Met Gala celebrates Karl Lagerfeld with feline tributes

New York's fashion elite gathered on the opening day of May to celebrate one of design's most influential figures, with the annual Met Gala taking an unexpected turn toward the feline.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute opened its doors to approximately 600 of the world's most exclusive names, all paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary fashion designer whose influence shaped the industry across five decades before his death in 2019. The evening was hosted by Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, tennis champion Roger Federer, pop star Dua Lipa, and Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour—who has orchestrated the benefit since 1995 and maintains absolute authority over the guest list.

But it was not Lagerfeld's designs alone that captivated the evening. His most famous companion became the unexpected star: Choupette, a Birman cat who held such a cherished place in the designer's life that she achieved celebrity status in her own right. Though the feline was absent from the proceedings, choosing the comfort of home over the night's glamour, her spirit animated the entire event. Actor Jared Leto arrived in a meticulously crafted cat costume that bore such a striking resemblance to Choupette that it immediately dominated social media conversations. Rapper Doja Cat added her own feline homage with prosthetic enhancements and facial alterations, joining in what became an unplanned but delightful tribute to the designer's most cherished companion.

The annual Met Gala represents far more than celebrity pageantry. Since its establishment in 1948, the event has evolved into one of the world's most exclusive and most lucrative fundraising initiatives. Tickets this year reached up to $75,000 each, with the 2022 gala raising more than $20 million for the Costume Institute's conservation and education work. Each invited guest collaborates with prominent designers to create bespoke or vintage pieces that adhere to the year's chosen theme—this year, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," celebrating his collections across some of fashion's most storied houses: Balmain, Chloé, Fendi and Chanel.

What unfolds inside the museum after the red carpet closes remains largely secret. Photography and social media are banned from the private exhibition tour and dinner that follow, though high-profile musical performances have occasionally featured at past events.

The guest list remains famously guarded, with Wintour maintaining complete control over attendees. Even celebrity companions brought by designers must receive her personal approval—a gatekeeping role she has performed with unwavering consistency for nearly three decades.

The Met Gala has proven not immune to controversy. Last year's attendance by Kim Kardashian, who wore Marilyn Monroe's historic dress to perform a tribute, sparked intense debate among fashion historians and conservation experts concerned about the fate of a cultural artefact. This year appeared refreshingly free of such discourse, allowing the feline tributes to dominate conversation and capture the public's imagination without distraction.