As impressive and expansive the creative director’s instrumental contributions to the world of art are, audiences have become more aware of the disparities in opportunities for creatives in the classist, racist, fatphobic, and generally unjust industry.
The Met Gala 2023 — Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The Met Gala is no different. Over the years, many have addressed the lack of Black and POC designers at the lavish gala. While viewers have been pointing out the obstacles faced by non-white participants in the highly gatekept craft, they have also been displeased by the choice of theme for the Met Gala 2023 — Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
This also means many Black + POC designers may be overshadowed by these well established European houses and/or not have funding/resources to have presence on the carpet, tables at the gala etc like them — even if they are in the exhibition
The late designer’s unsavoury sentiments on body positivity, race, and even the MeToo movement are rightfully garnering negative attention as the Met Gala 2023 honoured his life and work. Attendees paid their tributes in a sea of black and white (and the occasional pink, which Karl famously disliked). While some call the designer’s problematic comments a blight on his enduring legacy, others argue that they’re the very core values that his work and the fashion world continue to uphold.
Matt Winkelmeyer / MG23 / Getty Images
When the theme for the Met Gala 2023 was announced, actor Jameela Jamil took to Instagram to share a carousel that pointed out several distasteful comments made by Karl Lagerfeld over the years. This post was (as expected) met with resistance by individuals — some, ardent followers of the designer who pushed back with vitriolic attacks, and others, aware of the elitism of the Met Gala, disagreed with Jameela, adding that a personality as vain as Karl made for a perfect theme.
“This man… was indeed, supremely talented, but used his platform is such a distinctly hateful way, mostly towards women, so repeatedly and up until the last years of his life, showing no remorse, offering no atonement, no apology, no help to groups he attacked… there was no explanation for his cruel outbursts,” wrote Jameela.
After the Met Gala 2023, Jameela took to Instagram to point out the selective nature of cancel culture and criticize the famous attendees as well as the general public for their inability to “not award the highest honor possible to a known bigot.”
Who are the artists we champion and how does it affect the world we live in? Is separating the art from the artist truly possible? These are some of the questions that are being discussed online where fashion enthusiasts are continuing the conversation.
Jameela Jamil shades “famous feminists” for paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld at the Met Gala 2023
The late designer stood by his problematic opinions and they were… not great
Celebrating the life and work of Karl Lagerfeld — the German fashion designer who worked for several fashion houses including Balmain, Patou, and Chloé before he led Chanel for 36 years until his death in 2019 — was the Met Gala 2023. His oeuvre transcended design, into photography and other visual arts, where he made his mark using Baroque and Rococo art as his inspiration.
As impressive and expansive the creative director’s instrumental contributions to the world of art are, audiences have become more aware of the disparities in opportunities for creatives in the classist, racist, fatphobic, and generally unjust industry.
The Met Gala 2023 — Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The Met Gala is no different. Over the years, many have addressed the lack of Black and POC designers at the lavish gala. While viewers have been pointing out the obstacles faced by non-white participants in the highly gatekept craft, they have also been displeased by the choice of theme for the Met Gala 2023 — Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
The late designer’s unsavoury sentiments on body positivity, race, and even the MeToo movement are rightfully garnering negative attention as the Met Gala 2023 honoured his life and work. Attendees paid their tributes in a sea of black and white (and the occasional pink, which Karl famously disliked). While some call the designer’s problematic comments a blight on his enduring legacy, others argue that they’re the very core values that his work and the fashion world continue to uphold.
Matt Winkelmeyer / MG23 / Getty Images
When the theme for the Met Gala 2023 was announced, actor Jameela Jamil took to Instagram to share a carousel that pointed out several distasteful comments made by Karl Lagerfeld over the years. This post was (as expected) met with resistance by individuals — some, ardent followers of the designer who pushed back with vitriolic attacks, and others, aware of the elitism of the Met Gala, disagreed with Jameela, adding that a personality as vain as Karl made for a perfect theme.
“This man… was indeed, supremely talented, but used his platform is such a distinctly hateful way, mostly towards women, so repeatedly and up until the last years of his life, showing no remorse, offering no atonement, no apology, no help to groups he attacked… there was no explanation for his cruel outbursts,” wrote Jameela.
After the Met Gala 2023, Jameela took to Instagram to point out the selective nature of cancel culture and criticize the famous attendees as well as the general public for their inability to “not award the highest honor possible to a known bigot.”
Who are the artists we champion and how does it affect the world we live in? Is separating the art from the artist truly possible? These are some of the questions that are being discussed online where fashion enthusiasts are continuing the conversation.