Met Gala Goes White
Bridal Inspired looks that stole the show
On Monday May 1st, 2023 the annual Met Gala hosted by Vogue at the Met Museum in New York City. The gala is famously known for its extravagant themes that inspire show stopping looking for designs and celebrities to showcase on the carpeted stairs prior to entering the new exhibit.
The theme of the 2023 Met Gala was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty". The task given to celebrities and the House was to design a garment that was inspired by the decades of artistry that came from Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld was a German designer, most well-known for his work at Chloe and Chanel. He has pushed the boundaries of runway fashion with his set design, a fan favorite being his grocery store set from fall 2014, Chanel.
Lagerfeld stuck to mostly black and white color palettes, frequently accenting with gold. Everyone of his collections in included materials such as suede and tulle, and we saw plenty of that on the Met carpet as well. Lagerfeld loved to push the boundaries of fashion, creating new trends. We see examples of when Karl showcased bridal fashion on his runways all throughout his career.
As a way to honor Karl as the Gala themed called for, many celebrities and designers chose to continue his legacy of pushing bridal fashion, the most obvious being Dua Lipa. Dua Lipa recreated a Lagerfeld design, his 1992 white suede gown originally worn by Claudia Schiffer. According to a post made by Carats and Cake, Dua Lipa's dress is a perfect example of upcoming wedding fashion, noting the low set waistline. Dua Lipa's jaw dropping dress made an appearance early on the carpet, but had everyone talking all throughout the night. She not only honored Karl by recreating a wedding gown he designed, but she also modeled up and coming wedding trends.
Alia Bhatt made her Met Gala debut in Prabal Gurung, covered from head to toe in pearls. The use of pearls has been a prominent feature in Karl's designs for Chanel, where they have frequently adorned his models, accentuating the elegance of his personal brand. Bhatt and Lipa were inspired by the same 1992 dress, which is evident in the ballgown silhouette, the scooped neckline, and the low set waistline. Moreover, both Bhatt and Kim Kardashian were drawn to Karl's use of pearl jewelry, which has historically added an element of sophistication to his runway shows.
Anne Hathaway was inspired by Karl's wedding gowns for her Gala look as well. She was seen wearing custom suede Versace dress. Unlike Lipa and Cruz, Hathaway did not do a classic ball gown silhouette for her dress, but rather a mermaid or fit-and-flare silhouette. The all suede gown was decorated with gold and pearl accents, similar to Karl's style of work. The dress also included detached sleeves and a coat. Hathaway's dress still falls into the realm of bridal, even if it's not as overtly wedding-inspired such as Lipa's and Cruz's. We see mermaid silhouettes all the time in weddings, as many brides feel it fits their body style better than a ball gown. Just as Hathaway's dress features a daring cut out design from top to bottom, we can expect more bridal looks with transparent fabrics and skin-baring details.
Even more celebrities honored Karl's work in bridal at the '23 Met such as Rihanna, Penelope Cruz, and others. Karl was revolutionary in the bridal industry and continues to make an impact even after his passing.
