My son sent me a text this week which read: “I think we can all agree that this is the dumbest thing that has happened in the last five years.”
What he was referring to is the cat costume that actor Jared Leto wore to the Met Gala, an homage to Karl’s Lagerfeld’s beloved feline friend Choupette.
But no, as it stands I do not agree that that is the dumbest thing that has happened in fashion in the past five years. In fact, Met Gala fashion currently seems to be the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to WTF moments. Let’s look at a recent few.
1. I quite liked the cat, to be honest. At least it was on theme, which was Karl. What really irks me is when people just rock up to the Met Gala without any consideration of the theme.
Take Kourtney Kardashian for example who rocked up at last year’s Met Gala, where the theme was gilded glamour, in a clunky, deconstructed Thom Browne outfit. Asked what the glamour theme meant to her, she replied: “I honestly didn’t really think about it”.
Were I given an invitation to one of the most hotly anticipated events on the fashion calendar I’d give it more than a passing thought. Interestingly she was absent from the Met this year.
2. The black head-to-toe body stocking which completely covered Kim Kardashian’s expensive face, designed by the Balenciaga Creative Director, Demna Gvasalia at the Met Gala in 2021.
It was deemed bold, fearless and controversial. It was also weird, and entirely off theme, which was ‘In America: A Lexicon of American Fashion’. Gvasalia argued that it highlighted her famous silhouette, and that the Met Ball is a costume party, not a fashion event. Vogue will be thrilled to hear that.
3. Jared Leto brought a replica of his own head to the Met steps in 2019, a fetching accessory that had first been shown on the Gucci catwalk the year before.
The carry your own head trend has not seemed to catch on widely as far as I can tell, but I feel like he’s moved to a catsuit (sic) will go down well with the furries.
4. Rihanna broke the internet with her Met Gala appearance in 2015 as she unfolded Chinese designer Guo Pei’s dramatic, bright yellow train onto the red carpet.
Since then it seems to have become a battle to see who could have the most dramatic train – Blake Lively unfurling some Versace monstrosity last year, Jennifer Lopez in questionable Ralph Lauren in 2021, and Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta in 2022, although that was gorgeous.
This year was again awash with unnecessary trains, which are not anything I particularly associate with Karl Lagerfeld, except perhaps for his Chanel brides. But as a young fashion student friend of mine said: “I think it’s because people just assume if they take up as much space as possible they’ll be iconic”.
Anyway Doja Cat went as a cat, with a train, and miaowed through an interview , so she wins this year’s taking up space award.
