Met Gala is upon us, and if your feed is anything like ours you probably haven’t missed a thing. While the Met Gala provides a platform for designers to showcase their creativity and artistry, it also fuels an unsustainable fashion consumption culture. The pressure to stand out and make a fashion statement at the event leads to excessive spending on custom-made designer gowns, jewelry, and accessories, which are often worn only once and then discarded. This year was no different, except it was - at least a little.
As the theme “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” pays homage to his creative and design legacy, it serves as a perfect occasion to dive into the archives and bring some historical dresses to life again. Many vintage pieces are highly coveted and considered to be timeless classics, making them perfect for re-wearing at big fashion events.
Sadly, the bar is so low for sustainability-related efforts at these types of major events, that ‘re-wearing’ garments often is regarded as a statement of sustainability. What we saw at The 2023 Met Gala of re-wearing garments, was more a testament to the timeless pieces and less so for the sake of the climate and reducing impact. We hope, that in the years to come Anna Wintour and her entourage will embrace the important topic of sustainability- as a major factor, not simply a trend.
Alas, we hoped to see some vintage couture moments and our favourite celebrities did not disappoint!
Dua Lipa in a 1992 Chanel bridal dress originally worn by Claudia Schiffer.
As you may, or may not know, the finale of the Chanel Haute Couture it always wraps with a gorgeous wedding dress. Dating back to the 80s, Karl Lagerfeld employed "it girl" models like Claudia Schiffer, Devon Aoki, Alek Wek, Kendall Jenner, and Cara Delevingne to close the show as a "bride"—with each wearing some of the most enchanting designs.
Nicole Kidman in the dress she first wore during a 2004 Chanel No.5 advert.
In 2004, Chanel set out new standards for perfume commercials with a Baz Luhrmann-directed advert for Chanel No 5 that became the gold standard of extremely glamorous perfume ads of that era. Nicole Kidman featured in the ad in a pink-feathered dress that she wore again for this 2023 Met Gala.
Margot Robbie in 1993 Chanel Runway Dress Worn by Cindy Crawford.
First worn on the runway at the Paris Fashion Week in 1993 by Cindy Crawford, Margot Robbie wore a recreation of the 90s inspiration of the lingerie trend which has translated well into 2023 for many dresses. This iconic Chanel dress features a PVC cutout and gold chain details.
Gisele Bündchen Photographed by Karl Lagerfeld for Harper’s Bazaar 2007.
Maybe unknown to some, Karl Lagerfeld was also a talented photographer and over the years has photographed many iconic moments. Bündchen re-wore a dress previously worn by her in 2007 for a photoshoot by Karl Lagerfeld for Harper's Bazaar Korea.