In September 2022, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the 2023 Met Gala theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” The German fashion designer is known for his work at Chanel and Fendi, and he collaborated with many famous models such as Naomi Campbell and Cara Delevingne before passing away in 2019. While some admire Lagerfeld for his contributions to the fashion industry, he has become known for making problematic comments over the course of his career.
At first, Gabby Yurin (’23) thought the theme made sense. Upon looking further into Lagerfeld’s more controversial views, however, she better understood why the theme divided fashion fanatics.
“I really understand both sides of what’s going on,” Yurin said. “It kind of has turned into this art versus the artist thing, in a lot of ways, which I think that’s where it’s pretty 50-50 on how people react to that kind of thing.”
Now, Yurin said she can appreciate Lagerfeld’s impact on the fashion industry, but she believes it is important to acknowledge his flaws.
“How he has revolutionized the industry for women in a lot of ways is commendable, but I think fashion tries to make such a fantasy out of itself [and] its unachievable lifestyle,” Yurin said. “This is just playing into that. Are we choosing to only remember him for the good things he did, and ignore completely the fact that he rejected everyone who isn’t a really skinny white woman?”
Are we choosing to only remember [Lagerfeld] for the good things he did, and ignore completely the fact that he rejected everyone who isn’t a really skinny white woman?
— Gabby Yurin ('23)
Cleo Destin (‘25) says the theme was meant to focus on Lagerfeld’s career instead of his character. However the way guests interpreted the theme made the Met Gala seem to honor Lagerfeld more than his designs.
“I think that it was beautiful to see some of his designs on the runway and in that way, the theme was really well met,” Destin said. “But at the same time some people took the theme too literally. One guy had Karl Lagerfeld on his jacket and Doja Cat dressed up as [Lagarfeld’s] cat. I think that starts to take away from the creative achievements that Lagerfeld had and removes value from him being the theme.”
Cleo Destin (’25) said the Met Gala theme was supposed to honor Lagerfeld’s work instead of his character. Nonetheless, she said the guests’ interpretation of the theme focused more on Lagerfeld’s actions rather than his designs.
“It was beautiful to see some of his designs on the runway and in that way, the theme was really well met,” Destin said. “At the same time, some people took the theme too literally. [Jeremy Pope] had Karl Lagerfeld on his jacket and Doja Cat dressed up as [Lagerfeld’s] cat. I think that starts to take away from the creative achievements that Lagerfeld had and removes value from him being the theme.”
Lagerfeld made multiple body-shaming comments throughout his career. In 2009, he told Focus Magazine, “No one wants to see curvy women;” in 2012, he blamed France’s welfare deficit on overweight people, claiming the issue arose from diseases people had from being “too fat.”
In a since deleted interview with Numéro in 2018, Lagerfeld said he was “fed up” with the #MeToo movement, after his fellow stylist Karl Templer was accused of sexual misconduct. Lagerfeld was also accused of putting one of his models in blackface and yellowface.
Alexandra Braun (’24) said she was aware of some of Lagerfeld’s comments when the Met announced the theme. Braun said she has issues separating art from the artist.
“There are so many artists that I’ve supported and then they’ve done something that I really, as a person, vehemently disagree with,” Braun said. “It’s been very hard for me to support them afterwards or at least look at their work without thinking. It always comes to mind what they’ve done.”
Braun said while it is acceptable to enjoy art from a controversial artist, it is important to acknowledge when artists act in unacceptable manners.
“You can appreciate the art,” Braun said. “But while you appreciate the art you have to be aware of the artists and be aware of like yes, this is beautiful, but also you have to take notice, this artist did not say great things, they said bad things. You can’t be ignorant.”
This year’s Met Gala was not the first time the theme was based on a designer. British fashion designer Alexander McQueen and Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo were the Met Gala themes in 2011 and 2017 respectively.
Ultimately, Destin said she was not sure that the Met Gala was the best place to honor Lagerfeld’s legacy.
“[Lagerfeld] deserved to be honored,” Destin said. “He was extremely influential. I just don’t know if the Met Gala theme was the place to do that … The problem is that a lot of people see that as a theme honoring Lagerfeld himself rather than his work, so it’s a bit unclear.”
