The theme of next year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Exhibition and Gala is set to revolve around the late, great Karl Lagerfeld - which means we might just have a fairly good idea of what looks we can expect to see at next year’s Met Gala.
The enigmatic designer, who was most known for his work at Chloe and Fendi, as well as his own eponymous line, died in 2019 of pancreatic cancer. Lagerfeld has been hailed as an icon of fashion history for his work, and his own signature look is cemented in history: the black sunglasses, high collars and ice white hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Lagerfeld’s appointment as inspiration for the next Met exhibit means that a show dedicated to Lagerfeld, which seems like it will hone in on his sketching and drawing talents, will run at the museum for several months next year, and will heavily influence the theme of the Met Gala 2023.
However, Lagerfeld famously hated historical fashion exhibits as he was obsessed with the future. A New York Times article in 1982 even hailed him “the designer who destroys the past”.
When the Met Gala 2005 theme was “The House of Chanel”, where Lagerfeld was creative director, he even refused to attend, simply saying: “I dislike retrospectives.”
But the Met wants to honour him, so honoured he shall be. The celebs will get a good look at the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibit first, with this years Met Gala taking place on its usual date of May 1, 2023. The exhibition will then be opened to the public from May 5 to July 16, 2023.
As to what to expect from the exhibition - and, by extension, the Gala - a representative from Karl Lagerfeld said: “The exhibition will explore his creative process, from sketching and drawing to garments that have changed the course of culture.”
The pieces on-show will span his career as Creative Director of the Karl Lagerfled, Chanel and Fendi houses, among others. So, basically, expect a lot of celebs in Chanel and Fendi.
Or, potentially, white shirts. Karl Lagerfeld was known for his bright white tailored shirts with high, starched collars, and to coincide with the Met announcement, the Lagerfeld house has released 77 limited edition white shirts to be purchased, with proceeds going to the Met.
Each limited edition shirt features an original sketch by Lagerfeld, as well as his signature and the individual run number of each shirt.
Hun Kim, designer director of Karl Lagerfeld, has said: “The Met Exhibition is the pinnacle of creativity, fashion and culture colliding together.
“It’s an honor that Karl’s work will be at the core of the 2023 exhibition and Costume Institute Benefit event and inspire the looks that will walk the world’s most renowned red carpet.”
