Penélope Cruz made a stunning entrance at the Met Gala in New York City as co-chair, wearing a breathtaking Chanel wedding gown with a sequin-embroidered hood that doubled as a veil. Her dark hair was elegantly slicked back in a center-parted bun, allowing the sheer hood and heavy earrings to shine.
The bridal outfit was a perfect fit for the gala’s theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, paying homage to the late designer who helmed the fashion house from 1983 until his death in 2019. Chanel’s couture shows always feature a Chanel bride as the finale, and Cruz’s co-chair, Dua Lipa, also made a statement in a Chanel bridal look first seen on Claudia Schiffer in 1992.
Karl Lagerfeld, a fashion icon and creative director at both Chanel and Fendi until his death, was remembered and celebrated at the Met Gala with a simple dress code, “in honor of Karl.” Penélope Cruz, who co-chaired the event alongside Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, was a close friend of Lagerfeld and became a face of the Chanel brand in 2018. She walked the runway in his final Chanel show in 2019, cementing her bond with the legendary designer.
On May 1st, just hours before hitting the Met Gala red carpet, Cruz shared behind-the-scenes photos from a recent Chanel photo shoot. The photos showed Lagerfeld’s signature white ponytail in the foreground, serving as a poignant reminder of the designer’s legacy and influence. Cruz captioned the photo with a heartfelt message to her dear friend: “My dear Karl, I hope you are feeling the love. I know you are.” The slide show featured several photos of the two embracing, with Lagerfeld getting as close to a smile as he ever did for photos.
Cruz’s choice of Chanel wedding gown for the Met Gala was a fitting tribute to Lagerfeld, as each couture show at the fashion house traditionally closed with a Chanel bride. The sequin-embroidered hood that doubled as a veil added an ethereal touch to the bridal outfit, while Cruz’s slicked-back hair and heavy earrings completed the regal look. The dress code for the evening was simple but poignant, honoring the late designer’s legacy and influence on the fashion world.
As one of fashion’s biggest and boldest events, the Met Gala has always been a platform to showcase the best and most iconic designs from the world’s most renowned designers. It was an honor for Cruz to co-chair the event and pay tribute to her friend and mentor, Karl Lagerfeld, in such a meaningful way.