You’d be hard-pressed to miss the shift to sustainable event-dressing (hello rentals), the red carpets of recent have seen. An influx of archive designer outfits – think Cardi B in Thierry Mugler or Cate Blanchet re-wearing her own dresses – is making the case for a for the end of single-use gowns.
And this year’s Met Gala in honour of the late Karl Lagerfeld was no exception. In fact, a conveyor belt of supercharged archive pieces, designed by the honouree himself, quickly took centre stage. In the lead-up to the event, the internet had already been speculating which vintage pieces we might see on the famed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After all, no one can do what Lagerfeld did, so, the best form of flattery is sometimes just to go straight to the source. Safe to say, fervid fans were not disappointed.
First up: Dua Lipa, who wowed nervously waiting spectators in the closing bridal look from Chanel’s autumn/winter 1992 couture show, originally worn by Claudia Schiffer, featuring corseted top and bustling, full skirt. Later that night, the singer changed into a black lace column dress.
Penélope Cruz, for her part, also opted for a Chanel couture bridal look – spring/summer 1988 to be exact – complete with a veil-esque hood, intricate beading and a pearl-studded belt.
But it wasn’t until actor Nicole Kidman took to the steps that even the last (non fashion-obsessed) of us experienced a Déjà Vu. Instead of having a custom look made, Kidman delved into her own archives, opting for a pink feathered dress she wore for her 2004 Chanel No.5 perfume TV ad, making a stealth nod to the time she worked closely together with Lagerfeld. On an Instagram post she shared on Monday night, Kidman dedicated her outfit to the designer, captioning it “For Karl.”
Olivia Wilde and Vogue China’s Editor-in-Chief, Margaret Zhang, went less literal, dressed in iterations of a Chloé dress from 1983 – the Violin dress – created under Lagerfeld during his tenure at the French house.
And Vanessa Kirby, too, took from the Chloés archives, wearing a beaded backless gown.
For supermodel Naomi Campbell, honouring her long-time collaborator came in the form of a spring/summer 2010 Saree-inspired Chanel couture dress in pink and silver while actor Marion Cotillard matched her unexpected new pink bowl cut with a crystal-encrusted mini dress from Chanel’s autumn/winter 2007 couture collection.
And despite a plethora of inevitable newly-created black-tie outfits, there was a general consensus on the Met’s steps on what most fashion-o-philes are already practicing: it’s cool to go vintage. Hopefully, this year’s theme serves as an inspiration for the years to come.
What goes around comes around. Truly.