Written by Jacqui Palumbo, CNN
Photo editor: Jennifer Arnow
It’s the first Monday in May, which means the Met Gala is back and A-listers are descending on fashion’s most extravagant night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. While last year’s theme borrowed from the opulence of the Gilded Era, this year focuses on a different legacy of luxury: “In Honor of Karl” pays homage to the life and career of Karl Lagerfeld, the powerful – and often controversial – Designer who has transformed some of the most famous fashion houses. Lagerfeld became synonymous with Chanel during the decades he served as creative director, and when he died in 2019 at the age of 85, he was still leading Chanel and Fendi, where he led design for more than half a century, as well as his own eponymous label label.
The theme of the Met Gala is based on the Costume Institute’s spring show Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, a posthumous retrospective of the German fashion designer’s work.
Joining Vogue’s Global Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour to co-chair this year’s event are Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer and Penélope Cruz, the last of whom made her runway debut for Chanel shortly after Lagerfeld’s death.
Penelope Cruz, who wore archival Chanel wedding dresses, told Vogue that she met Lagerfeld in 1999 and they became close after he named her the brand’s ambassador. “I loved him so much,” she said. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Due to Lagerfeld’s huge influence on generations of designers and models, red carpet (or white carpet this year) turnout has been high, and stars are paying tribute by channeling his best designs over the decades and recreating his own distinctive black interpret -gloved personal style.
Black, white, blush and pearls have reigned supreme, reflecting Lagerfeld’s classic Chanel palette. A number of looks from the label’s archives resurfaced via Met Gala guests, including Margot Robbie in a 1993 dress once worn by Cindy Crawford and Nicole Kidman, who arrived in the iconic plumage gown that was used in her romantic, Baz Luhrmann directed Chanel No. 5 commercial of 2004.
Who is Karl Lagerfeld, the controversial and groundbreaking designer who inspired this year’s Met Gala dress code?
Kidman told Vogue on the carpet that it was amazing “to honor him and wear this dress now.” She added: “It’s whimsical and it’s light as a feather. It’s couture and it should be.”
Federer also had a touching, subtle tribute to Lagerfeld: Fendi creative director Kim Jones (who took over for Lagerfeld after his death) added hand-drawn sketches inspired by the German designer into the lining of the retired tennis star’s suit.
“It was the most extensive preparation I’ve ever done to get dressed for an event. It was a lot of fun,” Federer told CNN.
Doja Cat went out of her way for her first Met Gala, arriving in a full cat prosthesis and a dazzling Oscar de la Renta gown. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Though Choupette, Lagerfeld’s beloved cream cat, was unable to attend the gala after months of rumors she would appear, there were plenty of feline references in her honor. Doja Cat, Jared Leto and Lil Nas X all arrived in full cat costumes, with Doja Cat’s dazzling Oscar de la Renta hooded dress accompanied by prosthetic limbs that eclipsed the much-maligned “Cats” film adaptation.
And although Kim Kardashian has strived to break the internet with her gala looks in recent years, this year she said she’s not worried about outdoing herself. She told Vogue she just wanted to “feel glamorous” in her Chanel-inspired Schiarparelli look. “I just wanted to drip in pearls.”
Closings for the night were Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, arriving long after the red carpet entrances rushed but in appropriate, show-stopping style. Rihanna’s Valentino dress and hooded coat, bursting with floral motifs, evoked a slew of muses, including Claudia Schiffer and Cara Delevigne, who ended Lagerfeld’s couture shows as Chanel brides.
Scroll down to see some of the best fashions from the event. This article will be updated as the red carpet unfolds.
Jenna Ortega’s deconstructed high-low look by Thom Browne combined a cropped tweed jacket, long coat, corset dress and mini tulle bag. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Bad Bunny in a backless cream suit and rose detail shawl by Jacquemus. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Cardi B wore two monumental couture looks on Monday, this one by Chinese designer Chen Peng with a corset, gloves and tie, a la Lagerfeld. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Gigi Hadid arrived in a sultry, sheer, and corseted Givenchy gown. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Portal
Actor Ke Huy Quan channeled Lagerfeld with his sharp-cut Dior look and fingerless leather gloves. Credit: Christopher Polk/WWD/Getty Images
Seen here are Kendall Jenner in Marc Jacobs, Kim Kardashian in Schiaparelli and Kylie Jenner in Haider Ackermann. Credit: Kevin Mazur/MG23/Getty Images
Pedro Pascal – the “daddy” of the internet – wore Valentino and paired black shorts with a long red coat. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Rihanna graced the Met Gala with a fitting finale look. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Rihanna’s bespoke white Valentino gown, which she wore with a white floral hooded coat, fit the spirit of the Chanel brides who ended Lagerfeld’s couture shows. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Yung Miami and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs added volume in contrasting shapes. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Olivia Rodrigo’s black and white Thom Browne dress was full of texture. Credit: Christopher Polk/WWD/Getty Images
Anne Hathaway’s embellished Versace tweed dress featured safety pin detailing, a long train, a matching jacket and bracelets. Credit: Justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lizzo opted for a classic Chanel silhouette, custom-made by the brand. Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Actor Jeremy Pope’s tribute to Lagerfeld was direct and powerful: a Balmain cape adorned with the designer’s face. Credit: Neilson Barnard/MG23/Getty Images
Like many tonight, Cara Delevingne nailed Lagerfeld’s personal style by wearing fingerless motorcycle gloves and a crisp white shirt from Lagerfeld’s eponymous brand. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Amanda Seyfried in a glamorous Oscar de la Renta mini dress. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Portal
Keke Palmer’s Sergio Hudson column robe was adorned with over 12,000 Swarovski crystals and pearls. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Glenn Close brought the drama to life in a bespoke Erdem gown, made as a tribute to Lagerfeld. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Model Alton Mason embodied the Chanel bride in head-to-toe lace and a long Karl Lagerfeld veil. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Jeremy Scott dressed Y2K Chanel muse Devon Aoki in an ethereal, winged look that matched Scott’s lapels. Both hail from Scott’s self-proclaimed fashion house. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Emily Blunt’s pant suit with train and oversized bow was the work of Michael Kors. Credit: Christopher Polk/WWD/Getty Images
