The Met Gala 2023
Who went the right way paying tribute to a man who didn’t?
The Superbowl of Fashion has come and gone once more, with this year’s theme titled Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
I really do not like Lagerfeld as an individual and think his attitudes are quite awful, (who could forget this quote: “No one wants to see curvy women on the runway”), but I, sadly, do love this theme. His work, regrettably, makes for a breeding ground that coalesces 20th century traditionalism with Avante-Garde exceptionalism. Lagerfeld’s fashion portfolio and legacy include a wide spectrum of different fashion houses and brands for which he worked, staple elements of pearls, bows and jewels, his own signature style of high collars and crisp blazers, and the use of shape to accentuate or redefine body figures. There are many directions one can go. Here are the ones who I think went the right way.
1. Anok Yai
Anok Yai in Praba Gurung at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: John Shearer // Getty Images
My goodness, this divine woman absolutely owns the Met Gala. Dressed in Praba Gurung, she wears a dazzling bejewelled ensemble that both serves to emphasise her figure and shapeshift to pay tribute to the theme. The gradience from gold to silver symbolises a merge of tradition, royalty and opulence, with modernity, glamour and grace – all anchors of Lagerfeldism. The finishing touches of the sheer gloves and brown sunglasses afford her just enough mystique and anonymity that only prompts immense curiosity and envy. The bottom half of the piece that drips with tassels resembles a chandelier, an object that exudes affluence, luxury and grandeur. And what is Lagerfeld if not these notions?
2. Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway in Versace and Chanel at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: David Fisher // Shutterstock
The Queen of Genovia never disappoints. The newly appointed face of Versace wore such a striking piece that was co-designed by Donatella Versace and Chanel. Anne’s look was a perfect execution of Old meets New World, a fundamental trait in Lagerfeld’s work. The silhouette-hugging shape of the dress and voluminous half Beehive hairdo reminiscent of the 60s shows the faithfulness to Lagerfeld’s origins. Equally, the pearls, a staple element of Lagerfeld’s designs, speak directly to the theme. The seductive leg slit, handless gloves and the industrial placement of the pins give the look a sophisticated edge, conceptualising Lagerfeld’s journey from traditional to modern.
3. Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey in Gucci at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: Mike Coppola // Getty Images
There is something so gorgeously Old Hollywood about Halle’s face. So delicate and soft, yet commanding and alluring. This exceptional look she wore only serves to heighten this and is so on brand for her as she gears up for the release of The Little Mermaid – an old fairy-tale classic. The combination of Halle’s Marilyn Monoroe-esque bouncy hair, the 30s inspired high halter neck, and the body-hugging Gucci dress shape all make to execute the most flawless ‘soft’ and glamorous look – a style Lagerfeld helped popularise in the 70s. She completes the look with an extravagant frilly cape (reminiscent of a jellyfish – more on brand messaging!) that acts as a huge declaration of grandeur and dominance. No one can pull of both soft and striking quite like Halle.
4. Doja Cat
Doja Cat in Oscar De La Renta at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: Nina Westervelt // The New York Times
I have always been eagerly anticipating Doja Cat’s Met Gala debut, solely because she personifies the Avante-Garde. She is fearless and daring. Rocking up in a silver sequenced Oscar De La Renta gown, she came as Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat. She left no room for interpretation with cat ears, cat winged liner, facial prosthetics and “meowing” in interviews, and in doing so, she solidified her place in pop culture phenomenon. The dress, hugging Doja’s envious figure, bled into an incredibly satisfying fluffy train that both served to pay homage to Lagerfeld’s fashion trends and the feline imagery. The double entendre of her look encapsulates Doja’s persona faultlessly – remaining light-hearted through intention.
5. Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman in her archival Chanel gown at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: Jamie McCarthy // Getty Images
There are very few industry figures as timeless as Nicole Kidman. Nicole’s image and persona of a classic Australian beauty is a package that is yet to let her down, and her commitment to it over the years through her films, roles, ambassadorships and fashion only engrains this further. So, the choice to wear her Chanel Haute Couture gown from her 2004 No.5 commercial was sensational (this dress was designed during the time Lagerfeld was Creative Director at Chanel). The decadent gown is made of pink silk tulle and ornamented with 250 pink ostrich feathers and over 3,000 silvery crystals and sequins. In the commercial, she plays a Hollywood star desperate to escape the paparazzi, thus flees the red carpet to take a ride with her co-star with whom she engages in a brief affair. What I value most about this look is its interplay with the notion of time that is inherent to the theme. The theme is meant to conceptualise and execute Lagerfeld’s life’s work and the journeys upon which he embarked to create it, and Nicole echoes this in her choice of dress that reflects her own journey through time. She is no longer the person she was when she first threw on that frock.
6. Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris // Getty Images
There’s not too much I can say about Michelle Yeoh other than “that’s Mother”. Michelle understood the assignment and hit the bullseye – the crisp white shirt that blends into a long black dress is a feminine take on Karl Lagerfeld’s key look. She continues to assert her divine dominance with dramatic white puffy sleeves, a masculine watch and a Cartier necklace. Finally, her platform boots both amplify the Lagerfeld-esque arrangement as well as give her a power only fit for Michelle.
7. Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi in Jean Paul Gaultier at the 2023 Met Gala
Credit: Mike Coppola // Getty Images
Elegance personified. That is what Yara Shahidi is. Her half-archival, half-custom Jean Paul Gaultier gown, sprinkled with Cartier jewellery formulated the most chic, breathtaking and remarkable piece. Yara aimed to typify the 90s supermodel aesthetic, with the mermaid corset paying tribute to Lagerfeld’s iconic Structured Corset which he showcased in the Spring 1994 Runway Collection. This, as well as the Dior brown-coded makeup look and her wavy black hair, birthed a masterpiece.
There were many more looks that I adored, and thought this Met Gala was the closest to touching the greatness that the 2018 Met Gala (Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination) displayed. Some honourable mentions: Rihanna, Jenny Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Lizzo, Naomi Campbell, Cardi B, Yung Miami, Michaela Coel and Janelle Monáe.