5 key moments of the Met Gala 2023

Last night, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one of the most watched gala dinners in the world, the Met, took place. Although it is not possible to take a peek inside the event - by strict instructions of organizer Anna Wintour, phones are not allowed - the fashion show that takes place on the museum's red carpet offers a true spectacle, a riot of enthralling styling, which for years has driven thousands of people to spend an entire night glued to a screen to judge every look worn by the celebrities. Last night's theme was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, in honor of the German designer and former artistic director of Chanel and Chloé, who passed away in 2019. Let's review together which, according to the nss editorial team, were the highlights of this Met. 

The nostalgics 

Nicole Kidman

Chanel N5

Gisele Bündchen

Gisele Bündchen shot by Lagerfeld, Harper's Bazaar 2007

During an artistic tenure spanning almost 70 years, Lagerfeld collaborated with numerous models and artists - one more beautiful than the next, ça va sans dire. Last night, to recall some of the moments spent with the designer, two of his former muses decided to dust off two outfits that Lagerfeld had designed for their sculptural physiques. Nicole Kidman walked down the red carpet aisle - which was then champagne-colored, with red and blue stripes - wearing the same dress Lagerfeld had chosen for the 2004 Chanel N5 commercial, in which the Australian actress starred. Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, on the other hand, unearthed from the Chanel archives a mermaid dress with white glitter stripes, topped with a frothy feathered cape, a look she wore for an editorial shot by Lagerfeld for a 2007 issue of Harper's Bazaar Korea.

The cosplayers 

Usher

Ke Huy Quan

Asap Rocky

Olivier Rousteing

The outfits worn by the men present at this year's Met were, as usual, quite basic, nothing new compared to the innovative proposals seen during the last fashion weeks, and not as funny as the looks chosen for the women. Some, however, decided to pay homage to Karl Lagerfeld by fully interpreting his character by copying his outfits from head to toe, wigs excluded. The best was the leading actor of Everything Everywhere All At Once, Ke Huy Quan, who walked the carpet in front of the Met photographers in a blue pinstripe Dior Men suit, black fingerless gloves studded with rings, and a large brooch in the center of his tie, also pinstriped. Like him, also trying to copy Lagerfeld's signature look was Asap Rocky, who showed up in a kilt as the designer had bowed at the end of a show in 2004, Usher, in a simple Bianca Saunders look and leather gloves, and Olivier Rousteing, who paid homage to an iconic tote bag designed by Naco Paris and sported by Karl Lagerfeld in 2009, which read «Karl Who?»

The copycats

Margaret Zhang

Olivia Wilde

Chloé SS83

No one would ever want to find themselves on a red carpet wearing the same dress as another guest, least of all when the event in question is the Met Gala. Last night an embarrassing episode was dodged by Olivia Wilde, the American actress and director, a former flame of Harry Styles, and Margaret Zhang, the Australian-Chinese film director and editor of Vogue China. Both appeared at the Met entrance wearing a dress that took inspiration from a design Lagerfeld had created for Chloé SS83. Colors and silhouettes were slightly different, but both looks featured a large golden guitar-shaped silhouette, as the '83 design intended.

The Choupettes

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

Lizzo and Jared Leto

Doja Cat

Doja Cat

A couple of months ago, it was rumored that Naomi Campbell would be in charge of bringing Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, to the Met Gala dinner. In fact, not many could have predicted that it would be Doja Cat and Jared Leto who would be taking whiskers and claws to last night's red carpet. The pop star and actor showed up in two rather bizarre outfits: Doja Cat in a sparkling Oscar de la Renta gown with pointed ears and a tiara, and hyper-realistic make-up by Malina Stearns that really made her look like a feline; Jared Leto, on the other hand, opted for a real mascot costume in the shape of a cat, huge and almost frightening. Lizzo thought she was hallucinating when she saw it. 

Rihanna 

Rihanna

Rihanna

Rihanna

Rihanna

It is impossible to think of writing about the Met Gala without mentioning the queen of the red carpets, Rihanna. Even before Monday 1st May arrived, the pop star and businesswoman had given her followers a few shots of her in a black and white Chanel mini dress, shrug, and feathered broadcloth hat, finally adorned with a pair of "sunglasses" bearing the House's woven Cs. Tonight, Rihanna graced the Met with partner Asap Rocky wrapped in a cocoon of white camellias, one of the key symbols of the French brand's DNA. This look was also paired with a pair of white sunglasses, this time decorated with a pair of false eyelashes applied.