The MET Gala Honors Karl Lagerfeld
In September 2022, the announcement was made that the next MET Gala would honor the late Karl Lagerfeld with the exhibition titled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” The news sparked unprecedented curiosity about the celebrated couturier’s work.
This past Monday, as the guests paraded their thematic looks on the stairs of the venue, Lagerfeld’s outstanding contributions to the fashion world were once again on everyone’s lips. SEE GALLERY met-gala-moda-5- The best looks of the MET gala: from Penélope Cruz to Gisele Bündchen.
The ‘Karl Effect’ Takes Over
In previous editions, guests had a free hand to interpret the theme of the MET Gala until they made it their own. However, the premise of honoring Lagerfeld left little room for imagination. Each designer showcased Lagerfeld’s signature codes, from camellias to tweed suits, despite his work as creative director for other firms in his heyday.
Predictable? Yes, but it revived the legacy of a fashion icon, whose shine had reduced three years after his passing. VIEW GALLERY met-gala-fashion-2- The reasons why Penélope Cruz has been chosen as host of the MET Gala.
The Plan Takes Effect
According to data provided by the firm Karen Millen, as the stars paraded down the museum’s stairs, Google searches for ‘white floral dress’ and ‘white dress’ shot up by 172% and 163%, respectively. Black and white designs dominated many of the guests’ outfit choices, an obvious reference to Lagerfeld’s iconic style at Chanel.
The Wave of Chromatic Sobriety
This furor coincides with the wave of chromatic sobriety that has swept the latest fashion collections. The Tagwalk platform analyzed 1,243 looks from the Autumn/Winter 2023 catwalks to discover that black stood out in 49% of them, followed by white (21%). VIEW GALLERY met-gala-moda-3- The ‘beauty’ looks of the MET Gala: from the most radical changes to the latest makeup trends.
Elements of Lagerfeld’s Work Prevail
Elements that prevailed in Lagerfeld’s work at Chanel were the indiscriminate use of fabric tweed and pearl accessories. Throughout his 35-year tenure at the French house, Lagerfeld adapted them to the new lifestyle of modern women. Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Jenna Ortega, among other notable attendees at the MET gala, showcased the designer’s mythical contributions. Their outfit choices caused searches for ‘pearl dress’, ‘tweed dress’, and ‘tweed jacket’ to surge by 394%, 374%, and 193%, respectively, on the day of the event.
SEE GALLERY carlabruni- The MET gala in 15 moments that you cannot miss.
Karl Lagerfeld Label’s Future
The CEO of the eponymous firm that Lagerfeld founded in 1974, Pier Paolo Righi, estimates that the Karl Lagerfeld label can reach one billion euros in annual sales in the next three years. Currently, the label bills approximately 500 million euros. With Hun Kim as artistic director, the Karl Lagerfeld label focuses on the image of its creator as an individual, with the aim of attracting a young consumer with a more casual style.
