Elle Fanning's 2023 Met Gala Look Is Full of Sentimental References

Elle Fanning looked downright angelic in a flowing white lace gown at the 2023 Met Gala. At the same time, Fanning paid homage to a special moment she shared with the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.

The Great star arrived at the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" carpet in a white lace gown by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood. Her accessories leaned romantic, from a flower crown tied around her head with black ribbons to an overflowing bouquet of daisies she carried in her arms. She finished the look with a cropped black jacket.

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The styling for Fanning's look directly channeled the outfit she wore for the photoshoot when she first met Lagerfeld. "When I first heard the MET Ball theme was honoring Karl Lagerfeld, I started to reflect on memories we had shared together," Fanning wrote in an Instagram post that shared the inspiration for her look.

"The memory that stood out was when he photographed me for his 'Little Black Jacket' book. I was 13," Fanning continued. "Everyone that was pictured wore the same black Chanel jacket and although we all wore the same, Karl let our individual styles and personalities inform how the jacket should be worn. For my portrait, he decided to place a daisy crown on my head and put the jacket over the white dress I arrived in."

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The special references in her look didn't end there. Fanning was recently named a global ambassador for Cartier's Grain de Café collection. Naturally, the actor wore Cartier jewels on the Met Gala carpet for the occasion—specifically, a necklace reminiscent of the one worn by Grace Kelly in a 1955 royal portrait.

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Fanning previously talked to BAZAAR.com about her philosophy when it comes to red-carpet dressing.

"[I feel the most glamorous] when I get ready for a red carpet. It’s the ultimate glamour," she said. "It can be stressful, but I find it exciting. I’ve always loved putting together a look that expresses myself, and it’s an extension of my creativity. I’ve always had fun with red-carpet looks instead of putting pressure on myself."

This year's Gala's theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," pays homage to the life and legacy of the late Chanel creative director.

The Costume Institute describes the spring 2023 exhibition as an exploration of "the work of Karl Lagerfeld. Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the show will spotlight the German-born designer’s unique working methodology."

The exhibition will additionally showcase about 150 of Lagerfeld's designs, as well as some of his sketches, both of which "underscore his complex creative process and the collaborative relationships with his premières, or head seamstresses. Lagerfeld’s fluid lines united his designs for Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his eponymous label, Karl Lagerfeld, creating a diverse and prolific body of work unparalleled in the history of fashion."

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset. 

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