"Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" will be the theme for this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute exhibition and the legendary Met Gala that accompanies it.
Lagerfeld was a regular who attended the exclusive event frequently during his lifetime (he passed in 2019). In 1954, the legendary designer won the Woolmark Prize for fashion along with another emerging talent, Yves Saint Laurent. Until his death, he designed clothes for his self-named brand, as well as Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, and, most famously, Chanel.
Lagerfeld’s looks have also been regulars at the Gala. Celebs like Blake Lively, Chloe Moretz, Dakota Johnson, Kristen Stewart, Pharrell Williams, Penelope Cruz, and Cara Delevingne have all worn his clothes to the event. American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has also worn his outfits several times.
Lagerfeld wasn’t without controversies during his lifetime. He was criticized for being fatphobic, Islamiphobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic several times, including after he made disparaging remarks about Heidi Klum and Adele, and compared the Jewish Harvey Weinstein to a pig.
Still, he’s one of the most recognizable names in fashion of the 20th century, and his mark on the world of style is indelible.
Last year, the theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," the second part of "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." The gala was canceled in 2020, but the 2019 theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion." In 2018, the gala explored the theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
The exhibit at the Costume Institute will run from May 5, 2023, until July 16, and the Met Gala will take place on the first Monday of May (which happens to be May 1).
