Cover Song Hye-Kyo, Sora Choi and Jennie of Blackpink—wearing vintage Chanel—at the Met Gala 2023. (Photo: Getty Images)
Song Hye-Kyo, Sora Choi and Jennie of Blackpink—wearing vintage Chanel—at the Met Gala 2023. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Learn the history behind the K-pop star’s look and other vintage Chanel outfits worn by celebrities
The Met Gala 2023, held in honour of the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, was bound to be a blast to the past. This year’s theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, is tied to the Costume Institute’s retrospective exhibition on the iconic couturier, and guests have seen fit to celebrate Lagerfeld’s contributions to fashion in their own way.
On the red carpet, we saw a sea of black and white outfits, strings of pearls, and several pairs of fingerless gloves, all worn as an homage to the way that Lagerfeld dressed his models—or himself. But perhaps the most touching tributes came from celebrities, like Blackpink’s Jennie and Dua Lipa, who graced the red carpet with their favourite vintage Chanel designs created by Lagerfeld himself.
Read more: Met Gala 2023: Nicole Kidman revives her iconic 2004 Chanel No.5 ad dress
The German designer’s reign at the French luxury brand, which spanned over three decades, is nothing short of legendary. In that time, Lagerfeld reimagined and updated the Chanel house codes first introduced by its founder Coco Chanel, and which we now recognise just as readily as the brand’s “CC” logo: the camellia flower, the aforementioned pearls, the quilted bags, and of course, the tweeds. Lagerfeld didn’t just stay true to the inventive spirit of Chanel, or flatter women with his chic, feminine designs. He imbued his collections with a sense of timelessness, which is why his past Chanel creations still have the power to captivate at the Met Gala.
Here, we spotlight the celebrities who made a sustainable style statement on the red carpet with their treasured vintage Chanel outfits.
Jennie of Blackpink
Above Jennie of Blackpink wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Chanel fall/winter 1990 ready-to-wear runway show (Photo: Getty Images)
Jennie of Blackpink wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
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Blackpink’s Jennie, affectionally referred to as “Human Chanel” by her fans, lived up to her nickname with her Met Gala 2023 appearance. The K-pop star wore a white minidress with a black bow belt and a pleated skirt, one of the many chic ensembles from the Chanel fall/winter 1990 ready-to-wear collection by Lagerfeld. Jennie stayed true to the original runway look, pairing it with black opera gloves, tights and heels. Instead of wearing a tulle veil or a floral headband like the models did, however, the singer recreated the latter with a braid instead and topped off her coiffure with a white camellia flower—a Chanel signature.
Dua Lipa
Above Dua Lipa wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Claudia Schiffer at the Chanel fall/winter 1992 haute couture runway show (Photo: Getty Images)
Dua Lipa wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
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Not long after real-life Chanel bride Sofia Richie walked down the aisle, Met Gala co-chair Dua Lipa chose to channel one on the red carpet. The popstar looked lovely in a corseted tweed ballgown, which was originally worn by supermodel and Chanel muse Claudia Schiffer as the closing look of the French fashion brand’s fall/winter 1992 haute couture collection. Like Jennie, Dua Lipa did away with the hat and other accessories. Instead, her décolletage showed off a stunning 200-carat diamond necklace from Tiffany and Co.
Gisele Bündchen
Above Gisele Bündchen wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Freja Beha Erichsen at the Chanel spring/summer 2007 haute couture runway show (Photo: Getty Images)
Gisele Bündchen wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
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Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen offered up yet another Chanel bride look at the Met Gala. The model donned a striped, sequin-embellished white gown and a glorious feathered cape, both standout pieces from Chanel’s spring/summer 2007 haute couture collection. Bündchen was more than familiar with the frock: she previously wore the Karl Lagerfeld designs in an editorial with him.
Naomi Campbell
Above Naomi Campbell wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Frida Gustavsson at the Chanel spring/summer 2010 haute couture runway show (Photo: Getty Images)
Naomi Campbell wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
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Naomi Campbell was the picture of poise as she arrived on the red carpet in a pink silk satin dress. Her ensemble was a breath of fresh air at the Met Gala thanks to its soft hue, but the part is that it’s technically old: it’s a look from Chanel’s spring/summer 2010 haute couture fashion show. Besides its beautiful drape, the dress is also distinguished with its silver sequin scrolls and glass beadwork.
Christine Chiu
Above Christine Chiu wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Chanel fall/winter 2015 haute couture runway show (Photo: Getty Images)
Christine Chiu wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala 2023 red carpet (Photo: Getty Images)
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For her Met Gala debut, Bling Empire star Christine Chiu dug up a look from her own archive: a red dress from the Chanel fall/winter 2015 haute couture collection, which was famously presented in a casino-inspired set. Chiu had first worn the flapper-inspired gown when meeting King Charles back when he was a prince. For the gala, she completed the look with a hefty, feathered cape. At the Costume Institute exhibition, which the Met Gala is celebrating, you’ll also find more of Chiu’s personal Chanel couture pieces, which she has donated for the show.
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Pameyla Cambe is the Assistant Digital Editor of Tatler Singapore. She handles the Fashion section of the website, where she reports on trends, the hottest fashion launches and what your favourite Asian celebrities are wearing.