Wearing tailored Ralph Lauren, Jennifer Lopez told Vogue, “When you think of fashion for the last 50 years, you think of five people, and Lagerfeld was one of them.” Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Margot Robbie chose a Chanel design worn by Cindy Crawford in 1993, which the fashion house remodeled for her. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Portal
Lil Nas X wore pearls, gems and silver body paint with a look that was short on fabric but meticulously executed by makeup artist Pat McGrath. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Serena Williams announced her pregnancy during her red carpet arrival with husband Alexis Ohanian, both of whom wore Gucci. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Valentino Creative Director Pier Paolo Piccioli with Florence Pugh (who had her head shaved for the first time) who wore a towering black headpiece and a white Valentino dress. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Actors Julia Garner, Halle Bailey and Daisy Edgar-Jones all arrived at Gucci. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Jared Leto literally took on the Choupette inspiration in a full cat costume. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Gisele Bundchen donned a feathered cape and vintage Chanel dress, which she previously wore for an editorial shoot with Karl Lagerfeld. Credit: Kevin Mazur/MG23/Getty Images
Karlie Kloss, who opted for classic Chanel-inspired pearls with a Loewe illusion dress, revealed on the red carpet that she is pregnant with her second child. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Model Anok Yai sported a seductive mask and shimmering paneled dress by Prabal Gurung. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Blackpink’s Jennie Kim in a Chanel archive look remastered for her. Credit: Kevin Mazur/MG23/Getty Images
Ashley Graham wore a sculptural mermaid dress by Harris Reed with exaggerated shoulders and hips. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Portal
Supermodel Kate Moss and daughter Lila honored Lagerfeld in peachy looks by Fendi Couture. Credit: Kevin Mazur/MG23/Getty Images
FKA Twigs effortlessly maintained her look in a Maison Margiela dress. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham in classic black and white Valentino. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Sydney Sweeney in a pink Miu Miu ensemble with a long train. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Actor Brian Tyree Henry layered pearls with his regal ensemble designed by label Karl Lagerfeld. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Jessica Chastain teamed her all-black Gucci look with icy blonde hair—a big change for the red-headed actor. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Met Gala Co-Chair Michaela Coel’s Schiaparelli gown was meticulously crafted from more than 130,000 crystals and gemstones. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Gwendolyn Christie struck an ethereal note in a draped Fendi number. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade got their outerwear right with complementary red and black leather, both from Prada. Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Rapper Ice Spice arrives at her first Met Gala in an all-white Balmain gown. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Model Precious Lee in a black wrap dress by Fendi with a pink train. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Actress Ariana DeBose performed in a fur-trimmed yellow hooded dress by Altuzarra and arrived with designer Joseph Altuzarra. Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG23/Getty Images
Olivia Wilde opted for a Chloé ‘Violin’ dress – one of Lagerfeld’s designs from the 1980s – in white and gold. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Broadway producer Jordan Roth pays homage to one of Lagerfeld’s favorite accessories in this tailored Schiaparelli look, complete with a huge fan-shaped bodice. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Billie Eilish honored Lagerfeld in a black Simone Rocha ensemble and arrived at Vivienne Westwood with brother Finneas. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Model Karen Elson in a sheer black dress by Christian Sirinao with voluminous velvet flowers. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Vogue Livestream co-host Emma Chamberlain wore a high-slit baby blue two-piece suit by Miu Miu. Credit: Noam Galai/GA//Getty Images
Musician Phoebe Bridgers channeled her best Chanel girl in a beaded black Tory Burch dress. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Model Quannah Chasinghorse in a pink tulle dress by Prabal Gurung, black gloves and indigenous jewelry. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman arrived in a dress familiar to anyone with a television set in the 2000s: the same feathered, red dress she wore in the dramatic, romantic Chanel No 5 commercial directed by Baz Luhrmann. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images North
Met Gala Co-Chair Roger Federer wore a Dior suit, the lining and pockets adorned with sketches by Kim Jones in honor of Lagerfeld. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Rita Ora embraced the drama in a romantic, sheer black Prabal Gurung gown that included two trains that cascaded far behind her. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Actor James McAvoy with wife Lisa Liberati dressed in Dunhill and Chloé respectively. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Emily Ratajkowski opted for a black lined nude Tory Burch dress. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour arrived with actor Bill Nighy. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
Met Gala Co-Chair Dua Lipa wore a voluminous vintage 1992 Chanel corset dress. Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Saturday Night Live’s Chloe Fineman arrived in a bespoke black and pink gown by New York bridal label Wiederhoeft – complete with rose detailing. Credit: Noam Galai//Getty Images
Fineman’s look was crowned by a jeweled cat purse that pays homage to Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette. Credit: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images
La La Anthony, who co-hosts the Vogue livestream, wore a tailored white one-shoulder Sergio Hudson dress with gold chains and a bow. Credit: Noam Galai//Getty Images
Actor Harvey Guillen set the tone early on in a pink Christian Siriano jacket with oversized floral embellishments. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Photo above: Janelle Monae, dressed by Thom Browne, revealed an underwired slip underneath an oversized coat. (Portal/Andrew Kelly)
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