Met Gala 2023: How to watch, everything to know as stars dress to honor Karl Lagerfeld
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Fashion can be mind-blowing at any time. But there's only one night a year that we are sure to catch a glimpse of jaw-drop worthy, over-the-top fashion moments like Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress, Billy Porter as a golden god or Blake Lively in a New York-themed dress that transformed before our eyes: the Met Gala.
One of the most anticipated annual evenings of celebrity gathering and fashion, the Met ball is scheduled to take place the first Monday in May, as per tradition.
This year's annual benefit will honor late designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019 at 85, following last year's event, which had a "gilded glamour" dress code and sartorial moments that did not disappoint.
Here's everything you need to know about fashion's biggest night.
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When is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala will take place May 1 – the first Monday in May.
Last year's Met Gala, themed "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," marked a return to the event's annual schedule for the first Monday in May after the pandemic caused the 2020 gala to be canceled and the 2021 gala to be postponed to September.
How to watch the 2023 Met Gala
The Met Gala will be livestreamed on Vogue in a broadcast hosted by La La Anthony, Chloe Fineman and Derek Blasberg.
Fans can tune in on Vogue's website and on Vogue's YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. The "hautest holiday of the year" will also be live on E! starting at 6 p.m. ET.
What is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is an invite-only fundraiser that's held on an annual basis at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on New York City's Upper East Side.
The event begins with one of the most anticipated carpets in the world as big names enter the museum in glamorous attire to dine, take in performances and preview the Costume Institute's spring exhibition. The evening serves as a benefit for the museum's Costume Institute. Last year's event took in a whopping $17.4 million for the institute, per the Associated Press.
The event's conception was led by industry-transforming publicist Eleanor Lambert, elevating American fashion to achieve global respect, according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
The Met Gala started as a "midnight supper" in 1948, according to Vogue. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour took the reins in 1995, and the iconic annual happening has evolved to include front-page worthy fashion moments and celebrity fanfare.
What is the 2023 Met Gala theme and dress code?
Stars, influencers and fashion figures attending the Met Gala this year will honor Lagerfeld.
The German-born couturier worked for decades as creative director of top fashion houses including Chanel, Fendi and Chloé in addition to helming his eponymous international fashion label.
Stars are likely to be wearing Lagerfeld-related attire for the "In honor of Karl" dress code.
The celebration of Lagerfeld will continue with the Met's Costume Institute's spring 2023 exhibition featuring the designer, opening to the public May 5.
Ahead of Met Gala: Vogue honors Karl Lagerfeld on cover, with Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid
Who will be at the Met Gala?
The exclusive invite list for the Met Gala is mostly under lock and key until the stars arrive on the red carpet for cameras to see. However, a handful of stars are announced as co-chairs ahead of time.
This year Michaela Coel, Dua Lipa, Penelope Cruz and Roger Federer will co-host the extravagant event alongside Wintour.
Around 600 people are typically in attendance, according to Vogue. The guest list typically involves a range of movie stars, musicians, sports stars, politicians and other notables.
Iconic Met Gala carpet moments over the years
The gala's carpet draws global attention, and the list of eye-popping looks is long.
There was Rihanna as a glittering pope; Zendaya as a glowing version of Cinderella; Katy Perry as a chandelier. Also: Beyoncé's shining "naked dress" moment in sheer Givenchy covered with hand-sewn crystals.
Billy Porter, carried in on a litter by six shirtless men, attended as an Egyptian sun god. The same year featured Lady Gaga’s 16-minute striptease.
Last year, host Blake Lively's Versace dress – a tribute to iconic New York architecture –changed colors in front of fans' eyes. Plus, of course, Kim Kardashian's slew of show-stopping carpet looks – from her head-to-toe black Balenciaga getup that covered her face to 2022's Marilyn Monroe dress moment.
What is the 2023 Met's Costume Institute exhibit?
The Met's Costume Institute exhibit will transform to reflect "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" and will see some 150 of his creations and some original sketches assembled to illustrate his "stylistic language," according to a Met press release.
Lagerfeld designed styles for Chanel, Balmain, Fendi, Chloé, Patou and his own namesake brand.
The Met calls his work "unparalleled in the history of fashion."
The exhibit will be open to the public May 5 through July 16. The "stylistic vocabulary" that the exhibit focuses on will be presented in aesthetic themes that are repeated through Lagerfeld's fashion collections starting in the 1950s and progressing through work in 2019 prior to his death.
Contributing: Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press
More on the Met Gala:
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From Blake Lively to Princess Diana: The best Met Gala looks of all time
Met Gala 2023 theme, exhibit: Celebrating work of late designer Karl Lagerfeld
Met Gala 2022 exhibit: Regina King, Tom Ford, more directors define American fashion
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Met Gala 2023: How to watch, everything to know about iconic benefit
