Met Gala 2023:a genuine mistake?

We are used to celebrities and designers not complying with the dress code of each Met Gala. This year it has been exaggerated. The result of a tribute event to the career of Karl Lagerfeld, has been more like a Chanel fashion show. The archival looks of the maison and those inspired by it have left totally ignored the virtue of the designer to sketch and his work in other fashion houses.

Perhaps it’s because Chanel has been the major funder of the show. Or rather Anna Wintour’s inability to nail down the theme. Although the Met Gala theme “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” could have led to endless references to looks that Karl came up with, it was more of a tribute to Chanel or to the designer himself. Few attendees delved into Karl’s beginnings at Balmain and Patou, or even Chloé and Fendi. The red carpet has been tinged with a monotonous black and white and too many references to Chanel. Many guests took it quite literally, cosplaying Karl himself or his cat Choupette. For instance, the looks of Asap Rocky or Cara Delevigne or that of Jared Leto, Doja Cat and Lil Nasx playing the mascot.

Anna Wintour herself has not been clear about this year’s theme. The host of the event wore a design from the Chanel Spring Summer 2023 collection designed by Virginie Viard. Of course the outfit of Karl’s disciple says nothing about the late designer and his work.

Not to mention the questionable nature of honoring someone who has made violent speeches against women, homosexuals and fat people. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said that Coco Chanel “wasn’t ugly enough to be a feminist.” Which raises the question of whether Karl should really be honored by an industry that boasts of fighting for acceptance of all and tolerance.