, to wrap up the night, Cardi's after-party look did not disappoint. Committed to the theme, the artist wore a form-fitting gown covered in Women's Wear Daily news articles about Lagerfeld's work at Chanel, a sweet final tribute.

Gisele

Gisele chose a sentimental approach for her look. The supermodel wore a white Chanel gown (wedding dress) that she had previously worn for a 2007 Harper's BAZAAR Korea photoshoot. The dress was paired with a long feathered cape that trailed behind her elegantly.

A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky faced controversy for not being on theme, but on closer inspection, he was actually very on theme. A$AP's kilt was inspired by an iconic Karl look circa 2004 when Lagerfeld did a Scottish themed show and walked out at the end in a floor-length kilt paired with his signature blazer, tie, high collar, and fingerless

Jennifer Lopez

Jenifer Lopez kept her look simple yet precisely on theme. Karl Largerfeld was known for his beautiful illustrations and Jlo embodied this perfectly. Her pink and black gown looked like one of Karl’s illustrations come to life.

Rihanna

Rihanna arrived fashionably late wearing a white Valentino Gown and cowl. The white dress was tailored to baby bump perfection featuring oversized white Camellia roses. The roses continued to her massive 30 meter train that featured 30 Camellia flowers.  Over top the singer and businesswoman wore a cowl that wrapped right around her head, paired with sunglasses topped with faux eyelashes. To complement her stunning outfit, Rihanna wore nearly $24 million worth of Cartier jewels. 

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s MET look was the perfect marriage between the Chicness of Chanelle and Versace’s sultry vibe. Her gown defied the expectations of what a Tweed gown would be expected to look like. 

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz, a co-chair of the MET Gala this year did not disappoint. Cruz wore a a custom Chanel Haute Couture wedding gown inspired by Chanel’s Spring 1988 collection. The gown featured elaborate crystal embroidery at hem and bodice with a hood that had a very Bollywood feeling to it. Penélope’s look was complete with Chanel High Jewelry.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman also paid homage to her past with Chanel by rewearing a Chanel Haute Couture gown originally worn in her Chanel N°5 advertising campaign directed by Baz Luhrmann circa 2004.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic tuxedo. Her gown featured exaggerated sleeves and an open shirt neckline paired with Cartier jewelry and a blingy time piece. Her look was the perfect marriage of old and new era, a custom creation by design director Hun Kim.

Conan Gray

Conan Gray paid tribute to Karl’s favorite accessory, the fan, specifically the iconic 1920’s art deco fan. Gray also incorporated several of Karl’s classics like his signature high v-neck tailored collar and fingerless gloves which Conan attached to the sleeves of his fringed off-the-shoulder tweed redingote jacket. Also in the look were a Karl inspired  skinny black tie and black embroidered camellias.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell kept her look understated but still managed to separate herself from the black and white that we saw so much on the steps this year. Naomi wore a pink Chanel Spring 2010 Haute Couture gown paired with a silver arm cuff, and matching bracelet. She completed her look with her classic sleek hair.

Adut Akech

Adut wore a Carolina Herrera gown by designer Wes Gordon. Her look was a clear tribute to Karl with a full black and white theme down to her black lipstick. On the gown itself there were Camellia roses and pearls and her homage was completed with a chic bob. Overall a very Chanel look.

Eddie Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne was one of the best men’s looks of the night. Eddie’s black and white look featured classic tailoring, and oversized flare style slacks. The cherry on top were  the pearl brooches and draped chain embroidery which looked like camellia flowers dancing all over his jacket.