The 2023 Met Gala promised to be intriguing,
given its theme focusing on Karl Lagerfeld and it certainly was. Attendees had a chance to showcase classic vintage red-carpet fashion, a theme that has been increasingly popular at the Met Gala and on other red carpets in recent years, as well as the general fashion industry.
As the world has become more aware of the impact of the fashion industry on the environment, people have been turning more and more to second-hand and vintage fashion as a more sustainable option. While luxury brands often highlight the meticulous effort invested in creating a red-carpet piece, it is worth considering whether they are equally meticulous about calculating their carbon footprint. While couture keeps skilled artisans employed, and preserves traditional and beautiful handwork that might otherwise be lost, the environmental impact of these creations is rarely addressed. Given the prevalence of synthetic materials, such as plastic sequins, that dominate red-carpet fashion today, it's unlikely that carbon footprint is a top priority for many luxury brands.
Needless to say, it was refreshing to see a 50% vintage takeover for this year’s Met Gala! What this means is that half of the couture wasn’t produced from scratch, hence there way less pollution and environmental damage with this year’s event. Several high-profile guests opted to wear Lagerfeld's own designs, scouring the archives of Chanel, Chloé, and Karl Lagerfeld to curate their Met Gala looks. This week, we've put together some of the most show-stopping vintage couture we've loved from this year's Met Gala!
Naomi Campbell
As a renowned supermodel who frequently collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld in the 90s and 2000s, Naomi Campbell opted for a stunning satin gown from Chanel's spring/summer 2010 couture collection.
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Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa opted to explore the Chanel couture archives and wore a white tweed dress famously modelled by Claudia Schiffer on the couture runway back in 1992.
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Gisele Bundchen
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen chose a Chanel bridal gown for the night. This dress was the final look from the spring/summer 2007 couture catwalk!
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Nicole Kidman
For the occasion, Nicole Kidman reached into her personal Chanel collection, donning the same exquisite couture gown she wore during the fragrance advertisement directed by Baz Luhrmann back in 2004.
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Vanessa Kirby
Vanessa Kirby, a British actress, paid tribute to Karl by donning a gown from his time at Chloé. The dress, affectionately known as the 'shower dress' due to its striking back, was part of the house's fall and winter collection in 1983.
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Kristen Stewart
Once again, Kristen Stewart and Chanel proved to be a perfect match at this year's Met Gala. The actress donned a vintage piece from Karl's unforgettable Men's cruise 2016 collection, which premiered in Cuba.
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Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard donned a dress from Chanel's autumn/winter 2007 couture collection, which she had previously worn to the 2008 BAFTAs. However, this time the actress opted for a more daring beauty look to complement the outfit.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope opted for a look that combines bridal glamour with a princess-style ensemble by wearing an archival bridal piece from Chanel Couture's spring/summer 1988 collection.
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The above are just some of our favourites, but many other celebrities opted for vintage either for the gala or for the after-party. Others opted for remade gowns to celebrate some of Karl’s oldest designs. All in all, we absolutely loved seeing all this vintage on show for once, rather than in a museum! Did you?
[info sourced on hollywoodreporter.com, vogue.com and harpersbazaar.com]