Judging the best and worst looks at the Met Gala

Image by: Herbert Wang
The Met Gala took place on May 1.

The first Monday of May is like Christmas for every fashion enthusiast when eyes turn towards New York City’s Upper East Side as the Met Gala marks the biggest and most exclusive fashion event of the year.

The selected theme for the 2023 Met Gala is ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ to remember the late designer. Advised to dress “in honour of Karl,” attendees donned a myriad of looks that struck balance between classic and contemporary elements and adhered to Lagerfeld’s love for black and white clothing, tailored shirts, leather gloves, and dark sunglasses.

Best: Doja Cat in Oscar de la Renta

First among the best dressed is Doja Cat in a white hooded Oscar de la Renta gown with a feather train. Sources say her cat-eye makeup, prosthetic nose, and claw nails took a total of four hours to apply. With this kind of patience, Doja deserves all the attention she got for a full-on feline costume that was a performance in itself.

When Emma Chamberlain asked her to go into detail about her inspiration, Doja Cat replied in character: “Meow, meow… meow.” Rough translation—she was inspired by Karl’s cat Choupette.

The “Planet Her” singer’s unbothered attitude and ability to take herself not so seriously is just what this elitist event needs.

Worst: Kim Kardashian in Schiaparelli

Next is Kim Kardashian dressed in a custom Schiaparelli gown made of a whopping 50,000 freshwater pearls. Though pearls are considered classic for Chanel, they aren’t exempt from the “less is more” rule in fashion, and better kept as decorative elements. Functionality is understandably not the top priority for Met Gala fashion, yet one would at the very least expect these beads to stay intact. This was unfortunately not the case, as pearls from Kim’s dress fell off throughout the night.

Best: Conan Gray in Balmain

Known for his moody indie pop music and dreamy aesthetic, Conan Gray’s sense of style carries over seamlessly to this custom-made Balmain ensemble. It pays particular homage to Karl’s high collars, signature fan, and black boots. Unlike with Karl, Conan’s fan wasn’t used to hit anyone. The pearl embellishments here are also fitting for this outfit, adding to its overall charm and elegance. Kim might want to take notes.

Worst: Anna Wintour in Chanel

As much as I respect Anna’s dedication to fashion publishing and efforts in spearheading the entire Met Gala since the mid-90s, her look this year was far from my favourite. One must squint to note the sequined cats all over Anna’s Chanel overcoat. The clunky coat also obscures another white dress that only emerges at the bottom, which altogether creates an awkward silhouette.

Best: Dua Lipa in Chanel

Taking a break from her typical bold and edgy aesthetic for the night, pop artist and Met Gala co-host Dua Lipa dressed in a cream-coloured gown borrowed from a Chanel Fall 1992 Haute Couture runway look. The Tiffany diamond necklace contrasts well with the tweed fabric in lieu of the looks original matching hat and jacket.

Worst: Jeremy Strong in Prada

Succession actor Jeremy Strong stood out from in a sea of black and white by donning a pale green
ruffled shirt and shiny brown coat. Despite paying a nice homage to Frank Ocean by repping neon green asterisk necklace from his jewellery line Homer, the eye-catching pendant still doesn’t help with staying on theme.

Best: Janelle Monáe in Thom Browne (pre-transformation)

Last but not least, Janelle Monáe wore an oversized Thom Browne coat dress with a conical
silhouette that makes turning one’s head impossible. As a playful accessory, Janelle carries a plump leather bag shaped like Choupette. Her otherworldly facial expression further fits perfectly with her
over-the-top costume.

Though I’m confused about is her choice of boots, everything else is great. Janelle’s look is unique, on theme, and most of all, memorable.

Tags

karl lagerfeld, met gala 2023

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