Karl Lagerfeld© GettyImages

Karl Lagerfeld: Celebs who have worn his iconic designs at the Met Gala

See the designs by the legendary creative director of Chanel that graced the famous red carpet


Deputy Editor Miami
APRIL 28, 2023 2:49 PM EDT

This year’s Met Gala theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” promises to showcase some of the most exquisite styles from the renowned French fashion house, Chanel. The event will pay tribute to the life and legacy of the legendary creative director who left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Since the first edition of the Costume Institute’s annual benefit gala in 1948, Karl Lagerfeld’s designs have been a popular choice for many celebrities, including Vogue editor-in-chief and event host Anna Wintour, who almost exclusively wears Chanel Haute Couture for the annual gala.

As we gear up for this year’s grand event, HOLA! is taking a trip down memory lane to relive some of the most stunning moments from previous years, revisiting the iconic designs of Karl Lagerfeld, which graced the red carpet on the likes of Blake Lively and Penélope Cruz, among other notable celebrities.

Karl Lagerfeld most iconic designs worn at the Met Gala over the years

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Anna Wintour, 2010

For the 2010 Met Gala, which theme was ‘American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity’, the Vogue editor-in-chief and gala host wore a silver ensemble, signed by Karl Lagerfeld, consisting of a velvet jacket with collar and appliques, and a silk maxi dress with a side slit.

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Blake Lively and Karl Lagerfeld, 2011

For 2011, despite the gala theme being ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’, the Gossip Girl star chose a Chanel tunic dress with sequin appliques, designed by Lagerfeld, who posed alongside her on the red carpet.

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Mary-Kate Olsen, 2013

The businesswoman and actress appeared at the 2013 Met Gala (“PUNK: Chaos to Couture”) wearing a yellow silk Chanel coat, embroidered roses, and leather details. For the punk touch, she added a black dress and eye-catching accessories.

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January Jones, 2013

Also, for the 2013 gala, the Mad Men actress opted for an all-black sequin design from the French fashion house.

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Chloë Grace Moretz, 2014

For the 2014 MET Gala, with the theme “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,” the ‘If I Stay’ star wore a white Chanel design, contrasted by the iconic black tie of its creator, Karl Lagerfeld.

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Dakota Johnson, 2015

The Lost Daughter star selected a Chanel mini dress that emulated a disco ball for the 2015 MET Gala. As a nod to the year’s theme, “China: Through The Looking Glass,Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith’s daughter carried an Asian-inspired purse.

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Lily-Rose Depp, 2016

The first-born of the most beloved Pirate of the Caribbean, aka Johnny Depp, and the iconic Vanessa Paradis (Chanel’s star ambassador) strutted in 2016 with a light-toned creation with reliefs from the French house and puffy sleeves with light fur accents.

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Kristen Stewart, 2016

Kristen, one of the modern-era ambassadors of Chanel, paid homage to the brand she represents by wearing a black embroidered dress with metallic touches, long sleeves, and a light silver corset. A look that managed to capture a futuristic aesthetic inspired by the theme of the 2016 MET Gala: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.”

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Anna Wintour, 2017

The most powerful woman in today’s fashion world chose Chanel again for the 2017 Met Gala, with the theme ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between.’ On this occasion, she wore a dress with gold sequins and feathers.

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Cara Delevingne, 2017

For the edition held in 2017, the Only Murders in the Building actress wore a silver dress with rhinestones. After shaving off her blonde hair (for script demands), the top model dyed her hair silver, blending in with her Chanel outfit.

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Penelope Cruz, 2019

For the 2019 Met Gala themed “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” the Spanish film icon, Penelope Cruz, opted for a classic look, wearing a black and white Chanel dress with the brand’s signature flower as an applique on the chest.

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Anna Wintour, 2019

Once again, Wintour chose Chanel to attend the MET Gala in 2019. She captured everyone’s attention with a stunning pink sequin dress and a feather coat that Karl Lagerfeld designed for her before he passed away in February of that same year.