Caribbean Stars Shine Met Gala 2023 at

by Triston Brewer

The Met’s 2023 Spring exhibition celebrated the legendary creative director Karl Lagerfeld

Under the banner ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’, the 2023 Met Gala commemorated the iconic works and legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019. Hailed as one of the most prolific fashion designers across several generations, this year’s exhibition centered around his lasting impressions left on the industry as well as his sartorial genius. The exhibit showcased more than 150 of Lagerfeld’s most memorable outfits across a career that spanned more than six decades, including his unforgettable designs for the many brands he collaborated with over the years, including, Chanel, Patou, Fendi, Chloé, and his own eponymous label.

This year’s co-chairs for the event were handpicked by Vogue editor Anna Wintour and included Dua Lipa, Micaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, and

Roger Federer. Regarded as the ‘Oscars of fashion’, the gala annually raises millions of dollars for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. In a collaborative effort, the message sent to attendees was to celebrate Lagerfeld with their own unique takes on his designs. With the red carpet arrival of international stars the highlight of the evening, which Caribbean celebrities of note took the opportunity to present their own spin on the genius of Lagerfeld?

Tenaya Taylor

Taylor, whose ancestry traces back to the island nation of Trinidad, chose designer Thom Browne to pay homage to the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, opting for a custom-made tweed blazer and matching dress. The structured design gave the illusion of a white button-up in the front, complete with a pressed collar, cut-outs which showcased the actress’ chiseled hips, a miniature train, and gloved sleeve brushes. Decked out in black sunglasses, bling by jeweler Grace Lee, and a rosette handbag, Teyana proved that beauty can be constricting but worth the effort to produce red carpet magic!

The star of the Black Panther series took to the red carpet in a bedazzled black Prada suit tailored to perfection. Wright, who is of Guyanese descent, wore a mohair double-breasted tuxedo that included a grey and black satin lapel and embroidered collar that was in line with Lagerfeld’s aesthetic. Paired with a silver brushed leather mini-bag and black satin pumps, Letitia presented a chic aesthetic that was on theme and on point.

Known over the years as a muse of Karl Lagerfeld’s for most of her career, Campbell made her 16th entrance at the Met Gala in a vintage Chanel gown from the label’s 2010 couture collection. The British-Jamaican model chose a molten pink dress which featured draping across one shoulder plus a silver sequined bodice with matching silver trim. To complete the look, the supermodel added more silver, including silver arm cuffs and strappy silver heels. With her sleek hair flowing down her back, Campbell evoked a sari style that was daring, provocative, and undoubtedly one of the top looks of the night.

Cardi B

Not to be outdone, Cardi B made the bold decision of not one or two, but four looks for the 2023 Met Gala, each one more daring than the next!

Her first offering, from designer Miss Sohee, was a pink bedazzled gown that was vibrant and evoked showgirl vibes. The chiffon dress extended from waist to head and included pink tulle and a long embroidered train with silver trim throughout. Officially considered a decoy and precursor to her Met Gala red carpet gowns, the look was only a hint of what awaited her fans.

For her second look of the night, Cardi B arrived at the steps of the Met Gala red carpet in a black Chenpeng Studio gown, evoking a look that served as the perfect homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s personal aesthetic. On top, Cardi was styled in the classic Lagerfeld look in a tailored white sleeveless buttondown and skinny black tie. Below, she chose a voluminous black skirt that featured camellia flowers inspired by quilted Chanel bags. She topped the look off with lavender grey hair, a velvet black headband, and large pearl earrings.

The hip hop diva chose a Richard Quinn tweed ensemble for her third look of the night and it was just as dramatic as her fans anticipated. A signature style of the Chanel label, Cardi took the pink and black houndstooth bodycon dress to new heights with a deep plunging neckline, with gemstones featured on the bodice and at the hem. As accessories, she wore pearl necklaces, a silver chain, and cross pendant by Bhansali to cover her décolletage, with a small Christian Louboutin clutch to complement the look.

For her fourth and final look of the evening, Cardi showed up at the Met Gala afterparty in spaghetti-strap newsprint gown. Form-fitting and floor-length, the dress featured news articles centered around Lagerfeld’s work at Chanel, which she complemented with a Loree Rodkin necklace. By the end of the night, Cardi B had pulled off a touching sartorial tribute to one of fashion’s greatest icons.

Always a belle of any event, Rihanna left her fans waiting for hours in anticipation of her red carpet entrance for this year’s Met Gala but stunned with not one, but two striking looks. The music, fashion, and beauty mogul started the night wearing a vintage fur coat designed by Lagerfeld from Fendi’s 1997 collection. Originally worn by supermodel Naomi Campbell, the Barbadian oozed glamour in accessories that included a Bulgari necklace featuring diamonds and pearls, Gianvito Rossi heels adorned with white ribbons, and canellia earrings, the flower synonymous with the Chanel brand. To complete the look, Rihanna opted for her signature red lip and white eyeshadow.

Bad Bunny

Merely a few weeks after the announcement that he’d made history as the first headliner at the Coachella Festival, Bad Bunny made his second appearance at the Met Gala and captivated the audience with a monochrome look that would have made Karl Lagerfeld proud.

The Latin reggaeton artist teamed up with Jacquemus in a customized, all-white double-breasted suit. Featuring an open back and a floral taffeta train eight meters in length, the ‘Titi Me Preguntó’ singer accessorized the daring outfit with a silver chain necklace, pearl earrings, and white derby shoes, all from the Jacquemus line. Capped off with his black hair slicked back, Bad Bunny proved he understood the assignment.

For her second look of the night, Rihanna appeared on the red carpet in a custom Valentino haute couture silk faille bridal dress and cape covered in canellia appliqués made with 500 petals and a long, billowing train. Once she was centered on the red carpet, Rihanna unhooked the cape to reveal her baby bump as she awaits the birth of her second child. Her partner, hip-hop artist A$AP Rocky, paid homage to Lagerfeld’s iconic runway look from the 2004 Chanel show in Tokyo in a black blazer, white button-down shirt and skinny black leather tie, and red kilt – all from Gucci. To update the look, he paired it with diamanté-embellished jeans and Gucci belt. The powerful duo pulled off one of bold looks that captivated attendees and exuded the essence of Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy.

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