The 2023 Met Gala was one of the tamest yet

The Met Gala, in case you didn’t you know, is held in New York on the first Monday of May every year to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The theme of last night’s event was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” 

Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who chooses the theme, has come in for much criticism for her decision to honor Lagerfeld, the German fashion designer who died in 2019. Lagerfeld is today known as much for his controversial views as his achievements, which include transforming Chanel from a legacy brand into the most sought-after fashion house in the world. 

The Met Gala is one of those nights when the super-famous don’t have to pretend to be humble and normal and instead embrace extravagance and opulence

Lagerfeld viewed sweatpants as a “sign of defeat.” He thought anorexia wasn’t as dangerous as junk food or television. He said he was “fed up” of #MeToo. In a bizarre condemnation of his native Germany’s immigration policies, he stated that the country’s acceptance of refugees from Muslim majority countries was “an affront to Holocaust victims.”

Such controversial opinions would normally send celebrities running for the Hollywood hills. Yet fashion has its own set of incomprehensible rules, especially if Wintour is in charge — so last night the A-listers turned up in droves to celebrate the life of Lagerfeld. 

The Met Gala is one of those nights when the super-famous don’t have to pretend to be humble and normal and instead embrace extravagance and opulence. This turned out to be a fitting tribute for Lagerfeld who, in a curiously German way, valued extravagance and exclusivity above all else.

Of course the controversy over Lagerfeld was part of the schtick. Controversy garners attention and the Met Gala is tailored to people who value attention above all else. But, in a sort of homage to Lagerfeld’s disdain for fat people, for immigrants, for victims of sexual assault, and for women he didn’t perceive as beautiful, this was one of the tamest Met displays in years. Clearly, Wintour wanted to tone things down.  

Yes, the standard stunts were pulled: a nearly naked Kardashian, a man in nothing but silver body paint, crystals and a thong. It would be a breach of a tradition if there was none of that. 

But Lagerfeld’s idea of what women should be ruled the night: soft, feminine, often skeletal silhouettes. Tributes to Lagerfeld’s signature black bow worn in his ponytail were everywhere. Sweeping gowns and neutral tones replaced the usual brashness. In previous years, themes such as “Savage Beauty,” “Punk” and “Heavenly Bodies” generated all sorts of barminess. But Monday night was more muted — no Katy Perry dressed as a cheeseburger, no Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a bridal dress that says “TAX THE RICH” and no Rihanna dressed as an omelette. 

It was still over the top, yes. It had to be. But it wasn’t as garish as usual. It was almost — shock, horror — tasteful, although not quite because when fashion meets celebrity, shoutiness always wins out. This Met Gala was about as close as haute fashion gets to conservative. And that in a curious way was a testament to Karl Lagerfeld. 

This article was originally published on Spectator Life.