MIRANDA HOLDER says Met Gala was chic but lacked wow factor

The iconic red carpet that covered the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art was a sea of ​​black and white last night. the Museum’s Costume Institute, at what is always the most anticipated fashion spectacle of the year.

The outfits are planned weeks, if not months in advance, and this year they paid homage to the late industry legend and innovator Karl Lagerfeld, themed ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A line of beauty’.

As Chanel’s creative director from 1983 until his death in 2019, as well as being instrumental in the fates of other behemoths such as Fendi and Chloe, Karl was as famous for his indelible influence on the fashion world as he was for his unmistakable appearance that also made him into a fashion icon in its own right.

With his ‘Edwardian meets goth’ aesthetic, Karl was instantly recognizable – and his iconic face graced everything from handbags to T-shirts in his era. He was rarely seen without his dark glasses, slicked ponytail, starched white collar and fingerless gloves.

With Karl and his work as their muse, designers somewhat predictably chose the painfully cool monochromatic palette of black and white to base their looks last night, which looked chic but lacked the “fantastic factor” the event is normally synonymous with . .

For some, the tribute was subtle.

Ke Huy Quan was relatively conservative in a tailored pinstripe Dior suit complete with oversized collar, dainty jeweled tie clip, fan and fingerless gloves.

Meanwhile, on the face of Tommy Hilfiger, you might think that Karl had decided to emerge from beyond the grave himself, with Hilfiger’s ensemble of dark glasses, high ponytail and sleek Tommy Hilfiger x Denis Frison suit perfectly replicating Lagerfeld’s aesthetic .

Conan Gray took it a step further and looked striking in an embellished Balmain ensemble (another major label name on Lagerfeld’s resume). naturally pale skin and sultry dark tousled hair.

Some celebrities arrived in more classic red carpet looks, including Jodie Comer whose blue Burberry dress was described as a “breath of a breath.”

As Miranda discussed the tributes to Lagerfeld “from the sublime to the ridiculous,” she noted Janelle Monae’s performance outfit

Some Met Gala guests kept their tribute to Lagerfeld simple by wearing a tuxedo that matched his personal style (Photo: Kristen Stewart)

Some women also got the “copy Karl memo,” Kristen Stewart looking quintessentially androgynous in an oversized Chanel suit outfitted to perfection with matching loafers, double c-belt and chunky black tie, perfectly embodying Chanel’s’ total look’ for which Karl and the design house are famous.

Kendall Jenner brought some flirty sex appeal to the evening, sporting a ‘cheeky’ Marc Jacobs black sequin bodysuit trimmed with a Karl-esque silver high collar, dramatic cape ‘winged’ sleeves, statement black platform boots and not much else.

Cardi B’s signature larger-than-life take on the iconic tuxedo look was a monochromatic Chenpeng Studio corset dress embellished with black roses and complemented by a long silver wig and black headband, which gave us all the goth-rock Cinderella vibes, but maybe my favorite of the “get dressed up as Karl looks” was Teyana Taylor, who wore a sparkly silver Thom Browne dress that pretended to be one of the designer’s iconic suits, accented with silver gloves, collar and tie and alluringly flirty fascinator – for me this was the perfect combination to meet the theme without compromising on glamor or style.

Ke Huy Quan’s (left) tribute to Lagerfeld was described as “conservative” by Miranda sporting a subtle pinstripe suit from Dior, while Conan Gray (right) took the look “a step further”

Kendall Jenner’s daring ensemble of platform boots, a Marc Jacobs bodysuit and ‘not much else’ brought ‘flirty sex appeal’ to the evening

Tribute: The rapper, 30, hit the red carpet in a black ballgown with a tie – paying tribute to the late Karl Lagerfeld, as it was influenced by his quilted bags and signature suit and black tie look

Miranda said Teyana Taylor’s dress, which was designed like a suit, was her favorite “let’s dress up like Karl” look

Goddess like: Fashion veteran Naomi, 52, marking her 16th prom, wore a one-shoulder dress from Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection

We were also treated to a few more classically glamorous red carpet looks – though notably not as many as usual – Jodie Comer was a vision in a beaded blue Burberry gown providing a welcome pop of color, Naomi Campbell and Grace Elizabeth were meanwhile beautiful in pink.

Anne Hathaway turned it into a strapless Versace dress and took us back to the 90s, the heyday of Karl’s reign at Chanel, complete with cream tweed, mother-of-pearl accents and edgy safety pins, and Michaela Coel dazzled in intricately beaded Schiaparelli.

But my absolute favorite was J LO, who looked absolutely stunning in a Ralph Lauren dress accented with evening gloves, feathers, fascinator and a hefty train – the look had it all.

Then, of course, we move from the sublime to the ridiculous, which is all part of the Met Gala fun; Janelle Monae treated us to a performance, taking off her oversized Thom Browne black and white coat to reveal a crinoline skirt and lingerie with oversized trainers.

Among the night’s more unusual and bizarre looks was Erykah Badu, who hid her face for the evening

Alton Mason arrived at the Met Gala in a bridal look to pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld

Wow! Lil Nas X put on a quirky performance as he attended the 2023 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City on Monday night

Cat vibes: Jared Leto took the Met Gala theme of Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty to a whole new level, dressing up as the late fashion designer’s beloved cat, Choupette

Erykah Badu, who can always be relied upon for originality, hid her face for the evening in a Chanel-inspired look by Marni designer Francesco Risso topped with an oversized white wig that gave ample opportunity to trip over her outfit on the steps, but fortunately this disaster was avoided.

Alton Mason, the first black male model to ever walk in a Chanel Runway show, pledged his allegiance to the late designer by looking ready to walk down the aisle in a Karl Lagerfeld white lace jumpsuit with a matching veil, while rapper Lil Nas X opted for a less is more approach for the occasion, wearing nothing but a crystal-encrusted silver thong, platform shoes and several tubes of silver body paint.

The outfits were strange and wonderful as always, though perhaps not as outlandish as usual compared to previous years, thanks to designers sticking so closely to the theme out of presumable respect for Lagerfeld.

But the icing on the sartorial cake for memorable looks has to go to Jared Leto – who is rumored to be playing the part of the designer in an upcoming biopic of his life – who showed up at the event dressed rather convincingly as Karl’s insta-famous spoiled cat – Choupette – purrfect!