Stars like Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman celebrated the German star designer Karl Lagerfeld posthumously in the New York Metropolitan Museum. For around five hours, they walked along with dozens of other stars on Monday evening (local time) over a beige, red and blue carpet that had been laid out over the front steps of the famous Central Park Museum in Manhattan.
The dress code included fashion designed by or reminiscent of Lagerfeld. The spectacle opened the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” exhibition about the designer’s work at the Metropolitan Museum.
Impressive outfits for the guests
“I loved Karl so much and it’s wonderful to see that so many people have come to pay him the honor he deserves,” said the charity’s supreme host, Vogue boss Anna Wintour. who was the first to climb the steps. Pregnant Rihanna – in a sweeping white gown with a train – and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, were the last guests to arrive about five hours later.
In between, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Roger Federer, Penélope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Cardi B, Glenn Close, Sofia Coppola, Billie Eilish, Anne Hathaway, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, among others, also showed up as well as Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham.
The star-studded event traditionally takes place on the first Monday in May. Often dubbed the “Party of the Year,” the Met Ball is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute. The annual budget of the institute, which is now named after Wintour, is estimated at millions of dollars from the “Costume Institute Benefit”.
Celebrities rave about Lagerfeld
“Karl always made me laugh, he was so funny,” said actress Kidman, who appeared with husband Keith Urban and in a pink dress Lagerfeld once designed for her. “I knew him well and have a great, great love for Karl.” Model Naomi Campbell, who was a guest at a Met Gala for the 16th time, also raved about Lagerfeld.
“I loved Karl, he was always so focused on each individual person.” Lagerfeld was a “wonderful man,” said model colleague Gisele Bundchen, who came to the gala alone in a white feather outfit after separating from the ex-football pro. “I am happy to be here and to honor him.”
Lagerfeld was a “machine of creativity, energy and humor,” said US designer Michael Kors. Designer colleagues such as Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger also paid tribute to Lagerfeld. “You didn’t go anywhere with Karl, you entered his world,” said designer Thom Browne. “And from then on, time stood still.” The German designer was simply an “icon”, said singer Lopez. “It almost feels a bit overwhelming to be here,” said French singer Carla Bruni. “I can feel his spirit here.”
A tribute is also paid to cat Choupette
But not only Lagerfeld himself was celebrated, but also his cat Choupette. She didn’t appear herself, but numerous guests with handbags and the like in the form of cats did. The musician Doja Cat even came in a silver glittering cat outfit. “This is my first Met Gala and it’s not going badly, I’m relaxed and feeling good.” Actor Jared Leto appeared in a full-body Fur Choupette costume.
There were also two baby surprises: Model Karlie Kloss was pregnant with husband Joshua Kushner and confirmed that the couple was expecting their second child. And ex-tennis pro Serena Williams also posed with husband Alexis Ohanian – and baby bump. “There are three of us here, our newcomer,” Williams said. “I’m fine. I can breathe and stop hiding.” The couple already has a daughter together. “Everyone here is excited,” said actress Olivia Wilde. “Nobody is so conceited that they are not excited here – but then people dance inside.”
