New year, new Met Gala. The stylish occasion — known internationally as the “Oscars of fashion” — will return to New York City this spring, and we’ve got all the details you need to know before stars flood the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic steps on May 1.
Below, discover everything you need to know about this year’s Met Gala.
What is the theme?
First: the theme. This year’s Gala will be held in honor of the legendary late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in Feb. 2019. Titled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the Costume Institute’s event and accompanying exhibit will highlight Lagerfeld’s modern and historical inspirations from the 1950s to his last Chanel collection in 2019. The exhibit will include approximately 150 garments — many with their original sketches — from Lagerfeld’s legendary posts at Chanel, Fendi and Chloé, as well as Balmain, Patou and his own Karl Lagerfeld label, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Who are the co-chairs?
Typically, an all-star slate of celebrities from the worlds of film, music, theater and fashion design are organized to host the annual event, which raises funds for the museum’s Costume Institute. However, in 2023 the set looks slightly different, as no fashion designers will be hosting the event compared to previous years. This year’s co-chairs are Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Roger Federer, Michaela Coel, Penelope Cruz and FNAA Collection of the Year Award winner Dua Lipa.
The list follows a similar formula as the 2022 Gala, where Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda served as co-chairs. However, during that event, designer Tom Ford served an honorary co-chair alongside Wintour and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri; the 2023 Gala currently holds no honorary co-chairs at this time.
What is the dress code?
Typically, the first Monday in May finds stars dressed within a specific theme interpreted by numerous top international brands. This year’s theme is “In Honor of Karl,” likely to find homages to the late designer’s personal image, aesthetics and brand relationships. We can already expect an abundance of tributes to Lagerfeld’s penchant for black and white, including features like his signature ponytail and sunglasses, suit and tie and fingerless gloves —though codes are always open to interpretation.
Which brands are sponsoring the Met Gala?
The event is made possible by Chanel, with additional support and funding from Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld and publishing house Condé Nast.
Who will attend the Met Gala?
Finally, the most important element of any party: who will be there? Though the Gala’s guest list is currently unknown, all of its co-chairs are expected to attend. Additionally, Vogue‘s May cover — which traditionally features a celebrity co-chair, verifiably confirming their attendance — has been released, hinting that its viral stars will surely walk the Met steps: Lagerfeld muses Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Devon Aoki, Shalom Harlow, Amber Valletta, Adut Akech, Natalia Supernova, Anok Yai and Liu Wen. Past events have featured an array of established and rising celebrities, including brand partner ambassadors, Vogue‘s recent covergirls (the U.S. edition’s others include Cara Delevingne and Florence Pugh) and the most recent winners of awards including the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys.
PHOTOS: Discover all the stars at the 2022 Met Gala in the gallery.
