Fashion History Repeats Itself at this Year’s Met Gala
This year’s Met Gala was a star studded affair full of celebrities bringing their fashion A game. This year's theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” with a dress code of “in honor of Karl.” The museum describes the exhibit as:
“...the work of Karl Lagerfeld. Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the show will spotlight the German-born designer’s unique working methodology.”
Many outfits featured looks pulled from Lagerfeld’s fashion legacy, specially from his long tenure at Chanel. Here is a list of the top vintage looks from the red carpet.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is one of this year's Met Gala co-chairs and had one of the first looks on the red carpet. She kept her look simple but classy by wearing a cream colored tweed gown from Chanel’s 1992 Fall/Winter Haute Couture Collection. The gown has black trim around the corset and bodice to outline the body and the original gown was worn by 90s supermodel Claudia Schiffer at the end of the show as the ‘Chanel bride.’
Video courtesy of @dualipa
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer wearing the dress with Karl Lagerfeld Photo: GAMMA-RAPHO via: People Magazine
Gisele Bündchen
Retired supermodel Gisele Bündchen graced the red carpet in a dress from Chanel’s 2007 Spring/Summer couture collection. The stunning silver gown is covered in sparkled fabric with an attached white feathered cape. The gown featured strips of silver fabric on top of white mesh fabric for an added effect.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris via The Zoe Report
Chanel’s 2007 Spring/Summer couture collection Photo: Chanel via Livingly
Margot Robbie
Actress Margot Robbie wore a remake of a Chanel gown from their 1993 spring couture collection. The dress was originally worn by supermodel Cindy Crawford. The dress features a see through corset at the waist that is lined with Chanel’s classic chain trim along with a flowy one shoulder strap that goes into a train.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris via The Zoe Report
Supermodel Cindy Crawford in the 1993 spring couture show Photo: Chanel Archives via Vogue
Nicole Kidman
Actress Nicole Kidman wore a couture gown from 2004 that she also wore in a fragrance commercial for Chanel’s No. 5 fragrance. The commercial was a hit at the time and was directed by Baz Luhrmann. The gown is made of pink tulle and is covered in thousands of crystals and ostrich feathers complete with a matching tulle train. The commercial is one of the most expensive commercials ever made to this day with it costing $33 million. Kidman said about the dress, “I have the most indelible memories of fittings with Karl in the atelier, and I loved witnessing his dedication to his craft. I remember his laugh when he first sketched the dress and handed me the sketch. He always made me laugh,” she said. “He designed a number of dresses for me, but I think this is the most spectacular. I remember he made me a pink dress for the Oscars one year. When he designed, he always loved to see me in the palest of pink.”
Photo: ANGELA WEISS via The Zoe Report
Kidman’s No. 5 Commercial Photo: Youtube via Fashionista
Jennie Kim
Member of Kpop group BLACKPINK and Chanel ambassador Jennie Kim wore a vintage dress from Chanel’s Fall/Winter 1990/1991 couture collection. The dress is a flared white mini dress that has a black ribbon and the famous white Chanel flower around the waistline. She accessorized the dress with black gloves, tights, a choker and pumps complete with a black headband with a white Chanel flower.
Photo: Kevin Mazur via The Zoe Report
Chanel Fall/Winter 1990/1991 Collection Photo: Chanel via Nylon Magazine Manila
Lizzo
Singer and rapper Lizzo was decked in pearls in true Chanel fashion. The singer wore a dress from Chanel’s Fall 1991 Ready to Wear collection worn by 90s supermodel Linda Evangelista. The long black dress is covered in pearls that hang to the floor and has a train complete with a pearl pattern. Lizzo accessorized with pearled fingerless gloves and bracelets with pearl earrings.
Photo: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS via Elle
Linda Evangelista Chanel Fall 1991 Ready to Wear Show Photo: Conde Nast via Vogue
Margaret Qualley
Actress Margaret Qualley wore a mini dress from Chanel’s Spring 1997 couture show. The black dress is covered in lace and sleeveless. The dress has a silk belt with a crystal brooch on the side. The actress completed the look with lace up black high heels.
Photo: John Shearer via Popsugar
Chanel’s Spring 1997 Couture Photo: Conde Nast Archives via Vogue
Naomi Campbell
The supermodel Naomi Campbell wore a pink gown from Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2010 couture collection. The dress looks like it's elegantly melted onto Campbell and is a pink satin gown that is draped on one shoulder. The other shoulder has silver brocade detailing. The model accessorized with matching silver bracelets and earrings.
Photo: John Shearer via Harper’s Bazaar
Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2010 Couture Photo: Monica Feudi via Vogue
Penelope Cruz
Actress, Chanel ambassador and Met Gala co-chair Penelope Cruz wore a ball gown inspired by a dress from Chanel’s 1988 Spring Summer couture collection. The gown is pale sheer mint green covered in crystal patterns. Cruz pulls from current fashion trends with a hood attached to a bodice that is also covered in crystals to match her gown. The dress has a crystal belt that is the same color and style. On her relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, Cruz said to ET, “He was very special. He was very kind to me. I met him in 1999. And I was always wearing his designs, and then a few years before he died, he asked me to be an ambassador of the brand and then we became very close friends,” she said. This is a very emotional day, because we were very lucky to be able to spend time with Karl and I love him. I miss him so much, and to be here celebrating him is really special and emotional.”
Photo: Christopher Polk via The Zoe Report
The Met gala is a part of the new Karl Lagerfeld exhibition which will be held from May 5th to July 16th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition features many aspects of the late designer's work and sketches with over 150 of his pieces. The pieces will be from his tenures with Fendi, Chanel, Balmain, Patou, Chloé and his namesake Karl Lagerfeld brand.
