The fashion industry has gathered in New York City for the yearly Met Gala once more, with this year’s theme centered on the late style icon Karl Lagerfeld.
This affair, famous for its celebrity-filled attendance and lavish ensembles, featured pearls, stiff collars, and black and white in tribute to the designer.
The exclusive fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art accommodated around 400 guests.
Lagerfeld’s feline was also honored, with at least two celebrities dressing as Choupette.
For this year’s motif – “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” – participants were asked to don apparel “in honour of Karl”.
For years, Lagerfeld led some of the most prominent fashion labels globally, such as Chanel and Fendi.
The designer, who passed away in 2019 at 85, frequently wore dark sunglasses and a ponytailed white mane. He was often photographed with Choupette, his well-known spoiled pet.
Retired tennis sensation Roger Federer, Grammy-recipient singer Dua Lipa, actress Penélope Cruz, and writer, actor, and producer Michaela Coel were invited to serve as this year’s co-chairs, joining Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
WNBA basketball sensation Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia, attended the event on Monday evening with her spouse.
Two celebrities – Karlie Kloss and Serena Williams – seized the occasion to reveal their pregnancies.
Last year, the Metropolitan Museum’s Great Hall was adorned with 275,000 pink roses. Yet, these decorations pale in comparison to the outfits that stars showcase while entering the event.
The public’s attention is primarily focused on the red carpet and the opulent attire of the attendees – which last year featured Kim Kardashian in a $4.8m (£3.84m) rhinestone-adorned dress once worn by Marilyn Monroe.
This year, Kardashian donned a pearl-encrusted Schiaparelli creation, inspired by a visit to the Karl Lagerfeld office in Paris the previous week, where she sought “a little inspiration for the Met”.
“I just wanted to feel glamorous,” Kardashian told Vogue on the red carpet. “I wanted pearls – what is more Karl”.
Her siblings Kylie and Kendall were present as well.
Individual event tickets this year are priced at $50,000, while tables start at $300,000.
Actresses Priyanka Chopra and Elle Fanning, Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz-Beckham, and singer Rita Ora with her husband Taika Waititi also attended.
Rapper Lil Nas X appeared as a fantastical being, adorned in pearls and coated in silver.
Controversial actor Jonathan Majors was scheduled to attend as a guest of Valentino, but “mutually agreed” with the fashion house not to participate due to assault charges from a March incident.
Choupette was another noteworthy invitee who did not attend this year – although pop artist Doja Cat and actor Jared Leto both dressed like the cat.
“Many people invited me to walk the red carpet of the Met Gala 2023 in tribute to Daddy, but we preferred to stay cosy and at home,” read a post on the cat’s official Instagram page.
“We pay tribute to my Daddy every day since his parting and we are very moved to see one more day dedicated to him.”
