Met Gala 2023: Gisele's vintage look, Rihanna's late arrival, a cockroach and more

Gisele Bundchen arrived solo at the 2023 Met Gala in a vintage Chanel dress. (Photo: Getty Images)
Gisele Bundchen arrived solo at the 2023 Met Gala in a vintage Chanel dress. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pregnancy reveals, solo debuts and appearances from Karl Lagerfeld's favorite feline friend made the 2023 Met Gala about much more than just fashion. Here are the biggest takeaways from fashion's biggest night.

Gisele Bündchen

  • Gisele Bündchen walked the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art alone for the first time since her debut with Brady in 2008. The pair finalized their divorce last October.

  • The supermodel gave a nod to her last solo appearance at the event, which was in 2006, with a look that she had previously worn around that same time.

  • "This dress is vintage Chanel. I wore this dress I think 2006 or 2007 in an editorial with [Lagerfeld]. I wore the same dress," Bündchen shared in an interview with Lala Anthony for Vogue, referencing her long see-through dress embellished with vertical white-sequin stripes paired with a white feather cape. When it came time to pick a dress, she knew that it would be "the one."

Vintage references

Lipa borrowed a dress previously worn by Claudia Schiffer. (Photo: Getty Images)
Lipa borrowed a dress previously worn by Claudia Schiffer. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Dua Lipa wore vintage Chanel, which was previously worn by supermodel Claudia Schiffer. It’s a 1992 full bride dress. Chanel by Karl, of course. And it’s been on my mood boards forever," Lipa explained. "The patrimony at Chanel was very kind and allowed me to borrow it for tonight. It’s a big dream come true for me, so I’m very happy."

  • Nicole Kidman also re-wore a dress from a former Chanel campaign, foreshadowing the nostalgic moment with a video clip on Instagram. "Running to The Met," she captioned the post, which featured her running in the pink tulle and feather gown from a Chanel No. 5 commercial shot in 2004. In her red carpet interview, Kidman clarified that it was in fact the same dress that was worn in the advertisement. "I have the sketches when [Lagerfeld] was drawing it and then we fitted it. I remember fitting it repeatedly," she said. "If you take care of [Chanel dresses] and love them, they are timeless. To be able to wear the same thing 20 years later and it still holds."

  • Penelope Cruz had Chanel re-create a dress from Lagerfeld's 1998 Spring/Summer collection with the brand, while Margot Robbie wore a remake of a dress originally made for and worn by Cindy Crawford in 1993.

  • Olivia Wilde and Maude Apatow worked with Chloé to create custom gowns inspired by a couple of Lagerfeld's original designs for that fashion house. Wilde went for a white and gold look featuring a 1983 violin design, while Apatow wore a black dress with cutouts and a familiar arrow detailing.

  • Emily Ratajowski was even inspired by Lagerfeld's famous Chanel designs as she arrived in a Tory Burch dress featuring quilting that matched that of Chanel handbags.

Stars dressed as Choupette

Doja Cat and Jared Leto dressed as Lagerfeld's beloved cat. (Photo: Getty Images)
Doja Cat and Jared Leto dressed as Lagerfeld's beloved cat. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Doja Cat was the first to pay homage to Lagerfeld's famous cat, who unfortunately didn't attend the event in New York. The singer was covered by umbrellas as she made her way from her hotel to the car in an effort to remain unseen before the red carpet. She revealed her Oscar de la Renta look and cat-like prosthetics once she arrived at the museum.

  • Another star arrived incognito, wearing a costume to resemble the late designer's furry feline. Moments after being led onto the red carpet in full gear, Jared Leto appeared from underneath the massive cat head.

Lil Nas X at the 2023 Met Gala. (Photo: Getty Images)
Lil Nas X at the 2023 Met Gala. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Lil Nas X also channeled his inner animal as he arrived in nothing but paint, pearls and gems covering his body. The rapper's bejeweled whiskers and his "meow" response to interview questions seemed to confirm his look's inspiration.

  • Makeup artist Pat McGrath spoke to Vogue about the Choupette-inspired metamorphosis, which took nine hours. McGrath had a team of people "fly all over the globe to find all of the pieces" for the look, including vintage couture lace and "crystals from Austria." The artist said, "Lil Nas enjoyed every single moment" of the process.

Pregnancy reveals

Serena Williams and Karlie Kloss had big news to share. (Photo: Getty Images)
Serena Williams and Karlie Kloss had big news to share. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Karlie Kloss was thrilled to introduce her "plus one" as she stepped onto the red carpet to debut a baby bump. "This is the first time that I’m also sharing my news so it’s very special," she told Vogue correspondent Emma Chamberlain on the carpet, confirming the pending arrival of her second child with husband Joshua Kushner. "I was pregnant last time during the pandemic, so I didn’t leave my sweatpants. So this is the first time I’m actually on a red carpet pregnant and it’s a super special moment."

  • Serena Williams also shared that she and husband Alexis Ohanian are expecting their second child, as they stepped onto the carpet in Gucci. "There’s three of us here," Williams said.

Notable hair changes

Florence Pugh and Jessica Chastain debuted dramatic hair changes. (Photo: Getty Images)
Florence Pugh and Jessica Chastain debuted dramatic hair changes. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Florence Pugh is no stranger to a dramatic fashion look, and the Met Gala was no exception as she debuted a buzzed head. The Don't Worry Darling star said that the transformation from her shoulder-length blonde to the buzzed brunette was for a film she's currently working on. "I've been keeping it under wraps for about three weeks now," she shared during a red carpet interview. "I thought, what is a better way than to release it at The Met."

  • Jessica Chastain sent shockwaves across the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps when she arrived as a platinum blonde. The striking change from her signature red hair made her nearly unrecognizable. And although it's still up for debate whether the look is a result of permanent hair dye or merely a wig, Chastain's look was a notable nod to the late Lagerfeld.

Rihanna's late arrival

Rihanna made a late entrance in Valentino. (Photo: Getty Images)
Rihanna made a late entrance in Valentino. (Photo: Getty Images)
  • The singer and expectant mother of two took the term "fashionably late" literally as she arrived at the Met Gala a cool hour and a half late. Luckily, her look was worth it.

  • While en route, Rihanna was seen wearing an archival Fendi fur coat from 1997, designed by Lagerfeld and originally worn by Naomi Campbell, according to Vogue.

  • Rihanna switched up her look to custom Valentino when she made her anticipated entrance alongside her longtime beau A$AP Rocky. She arrived wrapped up in a silk faille cape featuring 30 fabric camellias made of 500 petals, with her eyes hidden behind a pair of white sunglasses. She later opened the cape to reveal a drop-waist detailing and additional camellia on her dramatic white gown.

Everyone's favorite unexpected guest

  • A cockroach make a grand entrance and occupied photographers's attention as they awaited Rihanna.

  • The insect scurried up the Met's steps as people took pictures and asked, "What are you wearing?"

  • Sources later confirmed that the cockroach was stepped on.

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