This Year’s Met Gala

This Year’s Met Gala

Isabella Hansen, Writer

This year’s Met Gala theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” in honor of Karl Lagerfeld, who died in February 2019. Lagerfeld was a fashion designer who worked in the business since 1950. He is known for his work at Chanel and was the first designer to design a collection for H&M. 

The Met Gala has been an annual event for nearly 80 years. The first Met was drastically different from what we see today. It started as a dinner with tickets that cost about $50 and was held in places such as Central Park. Today, it only ever occurs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and an individual ticket may cost $30,000. Though having money alone does not mean you can attend the Met Gala.

In most cases, the attendee must have donated to the Met Museum, be a reputable fashion house that bought a full table, or be a well-known celebrity. Companies that buy tables at the Met Gala have a list of people that will be attending dressed in their brand. This is why some celebrities do not come to the Met on the theme; they are wearing whatever brand invited them to come.

Throughout the Met Gala, celebrities will walk up the stairs leading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art building while being photographed. They then wait in line while some get interviewed, and others wait to be let into the building for dinner.

Many people at the Met Gala this year were on theme wearing gowns inspired by Lagerfeld’s work. Dua Lipa wore a bridal gown from Chanel’s couture fall/winter 1992 show. The gown was first worn by Lagerfeld muse Claudia Schiffer. 

Other celebrities took a different approach to honoring Lagerfeld, such as Jared Leto, who dressed up as Lagerfeld’s white Burmese Cat, Choupette. Lagerfeld was known for his adoration for Choupette and would even bring her to fashion shows. Leto later took off the costume and wore a black, slightly more fashionable, all-black ensemble. Doja Cat also honored Choupette by wearing a less furry cat costume. Doja kept the bit going and even replied in “meows” in some interviews.

Jeremy Pope wore a 30-foot black and white cape with Lagerfeld’s face on it.

This year’s Met Gala theme brought many outfits that showcased each celebrities uniqueness while also having a commonality, fashion. With themes inspired by fashion, the Met becomes a wonderful event for celebrities to showcase their personalities. This is why the Met Gala will forever be a popular event in the fashion world.

 

Sources

How Much Does a Met Gala Ticket Cost? How to Get an Invite – Parade …, parade.com/entertainment/met-gala-ticket-price. Accessed 4 May 2023. 

O’Kane, Caitlin. “2023 Met Gala Highlights: Cat Costumes, Relationship Rumors, Roach Memes and More Top Moments.” CBS News, 2 May 2023, www.cbsnews.com/news/met-gala-2023-highlights-doja-cat-jared-leto-cockroach-cat-costumes-kim-kardashian-anna-wintour/. 

Palumbo, Jacqui, et al. “Who Is Karl Lagerfeld, the Controversial and Pioneering Designer Inspiring This Year’s Met Gala Dress Code?” CNN, 1 May 2023, www.cnn.com/style/article/karl-lagerfeld-explainer-met-gala-intl-scli/index.html#:~:text=Who%20was%20 Karl%20 Lagerfeld%3F,his%20death%20in%20 February%202019. 

Sanchez, Chelsey. “Yes, Jared Leto Really Did Put on a Life-Size Cat Costume at the 2023 Met Gala.” Harper’s BAZAAR, 2 May 2023, www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a43760554/jared-leto-met-gala-2023/?scrlybrkr=4d744f8e. 

Schonfeld, Alexandra, and Tracey Harrington McCoy. “2023 Met Gala Co-Chair Dua Lipa Pays Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld in Classic Chanel Gown.” Peoplemag, 1 May 2023, people.com/style/2023-met-gala-dua-lipa-wears-classic-chanel-gown/. 

Widjojo, Conchita. “History of the Met Gala: How It Turned from Fundraiser to ‘Fashion’s Biggest Night.’” WWD, 1 May 2023, wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/met-gala-history-how-it-turned-from-fundraiser-to-fashions-biggest-night-1235167840/.