[imagesource:choupettelagerfeld/instagram]

The 2023 Met Gala was in celebration of Karl Lagerfeld.

And although the late fashion icon said and did some questionable things in his life – like pedalling Islamophobia, sending flowers to an accused rapist, criticising the #MeToo movement, and routinely slamming female celebrities’ bodies – plenty of celebrities showed up on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to honour the positive mark he left in the fashion world.

The designer, remembered for his signature white ponytail, dark sunglasses and love for his cat Choupette (the pair are pictured above), was widely known for his work at Chanel, but he was also the creative director at Fendi and his eponymous Karl Lagerfeld label.

While the fashion mogul died in 2019, he lived on in the pearls, tweed, and black and white suits worn by the celebs on the Met Gala red carpet, per HuffPost:

[Vogue] encouraged guests to interpret the theme in one of three ways: by wearing “an archival look from one of the labels Lagerfeld led,” by sporting “modern-day Chanel or Fendi,” or finally, to dress like Lagerfeld or Choupette, which seems like the purrfect invitation for some truly cat-astrophic couture.

Kylie Jenner is the only one who seems to have misunderstood the assignment:

i need miss kylie jenner to go back to her hotel and put on her ACTUAL met gala outfit cause ??? pic.twitter.com/ZWsSgCKLxL

— (@daydreamdaisyy) May 2, 2023

It was rumoured that the Kardashians would be dumbed from the Met Gala, but three of them did make an appearance. At least Kim and Kendall were more on point:

Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner pose at the #MetGala. pic.twitter.com/VCS63vsUTR

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 2, 2023

Things were awkward when Olivia Wilde and Margaret Zhang showed up in the same dress:

Olivia Wilde and Margaret Zhang wear the same dress to the 2023 Met Gala. https://t.co/bhXfhtgyg0

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 2, 2023

But not as awkward as poor Emma Chamberlain desperately trying to get a human word out of Doja Cat, who pitched up as Karl’s feline friend, although she ought not to have:

.@DojaCat was interviewed by Emma Chamberlain at the #MetGala.
pic.twitter.com/BKBzY6NT4U

— The Kittens Room (@TheKittensRoom) May 2, 2023

Jared Leto also came as Karl’s pet:

Jared Leto showed up to the Met Gala in a giant costume resembling Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld’s cat. https://t.co/2jJ7tDbL0K pic.twitter.com/OATdmYGq5B

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 2, 2023

As for the actual cat, she did not attend the Met Gala, preferring to stay peaceful and cosy at home:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupetteofficiel)

Whatever, the Choupette wannabes were arguably more interesting:

I unlocked my Twitter for this #MetGala pic.twitter.com/uhmODuvIra

— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) May 2, 2023

That’s Lizzo, who totally slayed as a Chanel ambassador, along with Margot Robbie and Angèle in pieces inspired by looks that appeared on the runway between 1991 and 1995:

Margot Robbie wearing Chanel spring 1993 couture at the Met Gala 2023 pic.twitter.com/BtPUXdSReU

— ✧ mayara ✧ (@ccherrybbombb) May 1, 2023

Angèle au Met Gala, dans une tenue Chanel Printemps/Été 95 pic.twitter.com/E4uCbVMcN2

— Views (@viewsfrance) May 2, 2023

Jeremy Pope also made quite a statement with his spectacular (custom Balmain) Karl-face train on display behind him as he ascended the stairs:

Jeremy Pope arrives at the 2023 #MetGala in Balmain. pic.twitter.com/XAjwAnCpbB

— Rap Alert (@rapalert6) May 2, 2023

The Guardian notes that the designer had a tendency, in later years, to shamelessly self-promote, collaborating with plush toy companies to make dolls of himself and emblazon his image on T-shirts, handbags and bottles of Diet Coke.

Making oneself a cartoon character and winnowing one’s personhood into a brand is apparently right at home in the contemporary fashion landscape.

Lil Nas X stood out not just because he wore the creation of makeup artist Pat McGrath rather than a designer, but because his look touched on a different aspect of Lagerfeld’s legacy:

Lil Nas X on the #MetGala carpet! pic.twitter.com/lev1wgqdRF

— BaddiesWest TEA (@bgctea2020) May 1, 2023

He also trolled the reporters with meows instead of human words:

Lil Nas X chatting with reporters at the #MetGala pic.twitter.com/7sLfAajVeS

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 2, 2023

Pedro Pascal was confusing:

Mando (Pedro Pascal) is channelling the Emperor’s Royal Guard for this look #MetGala pic.twitter.com/efSW8D82cV

— Bertin Huynh 黄嘉麒 (@bertinhuynh) May 2, 2023

But we love him anyway:

Pedro Pascal is on his way to the 2023 #MetGala pic.twitter.com/z0GOuqygG8

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 1, 2023

Cardi B did the most:

Cardi said y’all want Karl Lagerfeld? I’m going to BE Karl Lagerfeld. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/23eb4WAxQU

— BAVY (@itsbavy) May 2, 2023

Somehow, everyone was very excited about a cockroach walking the famed stairs:

A cockroach makes its way through the #MetGala carpet.

pic.twitter.com/CHJLsYDIP8

— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 2, 2023

That cockroach at the #MetGala served pic.twitter.com/DfQXmyQc6T

— ℝ (@OrelBryanG) May 2, 2023

But not as excited as when Rihanna and ASAP Rocky finally graced the Met Gala. Better late than never, and they know it:

Rihanna at #MetGala

pic.twitter.com/isAi7cmMs3

— @21metgala (@21metgala) May 2, 2023

At least she killed it by baring her baby bump for the world to see:

Thread of stunning looks at the Met Gala 2023 ✨

10. Rihanna pic.twitter.com/tu0DnoGbEG

— Mani ❁ (@iam_zamanii) May 2, 2023

That’s a wrap. If you’re after more, head here and here.

[source:guardian&huffpost]