This year's Met Gala, which paid homage to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, was a stunning display of high fashion and celebrity glamour to align with the theme ‘A line of Beauty’ exhibition. For emerging designers, being featured at the Met Gala can be a game-changing moment, and it is especially significant for Black designers who often struggle to get the recognition and opportunities they deserve. But this year, the Met Gala attendees embraced the work of Black designers with enthusiasm, resulting in some truly captivating and unforgettable looks with visionary Sergio Hudson, British fashion designer Bianca Saunders and fan favourite Oliver Rousting for Balmain.
Credit: Gettyimages.co.uk LaLa Anthony
Sergio Hudson
La La Anthony partnered with visionary Sergio Hudson. The outfit consisted of a one-shoulder gown in a pristine white hue from the designer, which was accentuated with draped gold body chains, an arm cuff, and Dior cat-eye sunglasses adorned with pearls. Inspired by 90s Chanel supermodel, it’s one of our favourite looks for the night.
Credit: Gettyimages.co.uk KeKe Palmer & Sergio Hudson
Keke Palmer also wore Sergio Hudson, constructed with custom made tweed, encrusted with over 12,000 hand embroidered swarovski crystals and pearls.
Credit: Gettyimages.co.uk Usher & Bianca Saunders
Bianca Saunders
Saunders designed a boxy wool gabardine suit jacket with sunken sleeves and slim-cut trousers featuring a signature reverse seam for Usher's red carpet appearance. This design was inspired by Lagerfeld's impeccable tailoring and his use of the bias cut and draping techniques. As subversive tailoring is integral to her brand, Saunders wanted to channel Lagerfeld's love for incorporating the unexpected.
For her own Met Gala 2023 outfit, Saunders drew inspiration from Lagerfeld's creative tenure at Patou and created a black satin blazer dress with a twist detail at the back, inspired by the French maison's spring/summer 1996 collection. The dress featured an internal corset system that cinched the waist and paid homage to the spirit of the 1920s. To complement Usher's white cotton cuff-less shirt and slim white tie, Saunders incorporated glove-like white cotton sleeve details into her design.
Credit: Gettyimages.co.uk Ice Spice
Custom Balmain by Oliver Rousteing
The rapper Ice Spice made her debut appearance on the Met Gala red carpet, reportedly invited by Anna Wintour herself. She donned a sparkling white Balmain gown with sequin embellishments throughout and a train silhouette. The floor-length dress featured sheer body-contouring cutouts that accentuated her curves, while adding a touch of sultriness to her overall look.
Credit: Gettyimages.co.uk Jeremy Pope
Jeremy graced the red carpet in a custom-made Balmain ensemble inspired by Karl Lagerfeld. The outfit featured a long, floral-embroidered cape with a 10-meter train and a hand-drawn illustration of Lagerfeld, paying tribute to the evening's honoree. The stunning cape was created using over 5,000 meters of silk chiffon and required the expertise of 70 seamstresses. To complement the cape, Jeremy wore exquisitely sculpted black flared pants, both Balmain creations by Olivier Rousteing. This ensemble showcased Balmain's rich couture history and signature style.
Diddy in Sean John
Sean 'Diddy' Combs unveiled his latest creation, Sean John Couture, at the Met Gala. The music mogul paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld by showcasing a self-designed outfit.
According to a press release from the brand, the outfit created by Sean 'Diddy' Combs was described as a "fashion-forward black motorcycle tuxedo." The ensemble included 600 Swarovski crystals and black pearls, paying tribute to Lagerfeld's tenure at Chanel. Combs also adorned the "very heavy" cape with camellias made up of 1,000 custom satin and velvet petals, another nod to Lagerfeld's iconic Chanel aesthetic.
Overall, the 2023 Met Gala was a powerful reminder of the impact and influence that Black designers can have in the fashion world, and the importance of giving them the visibility and support they deserve.
Comment below and let us know your fave looks from this year's Met Gala!
