Fashion Pays Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at Glittering Met Gala
Fashion's biggest night honoured Karl Lagerfeld at the start of the week, as A-list celebrities descended on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for the annual Met Gala.
The evening, hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour for nearly three decades, celebrated the late designer's enduring influence through the Costume Institute's exhibition "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." The German-born fashion visionary reshaped the industry across four decades, steering the creative vision at Chanel, Fendi, Chloé and Balmain before his death in 2019. His minimalist aesthetic and perfectionism became synonymous with high fashion itself.
Around 600 of fashion's most influential figures—drawn from music, theatre, film, sports and politics—attended the exclusive black-tie event, with tickets fetching up to $75,000 each. Vogue's benefit committee, overseen by Wintour herself, maintains the guest list with legendary secrecy. This year's co-hosts, announced in January, included tennis legend Roger Federer, British-Ghanaian actor Michaela Coel, singer Dua Lipa and Spanish actress Penélope Cruz.
But the evening's most memorable moments belonged to fashion's most unexpected tribute: Lagerfeld's beloved Birman cat, Choupette. The designer's cherished pet had been extended an invitation to the gala but graciously declined, preferring to remain "cosy at home," representatives announced. Yet the feline dominated the evening's creative conversation. Actor Jared Leto arrived in an oversized cat costume bearing striking resemblance to the fashion world's most famous pet, immediately trending across social media. Rapper and singer Doja Cat channelled Choupette through cat-inspired prosthetics and facial transformations, turning the tribute into an unexpected moment of levity among the evening's usual solemnity.
The spectacle underscores the Met Gala's evolution as fashion's most exclusive and influential annual gathering since its founding in 1948 as a fundraiser for the Costume Institute. What began as a small industry event with $50 tickets has become a cultural phenomenon commanding global attention. Last year's gala raised more than $20 million for the Institute alone.
Yet the event has not escaped controversy. Kim Kardashian's decision to wear Marilyn Monroe's historic white gown in 2022 sparked significant debate among fashion historians and preservationists over the handling of cultural artefacts. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "tax the rich" dress in 2021 drew accusations of performative politics on fashion's most rarefied night.
What happens beyond the red carpet remains strictly guarded—photography and social media posts are prohibited indoors. Attendees enjoy private exhibition tours and dinners featuring world-class musical performances. For those selected by Wintour, the evening represents the pinnacle of fashion's celebration of legacy, artistic vision and unbridled creative expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Met Gala is the annual fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. It draws around 600 of the world's most influential celebrities, who pay up to $75,000 per ticket. The event was first held in 1948 and last year's gala raised over $20 million for the Institute.
The Costume Institute's annual exhibition celebrated "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," honouring the late German fashion designer who passed away in 2019. Lagerfeld reshaped the fashion industry through his visionary leadership at major houses including Chanel, Fendi, Chloé and Balmain across four decades.
The costume was a tribute to Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld's beloved Birman cat. Although Choupette declined her invitation to attend the event, the designer's cherished pet became a dominant theme of the evening, with multiple celebrities, including rapper Doja Cat, honouring the feline through their fashion choices.