The Met Gala could easily be defined as the most highly anticipated event in the calendar of fashionistas around the world, and the 2023 edition marks history as a special one – dedicated to the genius art, conceptual fashion and supreme taste of a late, iconic designer. This year's theme was "Celebrating Karl Lagerfeld – A Line Of Beauty", in honour of the popular fashion designer who sadly passed away in 2019. Lagerfeld was known for his impeccable style, his creative genius, and his legendary collaborations with some of the biggest names in fashion – such as Fendi, Balmain, Chloé, and Chanel, before launching his very own collection in 1984.
The event brings together some of the biggest names in fashion, film, music, and art, in a parade of memorable looks and extravagant opulence. Some of the celebrity guests are well-known for always understanding (and slaying) the assignment, such as Blake Lively and Rihanna, and honestly? I’m here for these flawless serves!
Met Gala 2023: Karl Lagerfeld And Black & White Everything
Starting his career in the 50s and rapidly evolving and growing in the fashion industry, Lagerfeld was one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. His huge impact on the fashion industry cannot be overstated, having drawn influence from baroque vibes and preceding some of the popular designs launched by Givenchy and Balenciaga in 1957. Lagerfeld is widely known for his signature style (a superior mix of classic and modern) and his unmatched capability of reinventing and repurposing without ever getting boring. Throughout his career, Karl Lagerfeld has styled some of the most famous women in the world – quite impressive, right?
But the Met Gala is not just about fashion; it’s also a window we can look through to observe celebrities and other designers collaborate and bring to life personal statements and unique stylistic choices! On that note, let’s have a look at the most iconic looks spotted at the Met Gala this year, curated to celebrate the late designer’s genius.
Gisele Bundchen
Wrapped in vintage Chanel, the iconic 90s supermodel Gisele Bundchen made her appearance on the red carpet with absolute class – her hair arranged in gently tousled, side-parted waves. The silver pochette is a delicate, bright accent to an outfit panelled in mesh fabric with a geometric, linear movement that honours Lagerfeld’s clean style.
Allison Williams
Horror queen Allison Williams takes the best of both worlds in a peach-coloured, extravagant Patou dress – featuring an extreme, oversized bow. Her hair was a mix between a beehive and a cool, modern and trendy headband look – the perfect recipe to glorify Karl’s unique taste.
Elle Fanning
Elle’s style was a romantic ensemble of black and white, graciously topped off by flowery details (specifically, daisies) and a Y2K-reminiscing bolero. The look is signed Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, husband of the late “queen of punk” as described by Bella Hadid. Her hair was adorned in a crown of daisies to match the rest of her outfit, in true boho-chic style.
Kendall Jenner
Wrapped in a tight sequin ensemble that seems to be more a tribute to her mom Kris Jenner rather than the iconic designer, Kendall stunned the audience in her Marc Jacobs incredible piece. A mix of lengths and sparkles, the caped bodysuit featured a collar that was supposed to hint at Karl’s iconic detachable piece, however the internet quickly clapped back with a “You’ve been Krissed” series of memes. The style might not be your cup of tea, but her iconic hairstyle can easily become yours with the aid of clip in ponytail hair extensions.
Cara Delevingne
Cara’s approach is more a revisitation of Karl’s personal style rather than a tribute to his work, although she did wear one of his designs. Fingerless gloves and a punk-ish short, silver hairstyle were the final touches in her gorgeous look. Feel like embracing a touch of silvery light in your tresses too? You can easily do this by adding silver grey hair extensions to your mane – all the beauty of this avant-garde hair shade without bleach damage.
Naomi Campbell
The 90s goddess looked stunning in a vintage Chanel long dress, cut in the style of an ancient Roman dress. Glossy, dusty pink fabric and shiny silver details make the dress stand out whilst the supermodel kept it simple with her hair flowing long and silky, as dictated by the 2023 trends. Stunning, sleek lengths are very popular nowadays – and a product like Seamless hair extensions is the perfect solution to make this look yours.
Kim Kardashian
Kendall’s older sister Kim channelled massive Chanel energy wrapped in a pearly dress signed Schiaparelli. The tight gown adorns her figure like an oversized jewel – speaking of oversized jewels, have you seen that statement neck piece? Kim’s stylists know that there’s no other way to make such an ensemble stand out than with a deliciously crafted updo. If you’d like to recreate this gorgeous curly bun, you can easily add the necessary length and volume with the help of double weft hair extensions.
Gigi Hadid
Stunning Gigi Hadid made up for her sister’s absence at this year’s Met Gala with a glorious Givenchy outfit in total black. Her hair was arranged in a modernised half-up, half-down hairstyle adorned by beautiful waves. The final touch? Smiling Rocks jewellery. Half-up hairstyles can get tricky as they make you lose volume in your mane with the sectioning, but don’t worry: ultra volume hair extensions are a clever way to give an extra kick to your hairstyle, even when half of it is tied up.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Met Gala 2023 was a night to remember, as the event paid tribute to the late, great Karl Lagerfeld. The theme of "Celebrating Karl Lagerfeld – A Line Of Beauty" inspired some truly iconic looks on the red carpet, with celebrities and designers alike paying homage to the designer's incredible legacy. From Gisele Bundchen's vintage Chanel to Kendall Jenner's sequin ensemble, each look was a unique, personal tribute to Lagerfeld's cultural impact in the world of fashion. Legacy, art, individuality and creativity were the pillars of this tribute; honorable mentions, Jared Leto and Doja Cat impersonating Choupette, the iconic cat that appeared on many Lagerfeld collections and accessories.
