Stars channel Karl Lagerfeld’s pampered cat, Choupette, at Met Gala

It wouldn’t be a Met Gala without a touch of fabulous. Here’s how the world’s biggest stars turned it on. See the photos.

The late Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved pet feline Choupette took centre stage at the 2023 Met Gala.

The biggest names in popular culture wore looks inspired by Lagerfeld’s couture career that spanned more than six decades across fashion houses Chanel, Dior, Prada, Chloe, Fendi and Jean Patou.

But it was actor Jared Leto in a catsuit and Doja Cat in a hooded silver sequined dress by Oscar de la Renta that stole the show.

Both channelled pampered pet Choupette, Lagerfeld’s blue-cream tortie Birman cat that was given to the late designer as a gift back in 2011 by French model Baptiste Giabiconi.

Doja Cat attends The 2023 Met Gala. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Choupette, which has its own huge following, is still alive but did not attend the gala herself. She had her own nanny and Lagerfeld famously said he would marry Choupette if it were legal.

“There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals,” he was quoted as saying. “I never thought I would fall in love like this with a cat.”

At the time of Lagerfeld’s death at 85 in 2019, Choupette is rumoured to have inherited a portion of his more than $330 million estate.

“We expected a feline inflection to the outfits at this year’s Met Gala, given the Karl Lagerfeld-inspired, and thus Choupette-inspired dress code, but a handful of transformations were so dramatic that they were still surprising,” Vogue Australia’s Mahalia Chang said.

Chloe Fineman attends The 2023 Met Gala. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

Chloe Fineman’s feline clutch. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue.

“First up was Doja Cat, dressing after her namesake in an Oscar de la Renta gown, hooded and embellished with cat ears, with an SFX make-up muzzle to match. Then, there was Jared Leto, who walked the Met Gala steps in a catsuit — not the superhero kind, but an actual costume, replete with a detachable head.

Elsewhere, guests like Chloe Fineman and Janelle Monae carried cat-shaped clutches — more nods to Lagerfeld’s beloved Choupette, who, according to the cat’s latest Instagram post, spent the evening cosied up at home.”

Jared Leto attends The 2023 Met Gala. Picture: Getty

Choupette now lives in Paris with Lagerfeld’s former housekeeper, Francoise Cacot, and has continued her lavish lifestyle since his passing. For her 11th birthday, Choupette was pictured on her official Instagram on a private jet with balloons and champagne.

“She is like a kept woman,” Lagerfeld once said of Choupette. “She has a strong personality. She has lunch and dinner with me on the table, with her own food. She doesn’t touch my food. She doesn’t want to eat on the floor. She sleeps under a pillow and she even knows how to use an iPad. She has two personal maids, for both night and day. She is beyond spoiled.”

The late Karl Lagerfeld with his beloved Choupette.

The Met Gala of course is known for its fabulous fashion statements and the fact celebrities are able to break all the usual red carpet rules.

Rapper A$AP Rocky arrives with Rihanna, who wore Maison Valentino. Picture: AFP

Rihanna stops traffic at the 2023 Met Gala. Picture: AFP

Yung Miami and Sean "Diddy" Combs arrive together despite announcing their break-up last month. Picture: AFP

Lil Nas X attends The 2023 Met Gala. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Lil Nas X didn’t disappoint when he showed up to the white carpet at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art with his body painted shimmering silver, covered in bejewelled crystals and pearls wearing nothing but a thong.

The 2023 theme was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty with celebrity guests interpret that as they chose with the help of top international designers.

Originally published as Stars channel Karl Lagerfeld’s pampered cat, Choupette, at Met Gala