8 Met Gala 2023 Looks That Had Us Scratching Our Heads — See Photos
Pearls, tweed, and trains dominated the red carpet last night as A-listers put on their Monday best for the 2023 Met Gala. This year’s theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” with vintage looks and rare pulls from the fashion archives spotted walking up the Met steps to honor the legacy of the late designer. It’s not uncommon for celebs to miss the mark on the Met Gala theme, or to use the annual Gala as an opportunity to step out in some daring, but sometimes questionable looks — and 2023 was no different. Here is a roundup of the looks that had us scratching our heads at this year’s Met Gala.
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Pete Davidson
Hats are usually welcome at the costume institute, but a bucket hat may be the exception. Pete Davidson arrived at the museum wearing one to accessorize an already confusing ensemble that also included a trench coat, black gloves, and sunglasses. Compared to the 2022 Met Gala, where Pete looked sleek on the arm of Kim Kardashian in the controversial Marilyn Monroe gown, this year’s look is a downgrade to say the least. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
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Rami Malek
It’s not uncommon for the men of the Met Gala’s to do the bare minimum, but Rami Malek took it to the next level with a plain black and white ensemble by Prada. A small brooch added some sparkle to the look, but it was largely plain and guileless. Go ahead, king, give us nothing.
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Ariana Debose
While most attendees stuck to the theme this year, we’re not so sure Ariana Debose was doing the best job at it. Despite the ode to Karl’s white ponytail, the rest of the look raises a lot of questions — is that a puffer coat? With a fur trimmed hood? When asked about his inspiration for the look, designer Joseph Altuzarra explained that it was “a mix of utilitarian and 1920s,” which doesn’t exactly address our confusion.
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Kylie Jenner
Another clear departure from this year’s theme was Kylie Jenner’s floor-length red gown. We’re not sure where the reference to Karl Lagerfeld is in this look or if there is one at all. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, it was clear that Kylie matched the red and blue swirls on this year’s carpet better than the theme.
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Maude Apatow
Many stars dove into the fashion archives for the 2023 Gala, with Maude Apatow wearing a gown inspired by the arrow motifs in Lagerfeld’s 1983 Chloé collection. Despite being a strong reference to Karl’s design legacy, the gown’s impact at the event fell flat. Paired with Maude’s plain bob and simple makeup, the look felt dull and out of place at The Costume Institute.
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Jared Leto
Even though it was already confirmed on Instagram that Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat Choupette wouldn’t be in attendance at the Met Gala, Jared Leto took it upon himself to take her place on the carpet — and it was a bit too real for us. Halfway up the Met steps, after adequately scaring Lizzo, Leto removed the head of his costume to reveal a light blue makeup look mimicking the famous pet’s eyes. He eventually changed into an all-black ensemble once inside the museum. Honestly, we might have preferred it if he committed to the bit and repped Choupette all night long.
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Lil Nas X
Cat cosplay was out in full force at this year’s event, with Lil Nas X showing up in another feline inspired look. While the artistry of Lil Nas’s look was a sight to behold, with thousands of Swarovski crystals covering the musician and a mask of pearls and gems covering his face, we can’t help but feel like the look was leaning too far into tin man territory.
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Lily Collins
If there was an award for “Most Literal Interpretation of the Theme,” Lily Collins would take the trophy home this year. The actress showed up in a black and white gown by Vera Wang that included a train with “KARL” embroidered on her train – a matching look with the designer herself. We expected more from the Emily in Paris star this year, who has spent so much time in the fashionable city that Lagerfeld called home.
