It is nearly that time of year again when everyone on the internet becomes a style critic. The Met Gala is the fashion world’s biggest event and all eyes are on the carpeted steps that lead up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as the biggest names in pop culture gather to celebrate the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition in breathtaking, jaw-dropping and discourse-starting outfits (or white tie for the boring straight men in attendance). This year, the exhibition is titled Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The theme, or dress code, for the opening gala is In Honour of Karl. Think: reworked tweeds, blackout sunglasses, hula-hoop bags, oversized starched collars and layered pearls.
So, what does the theme actually mean and what will people be wearing? Who has definitely been invited and where can you actually watch it? In preparation for the star-studded event, here’s everything you need to know.
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What is the theme of the 2023 Met Gala?
To go alongside the opening of the mammoth exhibition Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty at the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York, this year’s gala has a dress code of In Honour of Karl. Karl, who passed away in 2019, is considered one of the most prolific and celebrated designers in history, and the gala will be an opportunity for many of his friends and those inspired by him to issue their love letters to his titanic fashion legacy.
The exhibition itself – curated by the head curator of the Met’s Anna Wintour Costume Center, Andrew Bolton, and creative confidante of Karl, Amanda Harlech – will look at his life and career from 1933 until 2019. But rather than a chronological retrospective, the exhibition will explore the “designer’s stylistic vocabulary as it was expressed in through lines – aesthetic themes that appear time and again – in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019”. 150 pieces will be on display, alongside sketches unveiling the methodology of Karl’s work. Open from 5 May until 16 July, you can purchase tickets here.
Who was Karl Lagerfeld?
Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1933, Karl Lagerfeld is one of the fashion world’s most iconic designers and fashion photographers. Starting out as an assistant at Balmain before moving to Jean Patou, his work in the 60s and 70s at Fendi and Chloé made him incredibly popular and led to his quick rise in the fashion world, placing him toe-to-toe with Yves Saint Laurent as the designer of his day. In 1983, Karl became creative director of Chanel, a role that made him a household name as he turned its traditional codes of tweeds, two-tone shoes, pearl necklaces and double-C insignia into cult items desired the world over.
What guests will be at the 2023 Met Gala?
There are five people we know will 100% be attending this year’s Gala, given that they’ll be hosting the evening. Anna Wintour, of course, will once again be in attendance to honour her “brilliant friend”. The four other people, who are likely to have some of the most show-stopping looks on the night, are actor and Chanel muse Penelope Cruz (she walked Karl’s final ever show), queen of pop Dua Lipa, tennis legend Roger Federer and I May Destroy You creator Michaela Coel.
There are other people, too, who have confirmed we will see them in Karl-honouring garments on the steps of the Met. Kim Kardashian thwarted the rumours she and her famed family weren’t invited this year, posting a picture of herself and Karl’s cat Choupette Lagerfeld at the designer’s old office in Paris, stating they were both looking for inspiration before the big day. Does that mean Choupette will be walking the carpet, too? It’s what she deserves. Elle Fanning heavily implied she would also be attending when she told People her look this year would be “very much on theme”. Priyanka Chopra has confirmed she will be wearing a look with a “special element” to it, and many speculate her husband Nick Jonas will be with her. Fellow Indian actor Alia Bhatt will be making her Met Gala debut wearing Prabal Gurung couture. Daisy Jones and The Six actor Camila Morrone has also suggested she’ll be there, with fans noting that she posted to her Instagram story a picture of her eating a Philly cheese steak with the jokey caption “Met Gala prep”.
Then there are the people who haven’t been confirmed but are likely to attend, either because they famously arrive in jaw dropping looks each year or because they were close friends of Karl’s. Zendaya, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Madonna, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Austin Butler are all names that have been buzzing among attendee rumours. With Jared Leto and Daniel Brühl both set to play Karl in upcoming projects, perhaps they will debut their character looks at the Met too. On the latest issue of Vogue, some of Karl’s favourite models – Anok Yai, Shalom Harlow, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Adut Akech, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Gigi Hadid and Devon Aoki – graced the cover in looks from major designers that reworked some of Karl’s most iconic works. Many of them are likely to make an appearance. Other Chanel muses we’d love to see at the event are Cara Delevigne (a close friend of Karl’s), Kristen Stewart and Kristen McMenamy.
What are people likely to be wearing?
With Chanel, Fendi and the Karl Lagerfeld brand all working with the Met on the exhibit, it is said that many of the celebrities will have access to gowns from Karl’s design archive. Expect many of his most iconic looks to make a return. Perhaps The Idol’s Lily-Rose Depp will attend once again wear the iconic ruffle dress she closed the SS17 show in. With her scene-stealing approach to fashion, we can imagine Kim Kardashian clutching at the iconic hula hoop handbag from Chanel SS09, or his famed double-C monogrammed bikinis from his SS96 show. Expect a lot of the final bridal looks from the Chanel runways to make an appearance too, as well as colourful pastel tweeds, gold chains, floral headpieces and whimsical hats that once adorned the heads of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Stella Tennant and other supermodels in the 90s, now making their way to the runway icons of today. Some of the guests with a more bohemian style might opt for some of his trippy vintage Chloé designs too, or maybe furs in reference to his work at Fendi.
Lots of designers will no doubt make looks in tribute to Karl too. Perhaps we will see creations from Kim Jones, who took over the role of artistic director at Fendi after his passing. Virginie Viard, who worked with Karl at Chanel and took over as artistic director at the house, is also likely to have a strong design presence. Other designers who have recently said they have been majorly impacted by his work include Thom Browne, Donatella Versace, Olivier Rousteing, Christopher John Rogers and more. Pharrell Williams, who worked heavily with Chanel in the 2010s and is now heading up Louis Vuitton Men’s might have something up his sleeve. We know from Harris Reed’s Instagram story he’s got a look ready to be showcased at this year’s event, too.
When is the Met Gala 2023, where can I watch it and what time does it start?
Every year since 2005, the Met Gala has been held on the first Monday of May which this year falls on 1 May. Along with coverage on E! News, the official livestream, which can be watched here, begins at 6:30pm and will be hosted by presenter La La Anthony, fashion consultant Derek Blasberg, SNL’s Chloe Fineman, and, of course, the internet’s fave Emma Chamberlain. Big slay!