They are known for their very public declarations of love.
And Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban couldn’t keep their eyes off each other as they attended the 2023 Met Gala in New York City on Monday night.
The 55-year-old actress snuggled up to her country star husband, also 55, as he helped her up the famous staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Moulin Rouge star looked absolutely stunning in a pale pink sequined Chanel gown with a dramatic four meter long train made of silk tulle embroidered with 250 pink ostrich feathers and over 3,000 silver crystals and sequins.
The 2023 fashion extravaganza dress code is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, a tribute to the late controversial fashion designer.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban grabbed their PDA at the Met Gala in New York on Monday
The Moulin Rouge star looked absolutely stunning in a pale pink sequined Chanel dress with a dramatic long feathered train
Nicole wore the same dress, designed by Lagerfeld herself, in her 2004 commercial for Chanel N°5, Le Film, directed by Baz Luhrmann.
The extravagant 180-second commercial cost a whopping $33 million and is still considered the most expensive of all time.
At the time, Baz and Nicole were still pushing their recent hit with their film Moulin Rouge! high, whose aesthetic was reflected in Chanel advertising.
In the commercial, Kidman played a Hollywood star desperate to escape the paparazzi.
The story behind Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala dress
There’s a reason Nicole Kidman’s 2023 Met Gala dress looks familiar.
The Aussie star wore the same dress, designed by Lagerfeld herself, in her Chanel N°5 commercial ‘Le Film’, directed by Baz Luhrmann.
The extravagant 180-second commercial was produced in 2004 for $33 million and is still considered the most expensive of all time.
At the time, Baz and Nicole were still pushing their recent hit with their film Moulin Rouge! high, whose aesthetic was reflected in Chanel advertising.
“That’s what a lot of people said to me back then,” Baz told the Telegraph in 2014 of the similarities between Moulin Rouge! and the Chanel commercial.
Nicole wore the same dress, designed by Lagerfeld himself, in her 2004 promotional film for Chanel #5 entitled “Le Film” directed by Baz Luhrmann. (Nicole is pictured in the ad with co-star Rodrigo Santoro)
“I understand why they thought that. I had worked on Moulin Rouge! so long it was in my bloodstream.’
In the commercial, Kidman played a Hollywood star desperate to escape the paparazzi. Wearing her iconic pink dress, she escapes the red carpet and hops in a cab with her on-screen love interest, played by Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro.
The pair are enjoying a whirlwind romance that has been banned by Nicole’s management, with footage showing the couple frolicking on the roof of a skyscraper topped with a statue in the shape of the Chanel icon.
Speaking to Vogue about her pink dress, Nicole said: “I have the most indelible memories of fitting with Karl in the atelier and I loved witnessing his dedication to his craft. I remember his laugh when he first sketched the dress and handed me the sketch. He always made me laugh. He designed a number of dresses for me but I think this is the most spectacular.”
In the commercial, Kidman played a Hollywood star desperate to escape the paparazzi
Wearing her iconic pink dress, she escapes the red carpet and hops in a cab with her on-screen love interest, played by Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro.
Shortly after Nicole arrived at The Met, her Instagram page was updated with a video showing behind-the-scenes footage from the 2004 commercial.
It showed Nicole putting on her costume and chatting with Karl in her dressing room, as well as footage of Baz and Karl working behind the camera.
There were also multiple shots of Karl sketching the designs for the dresses featured in the ad.
Nicole wore the same dress in her 2004 promotional film for Chanel #5 entitled “Le Film” directed by Baz Luhrmann. (Nicole is pictured in the ad)
“For Karl [love heart emoji] #MetGala,” Nicole captioned the post.
Nicole’s statement dress featured tulle straps at her shoulders that cascaded down the train like a veil, as well as a modest thigh slit at the side.
The A-lister made sure the focus was on her stunning dress by wearing simple black strappy stiletto heels and a very demure hair and makeup look.
Her strawberry locks were in a straight style with a slight wave — a contrast to the dramatic curls she originally sported in her 2004 commercial.
For jewelry, the Australian actress wore a pair of chandelier diamond earrings and a cocktail ring designed by Harry Winston, reportedly weighing 16.64 carats and 2.33 carats, respectively.
