Learn the history behind the K-pop star’s look and other vintage Chanel outfits worn by celebrities
The Met Gala 2023, held in honour of the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, was bound to be a blast to the past. This year’s theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, is tied to the Costume Institute’s retrospective exhibition on the iconic couturier, and guests have seen fit to celebrate Lagerfeld’s contributions to fashion in their own way.
On the red carpet, we saw a sea of black and white outfits, strings of pearls, and several pairs of fingerless gloves, all worn as an homage to the way that Lagerfeld dressed his models—or himself. But perhaps the most touching tributes came from celebrities, like Blackpink’s Jennie and Dua Lipa, who graced the red carpet with their favourite vintage Chanel designs created by Lagerfeld himself.
Read more: Met Gala 2023: Nicole Kidman revives her iconic 2004 Chanel No.5 ad dress
The German designer’s reign at the French luxury brand, which spanned over three decades, is nothing short of legendary. In that time, Lagerfeld reimagined and updated the Chanel house codes first introduced by its founder Coco Chanel, and which we now recognise just as readily as the brand’s “CC” logo: the camellia flower, the aforementioned pearls, the quilted bags, and of course, the tweeds. Lagerfeld didn’t just stay true to the inventive spirit of Chanel, or flatter women with his chic, feminine designs. He imbued his collections with a sense of timelessness, which is why his past Chanel creations still have the power to captivate at the Met Gala.
Here, we spotlight the celebrities who made a sustainable style statement on the red carpet with their treasured vintage Chanel outfits.
Jennie of Blackpink
Blackpink’s Jennie, affectionally referred to as “Human Chanel” by her fans, lived up to her nickname with her Met Gala 2023 appearance. The K-pop star wore a white minidress with a black bow belt and a pleated skirt, one of the many chic ensembles from the Chanel fall/winter 1990 ready-to-wear collection by Lagerfeld. Jennie stayed true to the original runway look, pairing it with black opera gloves, tights and heels. Instead of wearing a tulle veil or a floral headband like the models did, however, the singer recreated the latter with a braid instead and topped off her coiffure with a white camellia flower—a Chanel signature.
