A look back at the Irish style at the 2023 Met Gala

Met Monday is the fashion event of the year, and last year was dedicated to celebrating the exhibition entitled ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’, honouring the late designer while inviting Hollywood’s elite to pay homage to a man who helmed fashion houses that included Chanel, Fendi, and his own eponymous line.

A fundraising event from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the Gala has been perhaps more accurately dubbed the Super Bowl of Fashion. Celebrities ascended the stairs of the Met in the glare of camera lenses, and looks varied from references to the designer’s beloved cat, Choupette, to new iterations of Lagerfeld’s signature black-and-white uniform.

The star-studded event saw singers and actors, athletes and models take to the red carpet, led by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, and included Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Jenna Ortega, Gigi Hadid, Anne Hathaway, Aubrey Plaza, and a wealth of other A-listers, but it was the Irish connections that really piqued our interest last year.

Here are some of the very best looks and designs from the Irish at the 2023 Met Gala…

Alexa Chung in Róisín Pierce

According to British Vogue, Dublin-based designer Róisín Pierce’s experimentations with embroidery, crochet and cotton lace caught the eye of Alexa Chung on the runway, and the pair began messaging on Instagram ahead of the big event. The intricate layering of satin crepe squares are patchworked together delicately, and the highly textured gown of flowers and bows seem to flow effortlessly.

Speaking of the ties to the theme, Chung told British Vogue: “He was future-focused at all times and particularly interested in emerging designers, musicians, writers and creatives in general. I saw this year’s theme as an opportunity to bring attention to a young designer who has been influenced by Mr Lagerfeld. As much as this exhibition is a retrospective, I think he would’ve liked to look forward, and Róisín’s work felt like a nice nod to his enduring legacy.”

Samantha Barry in Elizabeth Kennedy

Cork native and editor-in-chief of Glamour US, Samantha Barry wore a burgundy number made by New York City designer Elizabeth Kennedy. Styled by Andrew Gelwicks, the look was paired with a pair of Louboutins, Mindi Mond New York pearls, and a stunning curled end blowdry. Taking to Instagram, the New York-based, Irish-born editor wrote: “I couldn’t be more in love with my #metgala red carpet look and the team that put it all together. So honored and humbled to be included in such an iconic night.”

Billie Eilish in custom Simone Rocha

One of the night’s most exciting looks was Billie Eilish’s custom Simone Rocha tribute to Karl Lagerfeld. Created as a celebration of her talent and powerful femininity, this dress reflects “emotion, fragility, strength and femininity, [and] the design evolved into a layered piece, revealing what lies beneath.”

“Working in fragile tulle, edged with lace, and interpreting embellishment as armour, the design features existing signature Simone Rocha fabrics that were repurposed and patchworked. Featuring hand-appliqued found lace, tinsel cotton tweed , patchworked into a tapestry of memories, tied with black ribbons, and hand-embellished jet drips suspended from the body,” Simone Rocha wrote on Instagram.

Pierce Brosnan in Tom Ford

Former 007 and beloved Irish actor Pierce Brosnan stepped out with his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, for their Met Gala debut wearing a tailored Tom Ford suit with matching shades. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the actor commented, “If not now, when?” before entering the venue for the main event. Smith wore a black Monique Lhuillier gown.

Karlie Kloss in Loewe by Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson

Though it may take us some time to forgive Karlie Kloss for the whole ‘looking camp right in the eye’ debacle, the fact that she sported an Irish design on the red carpet certainly earned her some brownie points in our eyes. A reimagined Lagerfeld Chanel dress from 1983, the Loewe gown was designed by Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson and featured Lagerfeld’s signature strings of pearls.

Taking to Instagram to post her look, the model captioned the photo, “Baby’s first met” as she debuted her pregnancy on the red carpet alongside tennis star Serena Williams and Rihanna.

Barry Keoghan in Burberry

One man that won’t bore us with a safe but dull black-and-white tuxedo is our very own Barry Keoghan. The Irish actor’s had a lot of eyes on him on red carpets and award ceremonies alike of late, and he is yet to let us down. Donning a tartan tweed suit by Burberry, this Oscar-nominee certainly made a splash for his Met Gala debut.

Featured photography by @simonerocha_.