Sound the alarms, the 2023 Met Gala red carpet is here. The brief is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty and the fashion world is understandably at a standstill. Our eyes are glued to live streams and social media, all in an attempt to digest the spectacle that is the first Monday of May. As usual, there's a lot of chatter around who stuck to the theme, who had the best references, and why Rihanna always pull through (even if it's once the livestream is over). There were also countless of tributes in archival Chanel, which we had counted on.
So as the red carpet wraps up and guests sit down for the no-phones-allowed festivities, the RUSSH editors weigh in on the looks that stopped us in our tracks. There were some clear favourites among the RUSSH team. Alexa Chung scored high with her Chanel bride homage, wearing Róisín Pierce. Meanwhile, a smattering of others like Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa and Adut Akech cut through. (Don't ask us about Jared Leto, Lil Nas X or Doja Cat, we're still processing). Without further ado, find the best red carpet looks from the 2023 Met Gala, as selected by the RUSSH editors, below.
Jess Blanch
Editor in Chief
View this post on Instagram
Elle Fanning in vintage Aunty Viv (Vivienne Westwood) and a flower crown and bows is perfect to me. Closely followed by Taika Waititi (l would have wanted to wear this) and ASAP Rocky (of course). As for who I think Karl would have most approved of? Kristen Stewart. Always the least lame person in the room.
Ella O’Keeffe
Fashion & Brand Features Editor
View this post on Instagram
For me a stand out was Adut Akech in Carolina Herrera. The look felt quintessential for Karl’s long tenure at Chanel without feeling overly literal or costumey. The beauty tied it together and felt reminiscent of his Fall 2015 Haute Couture show for the House. I was so excited to see all of Karl’s muses nail the theme this year, but was sorely disappointed, so my runners up go to Dua Lipa, Alexa Chung, Michaela Coel, and Elle Fanning
Teressia Carr
Designer
View this post on Instagram
Everybody’s favourite Smurfette, Rihanna, was my favourite moment. Fashionably late Met queen forever.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director
View this post on Instagram
I have a few. As a self-confessed cat lady, my favourite thing about Karl Lagerfeld was Choupette. To the point that I shamelessly collected nearly every piece from the Choupette x Shu Uemura makeup collection. Naturally my favourite looks are Doja Cat and Lil Nas X’s cat-like outfits. Because when else can you wear prosthetics and a face of pearls on a red carpet? Life’s too serious, I like it when people have fun with their looks.
But I also loved Billie Eilish doing her best goth bride impression. It’s hot. Sydney Sweeney and her modern take on the emblematic dusty pink and black of Lagerfeld-era Chanel is picture perfect. And of course, I love that Nicole Kidman took the sustainable approach of rewearing her iconic pink dress from her 2004 Chanel No. 5 advertisement. A glorious throwback. I still remember the first time I saw it. I was 13 and it was one of the catalysing moments that made me fall in love with fashion.
Cassandra Dimitroff
Production Editor
View this post on Instagram
Dua Lipa in the vintage 1992 Chanel dress (originally worn by Claudia Schiffer on the runway no less). I also have a soft spot for Jenna Ortega’s Thom Browne corset dress, which was giving big gothic matador energy.
Rhiannon Hill
Implementation Manager
View this post on Instagram
Anne Hathaway’s ode to the 90s with a blend of Chanel and Versace codes. Who knew a mix of tweed, pearls, safety pins and a corset silhouette could look this chic.
Olivia Repaci
Creative Studio and Campaigns Manager
View this post on Instagram
With quite basic personal style and a love for the simple things in life, I’m finding myself gravitating towards some of the more subtle looks. Top 3 for me would be Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alexa Chung and Dua Lipa, who to me all stuck to the theme and paid homage in quiet but powerful ways. But something about Anne Hathaway’s slightly more detailed look is winning me over…
Jasmine Pirovic
Arts & Culture Editor
View this post on Instagram
Given the amount of notable absences, there were slays – Maya Hawke, Alexa Chung, Bella Ramsey, Michaela Coel, Olivia Rodrigo, Letitia Wright, Kristen Stewart – but my biggest takeaway from the 2023 Met Gala is that bullying works. After years of dragging them, the men finally gave us something to chow down on. So in this post I wish to show my appreciation to Taika Waititi, Bad Bunny, Pedro Pascal, and ASAP Rocky, even if he did show up late in jeans.
Elyssa Kostopoulos
Content Director
View this post on Instagram
Admittedly, I was a little nervous heading into this year’s Met Gala. The last few years it feels like there’s been an absence of respect (such an old farty word) for the theme, the process and quite frankly, the absolute treat that is receiving a coveted invite. So, with that in mind, I was very relieved to see a noticeable shift towards looks that honoured this sentiment (there are always exceptions, of course).
Alexa Chung was a real dream for me. I am not a bride to be, but if I was, this would be number one on my moodboard. Such a perfect interpretation of Karl Lagerfeld’s commitment to the ceremonious, and the added bonnet was perfect. And obviously Tom Sturridge is just hot, but we’ll unpack that at a later date…
Another honourable mention goes to Gen-Z’s princess, Olivia Rodrigo, who just looked very good. She might be one of the only guests in Thom Browne who nailed it and to be honest, can you really ask for anything more?
Kitty Callaghan
Contributing Editor
View this post on Instagram
For effort and playfulness I think Erykah Badu in custom Marni. I just love everything she does. She couldn’t see but knew exactly where she was going! As an ode to Karl, I thought Prabal Gurung executed the theme timelessly in his looks for Taika Waititi and Rita Ora.
Want more 2023 Met Gala coverage? RUSSH is here to deliver. For the best red carpet moments and beauty looks, we've got you covered. If you're favourite part of the whole affair is the internet's reactions, then we've compiled our favourite memes here. And if you're holding out for the Met Gala after party, here's our picks of the celebrities who nailed the post-Gala glam.
If you want to deep dive into past Met Galas, here are the on-theme looks from 2022. The best after party outfits, the viral moments that defined the 2022 Met Gala, and the beauty looks we've been trying to replicate ever since.
