The Met Gala is the annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
Everyone knows the Met Gala is one of the most anticipated celebrity events of the year…
But this year, one guest was notably absent.
Blake Lively missed the Met Gala for the first time in years.
And it’s for a very good reason …
Just like every year, the Met Gala is all anyone can talk about!
As each year the cultural elite take to the red carpet to show off outfits that are absolutely mind-blowing while the rest of the world gawks.
The Met Gala theme is a big deal.
And this year’s was no exception …
The Met Gala has a long history of being the place to go for groundbreaking fashion.
Every year designers bring their most cutting-edge designs to the red carpet to make an impression.
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But there’s so much more to the event than just beautiful dresses.
Each year the gala committee chooses a theme to guide designers.
The theme changes the game.
All of the post-event blogs take time to dissect how well the outfits met that brief, and whose interpretations were the most powerful.
Met Gala themes have been all over the place.
Everything from British fashion and superheroes, to punk and technology.
2018’s theme was a popular favorite.
“Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”
The theme left room for some exciting interpretation and boy did people deliver.
Some stars go literal with the theme.
Which is one way of doing things…
And others go with a more interpreted idea…
Which can be equally powerful!
The theme gives attendees a chance to go bold.
And they do not shy away from the opportunity.
And 2023’s Met Gala has got people talking…
It was one for the books!
Ok, ok — let’s talk about the theme…
“Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.”
The theme pays tribute to fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld nearly 4 years on from his death.
“Karl never tired of telling me that fashion did not belong in a museum,” the Costume Institute’s Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, Andrew Bolton, told Vogue.
“When we worked on the Chanel show together he was incredibly generous in what he lent, but he was completely disinterested in the exhibition itself!”
“He would say, ‘Fashion is not art — fashion belongs on the street, on women’s bodies, on men’s bodies.’”
This theme led to some pretty crazy looks this year!
So, let’s take a look …
Jenna Ortega
We love this uniform-inspired look.
Lil Nas X
This is certainly one of the more daring looks of the night!
Billie Eilish
She always gives an iconic Met Gala look!
Anne Hathaway
Serving Real Housewives of New Jersey realness!
Glenn Close
Why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to wear a 20 foot train?
Alexa Chung
Looking like a very stylish baby.
Suki Waterhouse
This is just stunning!
Ashley Graham
So perfect and polished.
Doja Cat
As always, she had an irreverent take on the theme.
Michaela Coel
Absolutely regal.
Grace Elizabeth
Loving these contrasting shades of pink!
But there was one look that really got the internet talking!
And it came from none other than Jared Leto.
Because rather than a conventional suit …
He walked the red carpet dressed as a big fluffy cat!
The reason?
It was an homage to Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette.
Fans were befuddled until Leto removed the costume’s head and revealed himself.
Complete with a stunning smoky eye.
It certainly got a lot of attention!
There was another huge moment that shook the internet …
As Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian were spotted together for the first time since their breakup!
The two were photographed alongside Usher.
The pair seemed to be all smiles!
Plus, Kim’s sis Kendall turned heads in her revealing outfit of choice …
She wore a butt-bearing black leotard!
And there was another reason Kendall’s red carpet appearance raised eyebrows.
She walked the carpet without rapper Bad Bunny, despite many believing they would make their couple debut together!
Bad Bunny did also attend the Gala, but without Jenner ….
Another red carpet appearance grabbed headlines!
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shay made their Met Gala debut!
“This is our first time. Our very first time,” Brosnan told ET.
“Why not? If not now, when?”
“It’s such a great occasion. Mr. Karl Lagerfeld, he was someone that we both admired and someone who a number of years ago came and took our photographs and our children’s photographs,” he continued. “So to be invited is just a delightful occasion. A celebration.”
We think they look great!
There was another undeniable star of the show!
Pedro Pascal!
He opted for a Valentino short suit, including some incredible platform boots and a long red coat.
But Met Gala fans noticed one star was missing from the guest list.
Blake Lively!
The star is usually one of the red carpet standouts, but this year, she skipped the Gala for a very sweet reason.
She had to stay home to breastfeed her baby!
She posted an Instagram story of herself pumping breastmilk on her sofa.
She describes breastfeeding as a “full-time job.”
“I’m, like, driving down the road, pumping,” she said.
We hope she didn’t have too much FOMO.
