Last night’s Met Gala theme, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, offered guests a few subjects for interpretation in the realm of red carpet ensembles and their corresponding beauty extensions. Guests explored the fashion designer’s sartorial legacy in one way or another. We saw these themes draped on Penélope Cruz and Nicole Kidman in the form of archival CHANEL or Maude Apatow’s modern interpretation of one of Karl’s old Chloé looks. Others reimagined his iconic uniform. Think Usher in Bianca Saunders (leather gloves—check!) or Janelle Monáe’s multi-step-reveal Thom Browne ensemble. Or, and here we pause for dramatic effect, attendees could riff on Karl’s feline significant other: his 11-year-old Birman cat, Choupette. And riff they did, whether that’s Keke Palmer invoking Choupette blue for her cape or Jared Leto’s The-Masked-Singer-esque giant catsuit. The latter was not of the Catwoman variety—though perhaps this will inspire a reboot—but instead furry, supersized outerwear that he stepped out of mid-catwalk. Below, we’ve asked artist Austin Call to reimagine the looks of those we feel took the biggest sartorial risks—and reaped the rewards.
1. Dua Lipa in CHANEL and Tiffany & Co.
As one of this year’s co-chairs of tonight’s event, Dua Lipa showed up towards the beginning of the red carpet proceedings and captured everyone’s attention in this tweed CHANEL ball gown—the same look Claudia Schiffer wore in the fall 1992 Haute Couture runway show. Hoop skirt aside, the real star of her look was the jaw-dropping Tiffany & Co. Legacy diamond hanging from her neck, which clocks in at over 100 carats.
2. Janelle Monáe in Thom Browne
Janelle Monáe ticked two winning boxes in terms of Met Gala red carpet sartorial opportunities last night. First, they embarked upon a multi-step wardrobe change in the middle of the carpet. Second, they wore Thom Browne—a near-sure coup in our eyes. The star began her ascent in a two-toned tweed Lagerfeld-ian coat which she then shed (with the help of a kind attendant) to reveal a starchy white button-down, then a sheer hoop dress and glittering string bikini. They accessorized with a Choupette-style handbag in lieu of Browne’s signature dog.
3. Michaela Coel in Schiaparelli
Another co-chair of the event, Michaela Coel, stunned in a sheer custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture number last night (yet another page in the Met Gala’s fascinating naked dress history). The tulle dress features over 135,000 crystal beads and 26,500 mixed stones. The whole thing took a mere 3,800 hours of hand embroidery work and it shows. The trompe l’oeil jewelry (in different shades of gold and translucent topaz) was inspired by Lagerfeld’s infamous costume jewelry, without divorcing Daniel Rosenberry’s sartorial kink for human anatomy.
4. Kendall Jenner in Marc Jacobs
The no-pants trend takes the red carpet! Kendall Jenner, a previous perpetrator, attended the festivities with designer Marc Jacobs. Together, they riffed on elements of Lagerfeld’s signature uniform—though the result is quite different from anything he may have worn (we assume). The look featured a sequined black bodysuit with exaggerated sleeves (complete with quilted lining) that dragged the floor and an embellished white collar. Jacobs’ iconic Kiki boots also made their Met Gala debut on the supermodel’s feet, giving her nearly seven extra inches of height—not that she needs it.
5. Jared Leto in Karl Lagerfeld Couture
Jared Leto and the Met Gala go together like a suit and tie, neither of which the polarizing actor chose to don for the evening’s celebration. Instead, he opted for a rather life-like catsuit in homage to Choupette. This he shed as he ascended the steps to reveal a cape-like black tunic with beaded shoulder pieces. He did so piece by piece to retain an air of mystery in a manner the brand dubbed a “theatrical performance.” There are now images of Leto holding a cat head in a manner similar to the way he held his own head in 2019—will this become a recurring motif? (I can also personally account for the presence of said cat head at many an after-party that evening.)
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