Once again, our eyes was fixed on the eagerly anticipated Met Gala. Celebrities, designers and influencers gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to showcase their creative interpretations of the theme, Karl Lagerfeld: a Line of Beauty. In this article, we will highlight some of the most memorable looks from the night which were a true tribute to the legendary designer.
Jared Leto
Anticipation was high for Monday’s Met Gala in New York, with attendees and fashion enthusiasts alike eagerly awaiting the tribute to legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld. While we expected to see many nods to his iconic style, we were pleasantly surprised to see a surge of feline inspiration on the red carpet. Doja Cat and Jared Leto both took on the persona of the blue-cream Birman, transforming into Choupette with their daring ensembles. It was a stunning homage to the designer and his cherished pet.
Leto’s entrance was particularly unforgettable. Unrecognizable at first, he appeared in a head-to-toe cat costume, complete with white fuzzy paws and a massive cat head featuring Choupette’s striking blue eyes. Later in the night, Leto removed the costume head to reveal himself, after giving anonymous interviews in broken French. He then swapped his catsuit for an all-black ensemble comprised of a bedazzled cape, semi-sheer blouse, pleated skirt, and black trousers, making yet another wild and memorable Met Gala moment from the actor.
Lil Nas X
The music star surprised us again this year. Covered head to toe in sparkling silver body paint and adorned with crystal and pearls, he stunned the crowd in a matching metallic thong that was one of the most ambitious and unique outfits of the night. His neck and face were encrusted in intricate jewels and pearls. But that wasn’t all – upon closer inspection, it became apparent that his bejeweled eye mask featured beaded whiskers, which was another nod to Lagerfeld’s iconic feline friend. To drive home the point, when reporters approached Lil Nas X for an interview, the rapper playfully answered their questions with a series of meows and claw waves. It was a lighthearted and memorable moment that perfectly captured the playful spirit of the evening.
Legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath designed the jaw-dropping appearance for the star, which involved affixing a whopping 5,000 stones and 218,784 round flatback Swarovski crystals to the individual over a span of more than 10 hours before the big event. It was created in collaboration with Dior Men, with creative direction by Nicola Formichetti and long silver nails by Temeka Jackson.
Bad Bunny
The Puerto Rican superstar wore a white, open-back suit by Jacquemus. The creamy off-white suit-and-tie look was elevated due to its open back and a 26-foot-long taffeta train embroidered with white camellia flowers —a nod to Chanel’s emblem. He accessorized with a “J” silver necklace dangling against the open back. It’s no surprise Bunny wore Jacquemus for the 2023 iteration of the prestigious event — he has a history with the brand as the face of their spring campaign in 2022.
Simone Porte Jacquemus, attended the Met Gala for the first time. For such a significant moment, the celebrated designer decided to bring the rapper Bad Bunny as a companion. Given their previous collaborations in advertisements and the designer’s admiration for the singer, it was a wise choice. In an interview with Vogue, Jacquemus confessed that his first memory of Karl was the backless dress worn by Nicole Kidman in the Chanel No. 5 TV ad in 2004. As for his contribution to the evening’s theme, Jacquemus tapped into a similar inclination. The designer revealed that he imagined this tail as an infinity tie made of embroidered flowers; which was also an obsession of Karl’s, who wore a tie every day, and wanted to pay homage to his iconic look.
Jeremy Pope
Actor Jeremy Pope paid tribute to the iconic Karl Lagerfeld with one of the most striking looks of the night, designed by Balmain. The outfit featured a massive photo of the late designer printed across the train, making it the most explicit reference to Lagerfeld at the event. Pope walked alongside Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, who carried a tote bag bedazzled with the words “Karl Who?” — an homage to the designer’s notoriety. The cape, which spanned over 30 feet and featured a hand-drawn illustration of Lagerfeld, was made with over 5,000 meters of silk chiffon and crafted by 70 seamstresses. Styled by Ugo Mozie, Pope completed the look with simple black flared trousers also from Balmain.
