Fashion's biggest night: Met Gala brings stunning fits and big reveals
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan -- Fashion's biggest night brought stunning outfits and even some big reveals at the Met Gala on the Upper East Side on Monday.
Movie stars, models, billionaires, fashion designers, recording artists strutted their looks on the red carpet to raise money for charity - as much as $20 million or more.
The event is known for outfits that are wacky and wonderful, but the theme this year was a tribute to the late Karl Lagerfeld - the prolific designer for Chanel and other brands, which led to a more classic approach.
"Karl loved me in red so I wanted something red," actress Salma Hayek said.
The elegance of a Salma Hayek was typical during a Met Gala that largely abandoned the spectacular in favor of a more restrained approach.
Co-chair Penelope Cruz came in a vintage Lagerfeld dress circa 1988.
"He was a total genius, a revolutionary, so modern, so bold," Penelope Cruz said about Lagerfeld.
Jessica Chastain keyed off the designer's famous sunglasses.
"I was down there doing photos and I could see the photographers looking at me saying 'who is it?'" Chastain said.
Disney CEO Bob Iger, who came with his wife Willow Bay found a cool way to honor Lagerfeld, by wearing sneakers the master personally designed.
"So Donald Duck has Karl Lagerfeld as designed by Karl on sneakers all licensed through Disney," Iger said.
Lagerfeld was known to love his feline friend 'choupette' so that inspired Jared Leto and the entertainer known as Doja Cat.
The presence of Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle gave the night an extra measure of gravitas because just recently the WNBA star was unlawfully detained in a Russian prison.
More big moments from this year's red carpet:
Serena Williams pregnant!
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian announced they were expecting a baby during a Vogue livestream interview with La La Anthony. The tennis superstar announced she would retire from the sport in August, saying she wanted to focus on her business interests - and having another child. Earlier in the night, Karlie Kloss also announced she was pregnant.
Nicole Kidman credits Karl
"I'm wearing a dress that Karl designed for me 20 years ago. I'm very grateful to wear it. He was so much a part of my life as were his whole team," Nicole Kidman said. "He was the one really sort of shepherded me ... in terms of my love of fashion."
In 2004, the Australian actor appeared in a three-minute Chanel No. 5 commercial shot by director Baz Luhrmann. Lagerfeld designed the costumes and also appeared in the short.
Dua Lipa is very special
Met Gala co-chair Dua Lipa wore a Tiffany diamond around her neck that she called "very special" and that she hoped shimmered for the night. The singer's cream-colored dress, by Chanel from 1992, was also "very, very special" as it has been on her mood boards, she said. Claudia Schiffer wore the gown on the runway for its debut, although hers had a matching hat.
Anna Wintour arrives
Wintour arrived at the Met Gala escorted by actor Bill Nighy.
Karl Lagerfeld was "a very kind person," Anna Wintour - Vogue's editor-in-chief and the host and mastermind behind the gala - said when asked what people misunderstand about the late designer.
She also said she hoped "he would understand how many people love and respect him."
Cockroach makes its debut
A cockroach made its way through the red carpet, but was eventually stepped on at some point in the night.
What it benefits
The gala raises money for the Costume Institute at the Met and throws a spotlight on a new exhibition at the museum.
The late Lagerfeld was celebrated in "A Line of Beauty" with gala organizer Anna Wintour writing the event is a tribute to life itself and a celebration in its purest form.
Attendance at the event is only by her invitation and the cost of a ticket was much higher this year.
Each ticket cost $50,000. For a table it was $300,000 with the proceeds going to charity: the Met's Costume Institute.
WATCH | VIDEO: A look at Met Gala's evolution:
The Associated Press contributed to this report