The actress snuggled up to her country star husband as he helped her up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s famous staircase
The pair looked like newlyweds as Keith led his wife up the stairs
Nicole was a vision of ethereal beauty as she walked the red carpet
Keith, who has been married to Nicole for 16 years, beamed as he held his wife’s hand in front of The Met’s front steps.
His elegant ensemble consisted of a black suit with tails and flared trousers paired with a buttoned shirt, patent leather shoes and a white skinny tie.
The tattooed rock star also pinned a white flower to his lapel and pinned a diamond brooch to his tie.
Shortly after Nicole arrived at The Met, her Instagram page was updated with a video showing behind-the-scenes footage from the 2004 commercial. (Nicole can be seen in the video on the left trying on her iconic pink dress and on the right speaking to Karl during filming.)
There were also multiple shots of Karl sketching the designs for the dresses featured in the ad
It’s the first time Nicole and Keith have attended the Met Gala since 2016.
Baz also joined his longtime girlfriend and muse Nicole on the red carpet, looking chic in a black suit with white trimmings.
The Met Gala will have Penelope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer and Dua Lipa as co-chairs along with Anna Wintour.
Vogue magazine announced the news of the theme in January via its social media and website, writing on Instagram: “This year the #MetGala – which benefits the @metcostumeinstitute of the @metmuseum – falls on May 1st and will be Talents honor one of the greatest in fashion: Karl Lagerfeld.”
The dress also has tulle straps on her shoulders that run down the train like a veil
The couple, who have been married for 17 years and have two children together, giggled like teenagers on the carpet
The outlet added that the 2023 theme will be “in honor of Karl.”
Karl died on February 19, 2019 at the age of 85 from complications of pancreatic cancer.
The fashion designer acted as a creative designer for Chanel, Fendi as well as his own label.
He also collaborated with Chloe, Patou and Balmain during his fashion career.
Nicole’s train was lifted by an assistant as she strutted into the event
Her strawberry locks were in a straight style with a slight wave, and she opted for a barely-there makeup palette
On its website, Vogue offered some styling tips to the lucky few invited to attend the Met Gala this year, and shared a list of “approaches” they can take when it comes to paying homage to Karl.
“The first, most authentic approach would be to wear an archive look from one of the labels Lagerfeld runs,” it suggested.
“The second would be to wear the modern Chanel or Fendi, two houses on which Lagerfeld left an indelible mark.”
The final recommendation was for guests to find their own version of Karl’s beloved cat, Choupette, and “dress a la Lagerfeld.”
Keith’s ensemble consisted of a black suit with flared pants, a white button-up shirt, patent leather shoes and a white skinny tie
“Lagerfeld, we suspect, would have hated a half-hearted tribute, and with such an immense oeuvre, guests should have no trouble finding a unique piece,” it continued.
Born in Hamburg, Karl moved to Paris in 1953.
He won an International Wool Secretariat competition in the coats category for his designer, along with Yves Saint Laurent, who won in the dresses category.
Soon after, he was hired as an assistant and later an apprentice to Pierre Balmain; He worked with Pierre for three years.
Baz Luhrmann also joined his longtime girlfriend and muse Nicole on the red carpet, looking chic in a black suit with white piping
In 1958, Karl was hired as artistic director of Jean Patou and worked with the brand on ten haute couture collections, according to Business of Fashion.
In 1964, Karl began freelancing for Chloe; Three years later he started working with Fendi.
In 1983 he began collaborating with Chanel, reviving the fashion house with the now iconic interlocking CC logo, resizing the bags and jewelry and updating the silhouette of the clothing for the brand.
In 1984 Karl founded his own brand Karl Lagerfeld.
Baz adjusted the train on Nicole’s dress, which he custom made for her to wear in her 2004 Chanel fragrance commercial
The Met Gala was founded in 1948 by Eleanor Lambert, a fashion publicist; She founded it as a fundraiser for the Costume Institute ahead of its first annual exhibition.
The gala was attended by members of high society and the fashion industry.
From 1948 to 1972, the gala was held in Central Park, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Rainbow Room.
In 1972, Diana Vreeland became an advisor to the Costume Institute; The participants were more prominently oriented.
Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Madonna and more have been on the guest lists at previous galas.
Anna, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, took over the chair position for the gala in 1995 and has held it ever since.
Every year Anna leads the event together with top-class participants; last year its co-chairs were Blake Lively, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Regina King.
Baz lovingly posed with Nicole at the entrance to the invitation-only event