The 2023 Met Gala took place last night in New York and a time was had! The charity event’s theme was conceptualized around legendary creative director, the late Karl Lagerfeld and his illustrious tenure in the fashion space. Following a few seasons of what some have categorized as underwhelming fashion, this May the stars came out in their best looks to pay tribute to the icon.

Lagerfeld journeyed his career designing and leading fashion brands like Fendi, Chloé, and Chanel, so the options were endless for our favorite fashion guests. However, common trends on the red carpet were the iconic Chanel tweed, Karl’s daily uniform of a black & white suit, and his signature knack for all things gaudy accessories were on display throughout the night. And with so many great looks executed, ranging across a wide variety of styles, the night was a perfect reference point for some epic wedding fashion inspo. 

As wedding attire becomes more carefree in theory and concept, the fashion options are continuing to expand when it comes to curating your own, personal bridal style. Here’s our roundup of the top looks of the evening, themed by wedding day aesthetic.

For the RETRO Wedding Lovers…

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Many of the looks last night were in tribute to the retro designs of Karl’s past. From the chic and minimal 60s to the glamorous and campy 80s, stars like Lala and Lea Michele arrived on the red carpet in the most retro of looks. If you’re a bride looking to incorporate retro themes into your wedding fashions, try out classic silhouettes column and sheath and cool patterns like pinstripes, and fun textures such as fringe. Accessories are king when it comes to channeling the retro moments of fashions past so don’t be afraid to style your looks with a chic pair of sunnies or a pair of theater gloves like Bianca Saunders did for some fun. And for the men, why not try suiting with shape, as some of our fav retro fashion icons did such as Michael Jackson and David Bowie, or like Gustav Witzoe did last night with his pinstripe, corset suit jacket?

For the MODERN Wedding Lovers…

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Modernity is best served without too much complication or complexity. The root of its existence stands in its ability to serve a sense of newness while remaining rather simple in concept. Some of our fashion and style favs like Hollywood “it” couple Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade as well as multi-hyphenate phenom, Teyana Taylor tapped into this magic last night with their Met looks. When you think of modern wedding styles, there are many routes you can go while remaining bridal. Consider  looking for options like a sleek over jacket or gowns with abstract lines/silhouettes. As we saw in Jackson Wang’s sharp dinner coat and cool neckline with Mindy Kaling’s Simkhai number, modern fashion will always be a no brainer for those wanting a stylish wedding look. 

For the EXTRAVAGANT Wedding Lovers…

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Stylistically speaking, there’s no such thing as doing “too much” on your wedding day.  Arguably, fashion is the most prolific and poignant way to introduce drama and intentional frenzy into your special moment. Fashion is where you can experiment with yourself best and what better day to try something different and extra than your wedding day? Take a page out of Viola Davis and Gisele Bündchen’s Met Gala looks at play with the whimsy and drama that feathers bring. Whether incorporated into your dress’ neckline or as a cool cape to accessorize your gown with, feathers are always a stunning choice. As for the guys, campy-y, oversized overcoats have become a major trend in menswear as Brian Tyree Henry reminded us with last night’s look. Adding drama and confidence into the look, Brian’s outermost layer upped the ante of his entire look. And as for Naomi Campbell, she serves as one of the most revered examples of how to do extravagance in weddings with embellishments. If  you’re looking to make an extra splash in your wedding day fashions choosing a look adorned with eye catching crystals will always do the job.

For the MODEST Wedding Lovers…

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Who said that just because you’re looking to remain modest on your wedding day looks that they have to be boring? Modest fashions proved to be some of the greatest looks last night and for good reason. Despite the common misconception that you have to compromise style and trend relevance in the name of keeping your outfits conservative, the truth is that the journey of finding your personal style is rooted in making your needs work for you. For example, Muslim model Imaan Hammam donned a heavenly, white gown by Standing Ground and Vogue West Coast Editor Leslie Love rocked a minimal and classic Tom Binns tuxedo dress. Cherelle and Brittney Griner both wore minimal looks that gave off a radiant and effortless vibe while actor Rami Malek wore a white poplin shirt and vest with black trousers that were clean and pristine for the high-stakes evening. All of these looks serve as perfect examples of how to make modesty work for you.

For the FLORAL Wedding Lovers…

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Florals? For a wedding? Groundbreaking. Now, this seems like an obvious and overdone aesthetic and trend used in wedding fashions, but the truth is that florals are never going out of style. To embrace the trend in a new, cool way, try incorporating floral fashions in unique ways into your wedding wardrobe. Bad Bunny poignantly added florals to his custom Jacquemus suit through his sleeves, which is a gorgeous way to up your groom’s or groomsmen’s ceremony looks. You can take notes from Rihanna and don an over-the-top, camp overcoat or shawl atop your wedding gown or you could try floral appliques onto your dress. For bridesmaid’s looks, instead of solely adding flowers to their bouquets, try adding them to their necklines like Chloe Fineman did. Floral doesn’t have to just be subjected to your decor, incorporate them into your wedding day fashions and watch heads turn in admiration!

For the OLD HOLLYWOOD Wedding Lovers…

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As for the ladies who love all things Old Hollywood, the 2023 Met was a perfect source of inspiration for you. Fashions of this era included dramatic proportion play in gowns and dapper, complex suitings. Hair was a major factor in building an iconic look and the makeup was fresh and pretty always. Keke Palmer nailed the glamour of this era in a strapless, tweed Sergio Hudson number while Ashley Graham’s custom Harris Reed gown inspired by a Chanel runway number from the house’s 1987 couture show brought drama and flair. Idris and Sabrina Elba stunned in their chic and minimal looks by Gucci, referencing the mod and retro looks of this time period while designer Zac Posen looked dapper in his suited look, complete with a bowtie and vest. If you’re going for Old Hollywood vibes, look no further than these gorgeous looks! 

For the STORYBOOK FANTASY Wedding Lovers…

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For some brides, achieving the storybook fantasy wedding of their dreams is still thee dream. And despite some trend forecasters claiming the fantastical and whimsical looks of weddings are no longer welcome in the current space of moderna, it’s your wedding and you can be dreamy if you want to! As the bride, this is your chance to leave out your fairytale fantasies by wearing a beautifully detailed ball gown down the aisle. Penelope Cruz not only served as co-chair of the evening but also looked stunning in this, hooded Chanel gown, reminiscent of the house’s iconic finale bridal numbers of the past. Dua Lipa also kept with the princess storyline in another Chanel ball gown with a medieval reminiscent bodice, an archive from the brand’s 1992 runway show. And what would a maiden be without her maids? Consider a floor-length gown with flowing fabric for your bridesmaids While Disney’s newest TinkerBell, Yara Shahidi served us mermaid realness in this ode to vintage Chanel with this Jean Paul Gaultier re-imagining with softly pleated train. Actor Wendell Pierce looked debonair and dashing like a royal out of a Disney movie in this suit complete with sprinkles of royal blue.  Pairing your grooms and groomsmen looks with an ascot tie could give your men that extra, added flair needed to create the charming yet regal-suited look you’re going for.

Written by Fashion Writer, Kennedi LéShea.