2023 Met Gala Recap

The long-anticipated 2023 Met Gala has occurred, taking place on May 1, 2023. The gala, hosting various A-list celebrities and stars, celebrated the work of the late Karl Lagerfeld. Celebrities waltzed across the carpet, dressed in extravagance as the public’s attention aims at the event’s fashion. While it’s fun to judge who dressed on theme and who chose a completely different interpretation, the 2023 Met Gala exhibited an array of distinguished, memorable looks for years to come.

This year’s theme paid tribute to Lagerfeld’s influence on fashion. Guests were encouraged to dress in a way to honor him and his legacy. Guests dressed in tweed sets, black and white ensembles, and simple, elegant hemlines.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala is intended to be a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Every year, the Met displays an exhibit exploring a significant theme in fashion history. The gala falls on the first Monday of May, opening the exhibit. While the actual events within the gala are kept secret, celebrities from around the world are exclusively invited to attend the red carpet, exhibit, and after party. Guests arrive on a dazzling carpet, enter the museum and experience a night of wandering throughout the exhibit, followed by dinner and entertainment with other celebrity guests. Days leading up to the event, the streets of New York are filled with celebrity sightings and paparazzi opportunities. The Met Gala has become an international exhibition of celebrity prominence and fashion exploration.

The Met’s Costume Institute displays clothing dating from the fifth-teenth century to the present day. Each year, the institution picks an era in fashion to explore. The institution relies on the support of donors and the public to expand its collection and gather new artifacts for display. The Met Gala is the main fundraising event for the institute’s exhibitions. The gala goes beyond just being a party full of celebrity faces and flashy outfits; it supports the world and history of fashion, sustaining and celebrating the ongoing work of the Costume Institute.

The Theme

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The 2023 Met Gala theme honors Karl Lagerfeld and his influence on the luxury fashion industry. The designer passed away in 2019, leaving an imprint on fashion houses and celebrities around the world. The Met’s curator, Andrew Bolton described the event as a tribute to his work’s evolution throughout the years. As for the exhibit, about 150 of Karl’s pieces are on display, accompanied by his sketches. The exhibit expands more on Karl’s creative process and his careful articulation of aesthetics.

Who was Karl Lagerfeld?

Karl Lagerfeld is best known for his creative work for Chanel. As a designer and photographer, he was first hired in 1955 by Balmain, and later designed for Chloe and Valentino. Lagerfeld has left tremendous innovations on various fashion houses. He revolutionized the fur coat while working under Fendi, and launched his couture collection with Chanel in 1983, further establishing Chanel’s “total look” of outfits meant for accessorization and completion.

Lagerfeld launched his label in 1985 and established his own look. His designs reflected his cool, monochromatic style. He later collaborated with H&M as one of the first high-end brands to design for a mass-producing clothing company.

Lagerfeld has gathered a number of muses throughout the years, working exclusively with celebrities and models who sparked his inspiration. Vanessa Paradis, Devon Aoki, Cara Delevinge, and Lily-Rose Depp, are a few of the faces behind Lagerfeld’s runways. His collection of muses drove his creative spirit, as his runway shows were filled with the extravagance of the individuals he displayed. Lagerfeld’s work proves to be a unique influence on today’s fashion and will continue to influence the future.

The Dress Code

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The dress code for this year’s Met Gala was simple and straightforward; guests were instructed to honor Karl by wearing one of his designs or having something made, taking inspiration from his work. Many celebrities pulled from his archives, wearing some of Lagerfeld’s glamorous creations. Guests were also encouraged to pull from the inspiration of vintage collections that Lagerfeld designed. A lot of celebs dressed head to toe in his signature black and white palette and represented details like tweed and sheer embellishments.

When issuing the dress code, Vogue says that originality is most important. The dress code for the gala is more of a guideline to keep guests on theme. Their interpretation is completely subjective, as they are invited to be creative in their dress. It is widely known that celebrities who make a statement on the carpet secure their spot on future guest lists.