Karl's Cat Takes Center Stage at Met Gala

Over the weekend, one of fashion's most exclusive nights took an unexpected turn when celebrities converged at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to honour the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld—and his beloved feline companion.

The annual Met Gala, long regarded as fashion's answer to the Oscars, centred this year on the Costume Institute's exhibition "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." But alongside tributes to the legendary designer's four decades of influence across Balmain, Chloé, Fendi, and Chanel, attendees found themselves celebrating something far more unexpected: Choupette, the Birman cat who became Lagerfeld's most devoted companion.

Lagerfeld's relationship with Choupette had become legendary in fashion circles. The designer doted on the feline with the kind of devotion most reserve for family. In his later years, Choupette became as recognisable as her owner—a white-furred muse who appeared in photographs, interviews, and even business decisions. So when word circulated that Choupette had turned down an invitation to the gala—opting instead to remain cosy at home—the cat became an absent presence that loomed over the evening's proceedings.

But Choupette's reluctance hardly dampened the feline tributes. Actor Jared Leto arrived in a striking human-sized cat costume bearing a remarkable resemblance to the celebrated Birman. The outfit instantly captured social media's attention, trending within hours of the red carpet. Singer and rapper Doja Cat followed suit, transforming her face with feline-inspired prosthetics and makeup that earned immediate viral traction among fashion followers and casual observers alike.

The focus on Choupette represented an unusual pivot for an event typically dominated by haute couture interpretations of the evening's theme. Yet it underscored something central to Lagerfeld's legacy: his ability to elevate even the most unlikely muse. For Lagerfeld, Choupette was never simply a pet—she was a statement, a collaborator, and a reflection of his distinctive worldview that blurred the line between fashion and whimsy.

The gala, hosted annually since 1995 by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, drew approximately 600 attendees from music, theatre, film, sports, and politics. This year's official hosts—announced in January by Vogue—included Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Wintour herself. Tickets reached $75,000 per person, with all proceeds supporting the Costume Institute's operations and exhibitions.

The event remains famously secretive once guests pass the red carpet. Photography and social media posts from the interior gala are prohibited, with attendees instead enjoying a private tour of the Lagerfeld exhibition and an exclusive dinner. Yet despite these restrictions, Choupette's unexpected starring role proved unstoppable—the cat, absent though she was, had managed to steal the evening.