The 13 Best-Dressed Stars at the 2023 Met Gala

For weeks, people have been debating how this year's Met Gala theme would be interpreted by the guests, given its focus solely on the work of Karl Lagerfeld. The Costume Institute hasn't done a retrospective on a singular designer since Rei Kawakubo in 2017, but Lagerfeld's career, which spans decades over houses like Chanel, Fendi and Chloé, provided a lot of material to work with.

There was plenty of archival Chanel pieces, like a 1988 hooded bridal gown originally worn by Ines de la Fressange and chosen by Lagerfeld's close friend, the gala's co-host Penélope Cruz. Nicole Kidman took things one step further and referenced Nicole Kidman in a gown she wore for a Chanel No. 5 commercial in 2007.

Others, like Letitia Wright and Glenn Close, paid homage to the designer's famous uniform, while still dressing in a way that felt entirely them.

Ahead, the 13 best dressed celebrities at this year's Met Gala.

Rihanna in Maison Valentino and A$AP Rocky in Gucci

Rihanna is often the last to walk the Met Gala red carpet, and this year, her arrival was a little more delayed than usual. Of course, it was more than worth the wait. She arrived cocooned in a camellia cape that transformed into a shawl she wore draped over her arms. Her white gown featured a singular camellia at the chest, with a train that required an entire entourage to carry up the Met steps. When asked how she was feeling, she simply said, "Expensive." A$AP Rocky accompanied her in a custom Gucci top with an embroidered skirt featuring trompe-l'œil details and high-heeled leather sandals.

Penélope Cruz in Chanel

One of the co-hosts of the gala, Penélope Cruz wore a Chanel couture spring/summer 1988 dress originally worn by French supermodel Ines de la Fressange on the runway. Cruz, who attended her first Chanel show in 1999, was a close friend of Lagerfeld's and even wore a Chanel gown to accept her Oscar in 2008. She looked through the archive to choose her dress for the evening and was particularly drawn to this eternally elegant hooded gown. The embellished lining the hood is reminiscent to that of a traditional Spanish mantilla.

Dua Lipa in Chanel

Dua Lipa wore an autumn/winter 1992 Chanel couture gown originally worn by Claudia Schiffer on the runway, with a one-of-a-kind Tiffany & Co diamond necklace featuring over 100 carats. Schiffer originally wore the tweed corset gown as a Chanel bride, making this the second time in the past week one of her archival bridal runway looks have trended, following Sofia Richie's wedding, where she wore a minidress from the fall/winter 1993 haute couture show worn by Schiffer.

Irina Shayk in Yohji Yamamoto

Irina Shayk wore a vintage Yohji Yamamoto dress from 1988 with twisted rope straps. Her look was a distinctive interpretation of the bridal aesthetic that dominated the carpet this year. But the most heavenly detail were her tender ballet flats, a shoe silhouette Lagerfeld knew well.

Olivia Wilde in Chloé

Olivia Wilde wore a 1983 violin dress, originally designed by Karl Lagerfeld while he was at Chloé. Chloë Sevigny wore a black version of the dress back in 2013 when the brand re-issued the look in honor of the house's 60th anniversary. The dress is also included in the Met Gala exhibit, along with the famous fall 1983 shower dress. Karl-era Chloé is extremely hard to come by and marks the designer's first entry into ready-to-wear. The look meshes high camp and high fashion in a way that has come to define Lagerfeld's designs.

Nicole Kidman in Chanel

Nicole Kidman's inspiration for this met gala was Nicole Kidman. She wore a Chanel Haute Couture gown from 2004 that she previously wore in a Chanel No. 5 commercial from the same year, directed by Baz Luhrmann. But what makes it feel perfectly on theme is the fact that she referenced herself, as Lagerfeld often did.

Glenn Close in Erdem

Glenn Close's bespoke Erdem look featured an Eau de Nil sequined gown with crystal hand embroidery, a starched cotton collar and cuffs with a taffeta cape. The pointed collar detail called back to Lagerfeld's signature uniform, while the silhouette still felt like an ode to the voluminous glamour he loved.

Naomi Campbell in Chanel

Naomi Campbell was one of many guests who looked to Lagerfeld's archive, and she opted for a spring/summer 2010 Chanel couture gown for the evening. The molten pink fabric was draped over a sequin bodice for a look fit for a mythical deity.

Bad Bunny in Jacquemus

Bad Bunny's custom Jacquemus look featured a 26-foot taffeta boa train of embroidered camellias. The best detail though was one that couldn't be immediately seen: the inside of his jacket contained a custom printed picture of Casa Malaparte, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld in 1997. Bad Bunny's look was the only one of the night that paid homage to how multifaceted Lagerfeld truly was.

Michaela Coel in Custom Schiaparelli

Michaela Coel was one of this year's co-hosts and one of the first to arrive on the red carpet—setting the bar incredibly high. Lagerfeld referenced surrealism at times in his work, most often in his designs from the 1980s, and Coel's stunning Schiaparelli gown encapsulates a whole surrealist galaxy of over 130,000 crystals.

Letitia Wright in Prada

When it comes to the Met Gala, celebrities are often more concerned with sticking to the theme than using it as a reason to exercise their personal style. Letitia Wright, though, managed to wear a perfectly on-theme Prada suit—clearly inspired by Lagerfeld's own—while still looking like herself.

Jessica Chastain in Gucci

More literal interpretations of Karl Lagerfeld's aesthetic skewed a bit costumey but Jessica Chastain emulated his hair, sunglasses, and sassy demeanor with Gucci glamour. Her black strapless gown was accessorized with black tulle gloves and diamond Gucci High Jewelry necklace and rings.

Jenna Ortega in Thom Browne

Jenna Ortega has a penchant for goth inspired looks, and her Thom Browne look was entirely in line with what we've started to expect from her on the red carpet. The waist-cinching corset, the cascading ruffled skirt and the platform oxfords are exactly what Wednesday Adams would wear if she were invited to a Chanel show.

You Might Also Like

• 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora

• The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine