The 2023 Met Gala was held on Monday in memory of Karl Lagerfield, the fashion legend known for his iconic pieces.
Before his death in 2019, the designer was the creative director of the luxury brand Chanel. While managing his own eponymous fashion line, Karl also worked with several fashion houses such as Chloé, Balmain and Fendi.
Themed “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the event featured several pieces from his own collection and designs from other brands that referenced his style.
As expected, there were many memorable outfits at the event. However, some stood out in particular for the drama they brought to the red carpet.
In no particular order, here are the ten most dramatic outfits from the 2023 Met Gala
Deadlines
The Nigerian Afrobeats star continues to strengthen his presence not only in music, but in the entire showbiz of Hollywood. Earlier this year, the ‘Try Me’ crooner took the internet by storm with her extravagant white dress and vision-obstructing headpiece at the 2023 Oscars. For the Met, Tems returned with another head of feathered ends. Her black and white Robert Wun dress also featured a corset top and a skirt with a large train.
Lil Nas X
While it’s still debatable whether her look was a hit or miss, Lil definitely stole the show in her evening outfit. The Grammy-winning musician arrived dressed in silver. She was dressed in silver heeled boots and a metallic Dior thong. The silver look was further enhanced by her bejeweled mask and Swarovski crystals affixed to her body.
Doja Cat
Despite her simple sequined Oscar de la Renta gown, Doja definitely turned heads with her feline cat makeup. In addition to the hood with cat ears, the face was also restructured to look like a real cat. The look is a nod to his stage name and Lagerfield’s love of cats. The rapper stayed in character, refusing to speak. Instead, he purred and meowed in response to the interviewers’ questions.
Jared Leto
The actress walked the red carpet dressed as Lagerfield’s living mascot, Choupette. The costume captured the Burmese’s white hair and blue eyes. She later changed into a black outfit pulled from the late designer’s archives. Leto will play Lagerfeld in a Chanel biopic, which he is currently working on.
Jenelle Monae
The singer walked the red carpet in a three piece outfit, starting with a black and white Thom Browne tuxedo. The top layer of her garment was removed to reveal a sheer cone-shaped dress, encrusted with stones at the schools. Monae ended her red carpet walk in a black sequined bikini.
Rihanna
The billionaire head of the Fenty fashion empire was also present at the event. Rihanna appeared on the red carpet in a white Valentino gown with a large train that swept down the Met’s long steps. Her set also included a large flower head, which referenced Chanel’s flower, the Camellia.
diddy
Like many men at the event, Diddy also walked the red carpet in a black suit. However, the rap mogul switched her look up a notch with a loose cape embellished with Chanel’s Camellia flowers. The bottoms of the suit were lined with Swarovski crystals and black pearls.
Jeremy Pope
The actress turned heads on the red carpet in her black and white Balmain piece. The main attraction of the outfit was a large, long white train on which Lagerfeld’s massive photo was printed.
cardi b
The “Bodak Yellow” rapper became a regular attendee at the Met Gala and goes all out to present memorable looks for each edition. For the 2023 ball, Cardi stepped out of her hotel in a pale pink dress with a plunging neckline and a large feathered headdress. However, she changed up her red carpet look at the Met, wearing a black and white tie-dye dress. She also changed her hair to a gray wig to pay tribute to Karl’s salt and pepper hair. Her other looks included a pink and black dress and a printed newspaper dress featuring articles written about the late designer.
Jordan Roth
Roth, president of Broadway’s Jujamcyn Theatres, is described by Vogue as “one of the best dressed of the year.” Roth ditched the traditional suit and tie, and walked the red carpet in a black evening dress, with a blouse spread in a large fan. The look was a nod to an iconic image of Largerfield, where she holds a fan to cover the lower half of her face.
