Relive the Best Live Updates of the Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet—Pearls, Cats (Yes, Multiple), and Camellias Galore
The Met Gala is often called “fashion’s biggest night,” and this year, it paid homage to one of the industry’s greatest designers, Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019. Titled, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the exhibition features around 150 original looks from his storied career, alongside many of their respective original sketches. Lagerfeld often said that he could draw before he could talk, and his illustrations held the secrets to his creative vision. You can learn more about the 2023 Met Gala here.
But we know what you’re really here for—the red carpet looks! Last night proved to be one of the most glamorous in recent years, thanks to a dress code that simply stated “in honor of Karl.” Celebrities like Penelope Cruz, Dua Lipa, and Kristen Stewart went through the vast Chanel archives to select their looks, while others like Cardi B and Teyana Taylor, sought inspiration from Lagerfeld’s own iconic style. Read through for all of our live updates from the red carpet, as they happened.
110 Looks From the Archives That Made it From the Runway to the Met’s Karl Lagerfeld Show
Many of the looks in “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” will be familiar to keen runway watchers who saw them first on Style.com or Vogue Runway. We’re continually expanding our archive, to include not only the latest shows, but archival ones as well. With millions of images at hand, we were able to collect some of the debuts of designs, signed Karl Lagerfeld, that are now on display at the Costume Institute. Scroll through the images here.
A Timeless Partnership
Who can forget Jack Harlow and Emma Chamberlain’s viral Met Gala moment last year? Watch as the two reminisce here.
Meet the Four Independent Designers Balenciaga Invited to the Met Gala
For this year’s Met Gala, Balenciaga decided to change things up. The brand is usually known for their statement making moments in the carpet (like Kim Kardashian’s black out moment in 2021), but this year they decided to invite four emerging designers and their muses. Read more about them below.
Devon Aoki Makes Her Met Debut with Fashion BFF Jeremy Scott
For Devon Aoki’s Met Gala debut, she walked the carpet with best friend Jeremy Scott. The designer celebrated the legacy of the late Karl Lagerfeld, who Scott describes as “A man who championed us both.” Read more about the look here.
Jackson Wang Makes Magic at the Met in Louis Vuitton
Jackson Wang, newly appointed Louis Vuitton ambassador, wore custom Louis Vuitton to the Met Gala. His cropped, double-breasted, braid-trimmed jacket wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Military Line section of the exhibition, and in KL fashion, the one-time Olympian-turned performer, accessorized with dark glasses.
The Cats Were Out on the Prowl at the Met Gala
There was the cast of Cats (Idris Elba and James Corden) as well as cats on the Met Gala red carpet last night. From Jared Leto’s Choupette costume to Doja Cat’s Oscar de La Renta interpretation of Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved pet, see the best cat looks on the carpet below.
Inside the Exclusive Chanel Met Gala After Party
There’s after parties and the afterparty which last night was Chanel’s exclusive party at the Mercer Hotel’s not-yet-opened Sartiano’s. The party was attended by Chanel muses, ambassadors, and Hollywood’s A-list stars including Gisele Bündchen, Cara Delevigne, and Penelope Cruz. Scroll through the photos here.
Trend Watch: Camellia Flowers on the Red Carpet
Like the Dior rose and the Schiaparelli ranunculus, the camellia has become an emblem of Chanel. From Rihanna’s camellia covered Valentino cape (the cape was made custom for Rihanna with 500 petals by the way) to the blooms that adorned Anne Hathaway’s Versace gown, discover all the camellias on the carpet below.
It wouldn’t be a Met Gala without a flute performance from Lizzo. This year, the musician shut down the Met Gala with an interlude from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, followed by instrumental covers of “Truth Hurts”, “Cuz I Love You” and “Good as Hell.” Read more about the performance here.
The night isn’t over yet! Make sure you’re following along with all the best post-Met content on Vogue.com for behind the scenes footage, and a look at the best after parties. To keep going just like the celebs—grab a cup of Starbucks espresso and keep that serotonin going.
Rihanna: Master of the Quick Change
Leave in a vintage Fendi fur…
Arrive in a custom Valentino couture dress made of silk faille cape embellished with over 30 fabric camellias that featured 500 petals each.
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Janelle Monáe Brings a Furry Plus One
This is not the main stage of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, but that never stopped some of Hollywood’s brightest stars from offering a reveal on the Met steps—Lady Gaga is perhaps the most memorable example, with her multi-layered Brandon Maxwell outfit-cum-performance at the 2019 Gala.
Tonight, Janelle Monáe and Thom Browne offered their own take. The singer and actor removed her exaggerated trapezoidal black and white tweed tuxedo jacket to reveal a black tulle pannier dress worn over a pearl string bikini and astronaut boots. But the cherry on top? A white pebble leather Choupette bag.
Stella McCartney’s Succession Story
On the red carpet today, Stella McCartney, who succeeded Karl Lagerfeld at Chloé when he left the French maison in 1997, shared a story of the designer's reaction when they named her as his successor. “He said ‘I knew they would need a big name to replace me, I just didn’t know it would be a big name in music',” she recalled.
Kylie’s Courtship with Haider Continues
We first saw Kylie and Haider Ackermann together when she attended his show as guest couture designer for Jean Paul Gaultier earlier this year—which is also where the internet says she met Timothée Chalamet (but I’ll leave you all to speculate about that). Tonight at the Met, Kylie wore a custom bodycon red dress paired with a periwinkle blue cape. She was one of the few attendees on the red carpet daring to step away from black and white.
Camila Morrone Looks Fresh As a Daisy in Rodarte
The Daisy Jones & the Six star looks fresh as a daisy on the Met Gala carpet in look 18 from the fall 2023 ready-to-wear collection.
