The Met Gala 2023 - by Tom Lucock

It’s our favourite time of the year again! The Met Gala made another splash on the first Monday of May…

The theme this year was... drum roll please!

Karl Lagerfeld: A line of Beauty

Personally, A line of Beauty is a bit of stretch considering this fashion parade was somewhat of snooze fest this year! But we must be optimistic in times as hard as now!

So, let’s delve into my top 10 looks from this Met Gala!

10. Gisele - Vintage Chanel SS07 Couture.

What’s better than Vintage Chanel?! Even better when you reference yourself! Gisele wore this exact same dress and fur ensemble when she was photographed by Karl for Harper’s Bazaar Korea in 2007! How Iconic?!

9. Jenna Ortega – Thom Browne

This look is just gorgeous. The homage to Chanel with the tweed cropped blazer and skirt/train! The gold pearls and embellishments are such a sweet touch to Karl’s work at Chanel. It also doesn’t age her; she looks so beautiful and chic.

8. Anne Hathaway – Versace and Bulgari

As the new face of Versace, I wouldn’t expect anything less than wearing this house at the Met Gala! The deconstructed tweed that’s bound together by the gold embellishments is such a beautiful interpretation of Karl’s time at Chanel once again. It has just the perfect amount of reference to vintage Chanel but in a reimagined way which is the point of this theme!

7. Janelle Monáe – Thom Browne

Again! I love the incorporation of the Tweed suit but on steroids. The obscure ill-fitting coat resting on a hoop skirt beneath which Monáe revealed liting the jacket off and revealing chanel-esque lingerie beneath. Another win tonight for Thom Browne he knows what he’s doing!

6. Jeremy Pope – Balmain

The look is quite simple but this ridiculous fur train that drags along the steps of the Gala with Lagerfeld’s face embedded into the garment is so stunning to look at. Pope wears it well. The detail and dedication that went into this piece can’t even be comprehended. It’s almost as if Karl is there amongst them watching. Stunning.

5. Rihanna – Valentino

Rihanna always knows how to turn a lewk. Despite being late for the Met gala, she closed the gala wearing all white like a bride she’s closing the show almost. The flowers are almost linked to her pregnancy. What do you give a woman when she’s pregnant? Flowers. It also links to the iconic Chanel flower. It’s a beautiful reference to Karl and Rihanna on the journey of her pregnancy.

4. Anok Yai – Prabal Gurung

This look is just so immaculate. The playing of materials, the tulle, the crystals and the silhouette is just so breath-taking. She paired it with her iconic sunglasses and the sheer black gloves give it such a royal-like feel. Yai and Gurung knocked this one out of the park. One of my all-time favourite Met looks.

3. Cardi B – ChenPeng Studio

This look is the perfect mix of Karl and Chanel. The white shirt and black tie are so symbolic of Lagerfeld’s iconic attire. He always wore suits and ties. I love this homage and how it’s woven into a velvet-like gown. The flowers embedded into the gown once again are a tribute to the iconic Chanel Flower and I think this just displays such a good mix of honour and knowledge of the theme. Fabulous look.

2. Doja Cat – Oscar De La Renta

Now. Most of these looks are tribute to Karl’s work as Creative director but Doja Cat and Oscar De La Renta went out of the park. What better way to pay homage to Lagerfeld than dress as his cat? Choupette Lagerfeld! Iconic, right? I thought this was such an absurd and out of the box reference and the idea will have people questioning what’s going on. I did expect this level of crazy from Doja from her appearances at Schiaparelli she really set the bar for being a high fashion girly.

Dua Lipa – Vintage Chanel 92’

My favourite look of the night must go to Miss Dua Lipa. This archival piece is just so beautiful, and it looks like it was simply made for her despite it being crafted 30 years ago. I love when celebrities and designers root for archival pieces for the gala but ones that have meaning and make actual sense. This piece is just the icing on the cake, it’s the embodiment of Karl and Chanel! Pulled from such an iconic runway A/W 1992 Haute Couture. It was worn by Claudia Schiffer for the runway itself. How amazing to carry on the Chanel legacy by rebirthing pieces like this?

That’s my top ten looks! Despite this being one of the more lacklustre Met’s, the guests who came and met the theme really did what they had to do and smashed it.