Karl Lagerfeld was a complicated man, which makes “honoring” his designs even more difficult for this year’s Met Gala attendees. Celebrities will have a narrow window to steal red carpet attention for the benefit—figuratively and literally—of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s upcoming Costume Institute exhibit, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” as they line up for 2023’s fashion festivities.
Unlike last year’s notoriously open-ended “Gilded Glamour” theme, a dress code inspired by Lagerfeld’s works should provide more direction as celebrities and their stylists prepare to dazzle. However, homages can just as easily go horribly wrong. In any case, the entire world will be watching—and judging. Here’s what we know so far about this year’s Met Gala.
When is the 2023 Met Gala?
The 2023 Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, will be held on May 1, 2023, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The red carpet usually begins live coverage around 6 p.m. EST, though celebrities are notorious for arriving (fashionably) late.
Who are this year’s co-chairs?
The Met announced on January 18 that the evening’s co-chairs will be actress and screenwriter Michaela Coel, actress Penélope Cruz, tennis star Roger Federer, pop sensation Dua Lipa, and—as always—Vogue editor-in-chief and Condé Nast Global CCO Anna Wintour. One noteworthy observation: this year’s co-chair slate contains no designers. What this means for the party, in the long run, remains to be seen.
What is the 2023 Met Gala theme, and what does it mean?
Given that the Met has announced that both the exhibition and the Gala will be supported by Chanel, Fendi, and Karl Lagerfeld himself, you can expect to see a slew of celebrities dressed in those labels. But, rather than simply wearing his old designs, let’s hope to see some more creative takes on “honoring” Lagerfeld.
Who’s invited to the 2023 Met Gala, and who’s going?
You can expect the usual suspects, in addition to the co-chairs: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, the Hadid sisters, the Biebers, Zo Kravitz, Billie Eilish, and—if we’re lucky—Lady Gaga and Beyoncé will all be invited. However, no one has been confirmed to arrive as of yet.
The Kardashian-Jenner family, who are typically guaranteed guests at the annual bash, has been the subject of conflicting reports: According to Page Six, the hosts are “cracking down on the guest list,” which means the Kardashians and Jenners might not even get an invite. However, another source (close to the family) denied the rumors. Regardless, it’s unclear whether the crew will attend.
Can I go to the Met Gala?
A better question might be, how wealthy and famous are you? Even if you’ve gained enough notoriety to earn one of the coveted invites, you’ll need to fork over a significant sum to secure a ticket. (According to the New York Times, tickets cost $35,000 each last year, and tables ranged from $200,000 to $300,000). Having said that, it’s simple to watch the Met Gala from afar: the event is always live-streamed online, and photos are quickly shared.
