Fashion’s biggest night! The 2023 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala will honor an icon.
Organizers of the annual event — commonly called the Met Gala — announced its theme on Friday, September 30. Officially titled, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the festivity will highlight the legacy of the famed German fashion designer who died in 2019 at age 85.
“Every design starts with a sketch,” the official Met Museum account tweeted alongside a video of Lagerfeld at work.
Like every year, the gala’s theme coincides with an exhibition at the museum. “Coming May 2023 — explore the artistic methodology and stylistic vocabulary of Karl Lagerfeld’s designs in ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beaty’ at the Met’s #CostumeInstitute,” the historic institution shared.
The showcase will open to the public on Thursday, May 5, and will be celebrated at the invite-only Met Gala on Monday, May 1. The exhibition will end on Sunday, July 16.
Every design starts with a sketch.✨
Coming May 2023—explore the artistic methodology and stylistic vocabulary of Karl Lagerfeld’s designs in “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” at The Met’s #CostumeInstitute. pic.twitter.com/8KpP591WGn
— The Metropolitan Museum of Art (@metmuseum) September 30, 2022
Event coordinators shared further details on the special presentation via the Met Museum website.
“Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the show will spotlight the German-born designer’s unique working methodology,” a statement on the website read. “Most of the approximately 150 pieces on display will be accompanied by Lagerfeld’s sketches, which underscore his complex creative process and the collaborative relationships with his premières, or head seamstresses.”
The gala was established in 1948 to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In 1999, Vogue‘s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took over as chairwoman, which paved the way for a more celebrity-focused party. The Met Gala is also one of the four days out of the year that the New York City museum is closed to the public, along with Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Through the years, the Met Gala has become a career-defining event for Hollywood’s biggest names. Kim Kardashian first graced the iconic red steps in 2013 alongside her then-husband, Kanye West. The Skims founder, who was pregnant with daughter North at the time, was the topic of discussion for months thanks to her floral dress with attached glove-sleeves. Many slammed the Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy look, but it is now hailed as one of the most memorable Met moments of all time.
“I was Kanye’s plus one & so nervous! I didn’t know anyone & I’m sure no one wanted me there lol. I did my own lipstick & the color is so off. I went home & cried after [out] of insecurity, but this is one of my fave looks now,” Kardashian tweeted in 2019.
Flash-forward to the 2022 event, the TV personality attended with her now-ex boyfriend Pete Davidson, in Marilyn Monroe’s crystal-covered Bob Mackie design — which also sparked a heated debate. (The Selfish author was accused of ripping the archival number but has denied damaging the gown.)
Other Met Gala standouts include Rihanna‘s sunny Guo Pei design at the 2015 event and Zendaya‘s Cinderella-inspired Tommy Hilfiger dress at the 2019 occasion.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the 2023 Met Gala:
Credit: ANL/Shutterstock; Belen Diaz/DYDPPA/Shutterstock
Everything to Know About the Met Gala 2023: Theme, Co-Chairs and More
Fashion’s biggest night! The 2023 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala will honor an icon.
Organizers of the annual event — commonly called the Met Gala — announced its theme on Friday, September 30. Officially titled, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the festivity will highlight the legacy of the famed German fashion designer who died in 2019 at age 85.
“Every design starts with a sketch,” the official Met Museum account tweeted alongside a video of Lagerfeld at work.
Like every year, the gala’s theme coincides with an exhibition at the museum. “Coming May 2023 — explore the artistic methodology and stylistic vocabulary of Karl Lagerfeld’s designs in ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beaty’ at the Met’s #CostumeInstitute,” the historic institution shared.
The showcase will open to the public on Thursday, May 5, and will be celebrated at the invite-only Met Gala on Monday, May 1. The exhibition will end on Sunday, July 16.
https://twitter.com/metmuseum/status/1575751248049049600
Event coordinators shared further details on the special presentation via the Met Museum website.
“Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the show will spotlight the German-born designer’s unique working methodology,” a statement on the website read. “Most of the approximately 150 pieces on display will be accompanied by Lagerfeld’s sketches, which underscore his complex creative process and the collaborative relationships with his premières, or head seamstresses.”
The gala was established in 1948 to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In 1999, Vogue‘s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took over as chairwoman, which paved the way for a more celebrity-focused party. The Met Gala is also one of the four days out of the year that the New York City museum is closed to the public, along with Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
[jwplayer 0IYybDNM-zhNYySv2]
Through the years, the Met Gala has become a career-defining event for Hollywood’s biggest names. Kim Kardashian first graced the iconic red steps in 2013 alongside her then-husband, Kanye West. The Skims founder, who was pregnant with daughter North at the time, was the topic of discussion for months thanks to her floral dress with attached glove-sleeves. Many slammed the Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy look, but it is now hailed as one of the most memorable Met moments of all time.
“I was Kanye’s plus one & so nervous! I didn’t know anyone & I’m sure no one wanted me there lol. I did my own lipstick & the color is so off. I went home & cried after [out] of insecurity, but this is one of my fave looks now,” Kardashian tweeted in 2019.
Flash-forward to the 2022 event, the TV personality attended with her now-ex boyfriend Pete Davidson, in Marilyn Monroe’s crystal-covered Bob Mackie design — which also sparked a heated debate. (The Selfish author was accused of ripping the archival number but has denied damaging the gown.)
Other Met Gala standouts include Rihanna‘s sunny Guo Pei design at the 2015 event and Zendaya‘s Cinderella-inspired Tommy Hilfiger dress at the 2019 occasion.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the 2023 Met Gala:
Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Who Is Karl Lagerfeld?
The late fashion star is one of the most acclaimed designers in the world. He was the creative director of Chanel from 1983 until his death in 2019. During his time with the Parisian fashion house, Lagerfeld created the double-C logo that the luxury label has become known for. Additionally, Lagerfeld modernized the brand, giving its traditional tweed suiting sparkly upgrades and sexy silhouettes.
Lagerfeld also worked with Silvia Fendi to create Fendi’s ready-to-wear collections and launched his eponymous label in 1984. He sold the Karl Lagerfeld brand to the Tommy Hilfiger group in 2005.
Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Where Will the 2023 Met Gala Air?
Fashion lovers can stream the arrivals on Vogue’s website.
Credit: ANL/Shutterstock; Belen Diaz/DYDPPA/Shutterstock; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Who Are the Co-Chairs?
Vogue announced on Wednesday, January 18, that Penélope Cruz, Dua Lipa, tennis star Roger Federer and actress Michaela Coel will serve as the event’s 2023 co-chairs alongside Anna Wintour.
Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Who Is Michaela Coel?
The U.K. native is an award-winning screenwriter, comedian and actress. She won her first-ever Emmy at the 73rd annual ceremony in 2021 for Outstanding Writing in a Limited or Anthology Series for her HBO drama series, I May Destroy You — which was inspired by her own experience with sexual assault. Coel also scored a BAFTA in 2016 for her role in her hit sitcom, Chewing Gum. She’s since starred in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and appeared on the cover of Vogue’s November 2022 issue.
In her interview, she compared her evolving career to flying a kite. “There’s this huge thing in the air and maybe at one point I was holding the string, but now I’m just gazing up with everybody else,” she said.
Credit: Gil-Gonzalez Alain/ABACA/Shutterstock
What Is the Dress Code?
In line with the theme, Vogue said the dress code is “in honor of Karl.”
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Who Is Expected to Attend?
Although no official guest list has been released, the event has been attended by the Kardashian-Jenner family, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Lil Nas X, Future, Cardi B and more.