Fashion nerds, get ready: The 2023 Met Gala theme will be Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. If you’re not into fashion history, you may wonder who Karl Lagerfeld is. Lagerfeld is mainly known as the creative mind behind the modern revival of Chanel, the fashion house founded by Coco Chanel in the 20th century.
Lagerfeld is also known for having “muses” and jumpstarting many supermodels’ careers, like Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, and Inès de la Fressange. He’s worked with a ton of celebrities, including Cara Delevingne, Blake Lively, Rihanna, and more.
Lagerfeld passed away in February 2019 from pancreatic cancer. A native of Germany, he became one of the most iconic designers through his achievements and contribution to the fashion industry.
What was Karl Lagerfeld known for?
Known as the creative mind behind the double “F” emblem on Fendi products, short for “fun furs,” and the classic Chanel flap bags, he’s credited with some of the most iconic runway shows in fashion history. Lagerfeld also worked with H&M in 2004, making him the first high-end designer to work with a fast fashion brand. His collaboration with H&M made him a household name, breaking barriers between luxury and mass fashion. TikTok user @luxecollective gives an excellent breakdown of the many titles of Lagerfeld’s career.
His career first began when Pierre Balmain hired him after winning for his coat design in the 1954 French International Wool Secretariat. One of his competitors in the competition was Mr.Yves Saint Laurent (a former Met Gala honoree). Lagerfeld is, without a doubt, high fashion royalty — though he’s not without controversy, which has sparked debate over whether he should be honored at such a high-profile event.
Lagerfeld had many controversies, thanks to comments he’d made.
Lagerfeld’s history and perspective have remained a topic of heated conversation. He was infamous for speaking out against the #MeToo Movement. In a 2018 interview with The Cut, Lagerfeld said, “If you don’t want your pants pulled, don become a model! Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent.”
Along with this comment, Lagerfeld also spoke out against gay marriage in an interview with Vice in 2010, calling it “difficult to imagine” two fathers raising a child together. His views often left many people confused, as Lagerfeld was openly gay himself.
Not everyone is here for a Karl Lagerfeld theme at the Met Gala.
The controversy surrounding his legacy leaves many wondering if celebrity guests will speak out against the honoree. English actress @JameelaJamil posted a profound Instagram carousel compiling how Lagerfeld tainted his image with his opinions on race, sexual assault, and body image. Jamil said, “Why is this who we celebrate when there are so many AMAZING designers out who aren’t bigoted white men?”
Lagerfeld is not the first person to be a theme or Met Gala honoree. As @Jansen_Garside explains on TikTok, The World of Balenciaga was the first theme to honor a specific person at the iconic fashion night in 1973. Fashion powerhouses Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, and Christian Dior have also been celebrated as themes. There’s no debating that Lagerfeld’s artistry, creative genius, and impact have had a lasting effect on the brands he’s worked with, including his own. It’s fair to say his legacy has been up for debate due to his determination to speak negatively about marginalized groups.
In a press release, the Metropolitan Museum of Art wrote that the exhibition will host 150 designs and explore the artistic methodology and stylistic vocabulary of Karl Lagerfeld’s designs over more than 65 years, from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019.