Every year, on the first Monday in May, some of the biggest celebrities, designers, socialites, and influencers gather in New York City for the annual Met Gala.
Some refer to the Met Gala as the unofficial kickoff to gala season, while others view it as the biggest night out for fashion. But at PartySlate, we regard the Met Gala as an evening that best showcases how fabulous fêtes can mirror luxury fashion.
Veteran event planners, designers, and producers draw inspiration from all around them — including the fashion industry. The PartySlate team is sharing how red carpet fashion can influence event design (and vice versa). Plus, we’re highlighting how this year’s Met Gala theme honoring Karl Lagerfeld is inspiring us to host our very own black and white celebration.
But First, What Is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is an annual charity event that raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The gala coincides with the opening of the museum’s fashion exhibition, which guests have the privilege of touring before they sit down to dinner.
Vogue‘s Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, has been in charge of the Met Gala since 1995. Plus, each Met Gala has a group of co-hosts who represent that year’s celebration. The 2023 gala was hosted by Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Anna Wintour.
Guests walk the red carpet, visit the exhibit, enjoy a sit-down dinner, and often a surprise performance from a celebrity musical guest. Then, of course, there are the after parties — which are an extension of the already fabulous gala.
Who Attends the Met Gala?
There are different ways you might be able to score a spot on this highly exclusive guest list. First, donors to the museum are often invited to the Met Gala as special guests of honor. Fashion labels and corporations can also purchase tables, then allocate seats to specific individuals. For the fashion labels, they usually fill their tables with celebrities whom they dress for the big event.
There are always a few individuals you can assume will walk the Met Gala red carpet. Kim, Kendall, and Kylie showed up in equally stunning yet completely different attire. Gisele Bündchen was decked out in white feathers, and Naomi Campbell chose a bolder pink and silver color palette.
Plenty of fresh faces also made their way down the exclusive red carpet, from Lizzo and Olivia Rodriego to Madelyn Cline and Maya Hawke.
What Was the Met Gala 2023 Theme?
Each year, the Met Gala has a dress code that coordinates with the theme of the Costume Institute’s exhibition. For 2023, the dress code was “in honor of Karl”, referring to Karl Lagerfeld, a fashion designer who was arguably best known for his time as the creative director for Chanel.
Attendees definitely understood this year’s assignment and committed to the theme and dress code. When it came to color palette, black and white was a popular choice, followed closely by pink and black — both a nod to Lagerfeld and his time at Chanel. Pearl accents, sequins, and lace were popular detail choices for many guests, while a few attendees chose to go bolder with color, choosing reds, oranges, blues, and greens.
What Was the Design of the 2023 Met Gala
Lagerfeld loved to host dinner parties and entertain, even hosting the wedding reception for Paloma Picasso at his home in Paris in the 1970s. The Met Gala event team drew inspiration from that wedding celebration when creating the tablescapes, which included pink floral centerpieces, French linen, and hand-painted candelabras.
The event team also constructed a set that resembled Lagerfeld’s own personal library, giving guests the experience of dining in his home.
What Did Guests Eat & Drink at the Met Gala Dinner?
Caterer Olivier Cheng drew inspiration from many of Lagerfeld’s favorite foods and his international palette when curating the Met Gala menu. Guests enjoyed chilled spring pea soup and Ōra King salmon, all served on vintage china dishware. Cheng made sure to prioritize what he believed Lagerfeld would have loved, including some of his favorite ingredients, like King salmon.
Lagerfeld was also known to indulge in Diet Coke, so there was plenty of both the soft drink and delicious wines, which paired perfectly with the seasonal menu.
If Met Gala Looks Were Event Designs…
Fashion trends and runways often inspire event designs — and The Met Gala red carpet is no exception. This year’s “in honor of Karl” theme brought sleek black and white pairings, pops of pink, and bold reds to the table — and several real event albums from PartySlate.com’s endless hub of inspiration paired perfectly.
Pretty in Pink
When it comes to Chanel, pink is a very close second to the ultimate and classic color combination of black and white. From pastel pink to vibrantly hot hues, this color is equally as beautiful for event designs as it is for these gorgeous gowns.
Bold in Blue
These three Met Gala looks may share the same hue, but they couldn’t be more different in terms of style and design — just like the three real event designs paired with each red carpet moment.
Red Carpet Ready
Red roses have always been a classic floral choice for events of all kinds, and the red roses from these stunning real events paired perfectly with the red gowns, suits, and attire that showed up at the Met Gala this year.
A Material World
From classic tweed (another clear nod to Lagerfeld’s time at Chanel) to fabulous fringe, the Met Gala saw plenty of red carpet looks that played with textures in creative and elevated ways — just like many real wedding and event designs.
Black & White Is Always Classic
Is there anything that more perfectly represents Karl Lagerfeld’s time at Chanel than a black and white color palette? Black and white was the most popular color combination on the red carpet at the 2023 Met Gala, and it also continues to hold strong as a classic color palette for events.
*All Met Gala images are courtesy of Getty Images.
People Also Ask
Where can I find an event venue?
PartySlate is your go-to resource for finding the best party venues for your celebration. Head to the curated venue directory and find vetted venues that range from luxury ballrooms to hidden gems. Use the filters to narrow your search by location, guest count, amenities, and more. If you see a venue that piques your interest, make sure to visit their PartySlate profile to see real events albums from parties held at the space.
Where can I find vendors for my event?
You can also use PartySlate to find the best vendors for your wedding or event. Browse PartySlate’s vendor directory to find the best vendor team in your city or destination location. We always recommend starting with an event planner. Your wedding or party planner will alleviate any stress throughout the planning process and ensure that your milestone celebration is a success.
Where can I find more event inspiration?
The photos above are just the beginning. Browse PartySlate to see even more stunning designs from some of the best vendors worldwide. Make sure to check out the party trends and evergreen party ideas from our content team. With PartySlate, planning a beautiful and meaningful celebration has never been easier.