And just like that- the 2023 Met Gala is but a memory, so now it’s time to round up the best hair and makeup looks from fashion’s BIGGEST night. Held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the biggest names in fashion and Hollywood came out to celebrate the latest installation at the MET Costume Exhibit, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” The exhibition examines the work of Karl Lagerfeld throughout his lifetime, displaying over 150 pieces and accompanying sketches. This year’s dress code was “in honor of Karl” and the stars understood the assignment. From paying homage to Lagerfeld’s beloved cat Choupette (shoutout to Doja and Jared Leto) or highlighting his longstanding work at Chanel, the guests came in headline-making style choices.
Without further ado, here are our top hair and makeup moments that stole the red carpet:
Kendall Jenner – Barbie Pony with a Twist
Known for her chic and stylish fashion choices, Kendall often experiments with different hairstyles on the red carpet- and she brought the drama this year. While most people were focused on her leggy look, as she commanded the carpet in nothing but a body suit- we were too busy looking at her retro ponytail. Kendall wore her hair in a slicked-back high ponytail with elegant wrapping at the base. The remainder of her hair flowed down her back with a slight flip at the ends- giving it that retro 90s feel.
Naomi Campbell – Sleek & Long
It’s no surprise that Naomi Campbell dominated the red carpet, as she is one of the most recognizable and in-demand models of the past four decades. Campbell is a seasoned vet of the affair, with last night marking her 16th appearance on the MET steps. The supermodel’s silk gown draped her body perfectly, fitting her like a glove. While the dress dates back to Chanel’s 2010 haute couture collection, Naomi brought in a modern element with her extra-long extensions. She gave us LENGTH with her straight and slicked-back hair, giving us the ultimate hair inspo for summer.
Margot Robbie – Old Hollywood Waves
While the official Barbie movie doesn’t hit theatres until July, Margot Robbie brought major “Malibu Barbie” energy to last night’s event. Wearing a remake of Cindy Crawford’s 1993 Chanel gown, Margot went old-school with her glam to match the look. Created by celebrity stylist Bryce Scarlett, Margot rocked a ’90s supermodel blowout to honor the aesthetic of her archival Chanel gown. Margot’s bouncy blowout looked as elegant and flawless as her- giving us major hair envy.
Ashley Graham – Old Hollywood Glamor
Ashley Graham’s hairstyle was a work 👏 of👏 art 👏. Hairstylist Justine Marjan created a look that paid homage to the 1960s, while still creating an air of modernity with its structural art. When speaking with Bustle, Marjan explained how she was “inspired by the classic Chanel bob and wanted to give a nod to the legacy of the brand and the era it was founded. Most of Karl’s collections featured models with slicked-back hair or side parts, so we went for a side part, and the wavy pattern in the front paid homage to the hair in Chanel’s spring ’93 collection. The flipped ends were from Chanel’s spring ’97 couture show.” Paired with winged eyeliner and a soft lip, Graham looked pretty in pink on the red carpet.
Sydney Sweeney – Big Bow Energy
It’s official – black hair bows were the biggest accessory trend at the 2023 Met Gala, and we think Sydney Sweeney rocked it the best. Karl Lagerfeld was known for having bows on his handbags, so it is no surprise that hairstylists paid homage to his signature detailing. The Euphoria and White Lotus star embodied Lagerfeld’s vision of femininity with her hair blown out to the heavens and topped with a delicate black bow that perfectly elevated her coquette look by celebrity stylist Glen Coco- you go Glen Coco.
Penelope Cruz – Soft Bridal Glam
Penelope Cruz looked like the quintessential Chanel bride, with luminous skin and soft glam by celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Charlotte Tilbury. Her subtle smokey eye and nude lip gave her an elegant feel, leaving the vintage gown as the main focal point.
Emma Chamberlain – Goth Glam
While Emma looked strictly “business” in her Miu Miu set, her makeup transported us back to early 90s rave culture, as she paired a bold shadow with heavy eyeliner to create the trending emo goth glam aesthetic. “Her fabulous structured two-piece and matching headband are a bit more polished, so we wanted to complement and balance that with deeper, more edgy makeup,” said makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan in a press release. “We decided to go with a ’90s brown lip and a rough, blue smoky eye to complete the look.” It’s giving Blair Waldorf meets grunge Jenny Humphry, xoxo Gossip Girl.
Yara Shahidi – Siren Eye and Brown Lip
Yara Shahidi delivered a seductive and sultry look, and she slayed on the red carpet. In an interview with ELLE, Shahidi stated that her “makeup artist Nikki Wolff and I drew inspiration from ’90s-era supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Yasmeen Ghauri. We leaned into classic smoked-out eyeliner, dewy skin, and a brown lip and lip liner.” Shahidi accomplished her goal of looking fresh off a 1990s Chanel runway, while still keeping it modern with the siren eye- proving it’s still a trend to get behind.
Grace Elizabeth – Pastel Embellishments
Grace Elizabeth gave us Coachella meets Hollywood premiere, with a fun and artistic approach to her Met Gala makeup. Using pearl embellishments in her hair and makeup, she paid homage to Lagerfeld who was known to use them extensively in his Chanel runway shows. While many opted for black and white this year, Elizabeth popped on the runway and gave us a beautiful splash of pink (our favorite colour 😉).
Huge cheers to all the amazing women and men who strutted their stuff on the red carpet last night. May next year bring on even more inspiring talent, entertainment, and gorgeous fashion for all! We can’t wait to see what trends next season will bring.
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