The 2023 Met Gala was all about one person: Karl Lagerfeld,
the German fashion designer who passed away in 2019. And while lots of stars
made big sartorial statements at the event, these didn't quite hit the mark.
Olivia Wilde's white, geometric Gabriela Hearst
gown with cut-outs fell a bit flat on the red carpet.
"It's called the violin dress."
"It looks very comfortable." "Yeah. I'm cruising."
Some Twitter users have suggested that the shape on this dress was reminiscent of a
certain hygiene product. One Twitter user came right out with it, saying,
"It's giving maxi pad."
Yet, Wilde wasn't the only one who liked the dress. So did Margaret Zhang, who wore
the ensemble in black, and unfortunately for Wilde, we think Zhang wore it better.
In some ways, Emma Chamberlain succeeded by dressing the part she's best known for: gen-z
internet it-girl. Unfortunately, she didn't quite dress the part of best dressed Met Gala attendee.
The casual vibes of her baby blue matching set with a sequin-covered midriff just didn't fit the
grand occasion. And while a pair of tall, white socks under open-toed shoes paired with a headband
are very on-trend at the moment, they only acted to dress the ensemble down even further.
On one hand, "West Side Story" breakout star Ariana DeBose stole the show while
attending one of the most difficult shows to steal.
"I can't wait to see all the looks!"
Yet, while her look was certainly eye-catching, it was also a bit of a mess. While the bright
yellow color of her silk off-the-shoulder gown looked beautiful on the star, the fur trim, green
accents, complicated hair and makeup, and heavy jewelry made it difficult to know where to look.
"Stranger Things" star Maya Hawke hit the red carpet in a show-stopping Prada coat and mini
dress. The white, textured look certainly said something, but we're not exactly sure what it was.
Hawke got lost in this coat, and the white tights and kitten heels didn't complement the outfit,
nor did they seem to fit the vibe. While there are certainly some high-fashion elements to
Hawke's ensemble, we would have loved to see the star in something that didn't overpower.
There were plenty of envy-inspiring looks at the 2023 Met Gala, but no one was jealous of
Ben Platt for having to sport that corset all night. The Broadway darling wore a white suit
with a crisp, corseted shirt underneath, gold accessories, and black platform shoes.
"Little bit of menswear/womenswear combo.
Um, little bit of Jewish pride. Little bit of corseting."
Elements of this ensemble put an interesting twist on what we're used to seeing on the red
carpet in terms of men's suits, but the fit and shape just didn't work for Platt.
Singer-songwriter Kim Petras has become well-known for her bold ensembles. Her dress and boots at
this year's Met Gala were out there, but not in the right way. Petras definitely fit the night's
theme in her black and white color palette, but the look paired with her extra light makeup and
flat hair washed her out, and her large train and matching boots were distracting. That said,
it's still not as polarizing as her Collina Strada horse dress from the 2021 Met Gala.
It's safe to say that Academy Award winner Rami Malek knew about Karl Lagerfeld's signature
black and white color scheme. But Malek looks underdressed for most weddings, let alone one of
the biggest nights in fashion. We certainly love twists on the usual suit or tuxedo, but this one
didn't have enough of a twist to make it special, and left Malek blending into the background.
We want to love Vanessa Hudgens' black and white cutout gown, but something about it is giving us
prom flashbacks. The dress' appliques may remind us of all the trendy rosette looks
at the 2023 Oscars, but this look played it too safe on the ball's red carpet. Her makeup lets
her beauty shine, but we wish it was paired with a more daring, less forgettable gown.
We can definitely see the Karl Lagerfeld inspiration in Kendall Jenner's Met Gala
ensemble, but it was too costumey. The Marc Jacobs bodysuit with extra long sleeves and
sky high platform boots has some unique and eye-catching elements, but the pantless outfit
feels unfocused. Kim Kardashian pointed out Kendall's relationship to Lagerfeld, saying,
"Kendall really started her beginning of her
modeling career with Karl and was the bride in so many of his shows."
That made us wish even more that Kendall delved more deeply into her inspiration for the night.
Serena Williams can stun like no one else, but this look just didn't quite do it. The mermaid cut
dress definitely stood out with its white tulle bottom and loose, sheer sleeves. It already had
quite a few different elements all by itself. With the chunky stacked necklaces and headbands added
on, there was way too much going on, and none of the many elements seemed to be working together.
Mary J. Blige has a history of amazing red carpet looks. But this look is totally
wrong for this event. We can definitely appreciate that she was one of the few
stars to rock a bold color at the Met Gala, but the lacy pattern and super
busy silhouette just isn't making this icon look very iconic. She gets lost in
the overwhelming fabric and skin that's both showing and covered in all the wrong places.
We can't say that we're surprised that Pete Davidson showed up to the 2023 Met Gala rocking
this outfit. Still, that doesn't mean that this look was a good one for the occasion.
It's clear even at first glance that Davidson is underdressed with his graphic tee, bucket hat,
and sunglasses. His jacket and gloves could have made for a chic look if he chose to style them
differently. With these accessories, though, we think he probably should've just stayed home.
When Olivia Rodrigo hit the 2023 Met Gala red carpet,
the "Deja Vu" singer had us wishing we were experiencing her 2022 Met Gala gown again
instead. Rodrigo took Karl Lagerfeld's classic black and white palette and made
it way too reminiscent of Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams –– and not in a good way.
"Please excuse Wednesday. She's allergic to color."
Rodrigo's gown, hair, and makeup all should have stuck closer to her signature style.
We love Letita Wright in the "Black Panther" franchise, but in this ensemble, she didn't
look like the superhero she is. We can see where her inspiration for the theme came from; the suit
looks like something that Lagerfeld himself would have sported. But with minimal makeup, plain black
pumps, and an oversized fit, Wright looks like she's headed into the office for a big meeting.
This would have been a perfect time for longtime fashionista Paris Hilton to make
a major fashion statement, but she chose an all black look that didn't make much of an impact,
with hair and makeup that's just plain boring. Throw on a witch's hat,
and Hilton would have the perfect Halloween costume, but it's not the best Met Gala look.