Met Gala 2023: Whitney Peak on taking risks, the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld – and the significance of her Chanel outfit

Wearing Chanel, Whitney Peak reflects on the lessons she learnt from Karl Lagerfeld, her Met Gala prep – and why she is living in the moment.

A night to remember! Whitney Peak, in Chanel, at the Met Gala in New York. Picture: Getty Images

There’s something about attending her second Met Gala that has Whitney Peak feeling more … relaxed.

Wearing head-to-toe Chanel, the rising “it” girl is speaking from a hotel room in New York, ahead of her arrival on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The occasion? US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s annual Met Gala, which this year is in tribute to the late Chanel visionary, Karl Lagerfeld – themed as “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”.

“It’s my second time [attending], so I got kind of the nerves out,” says Peak. The former Gossip Girl star is, of course, a Chanel ambassador and the new face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance. “The first time [at the Met], I remember being so anxious about the carpet.

‘I want to have fun and live in the moment.’ Whitney Peak, the face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle perfume, at the Met Gala in New York. Picture: Getty Images

The Gossip Girl alumn has paid tribute to the late Karl Lagerfeld. Picture: Getty Images

“I was overwhelmed. Now that I got out of the way, I want to have fun and live in the moment for it all because I barely remember what happened last time,” she says, with a laugh. “I’m excited to hang out with Lizzo. She seems really cool. She’s an icon in her being.”

Speaking while putting the finishing touches on her Chanel beauty look, Peak reflects on the special occasion of the Met Gala.

Her outfit is a sleeveless Chanel top adorned with the French luxury’s house’s signature camellias, and a tiered floor-length tulle skirt.

“The look is a two-piece, first of all,” she says, “which is always convenient!”

“It’s very emblematic of Chanel, with the camellias on the front and the pearls – it’s very classic,” she adds.

A moment for the dress! Picture: Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy is enduring for Whitney Peak at the Met Gala in New York. Picture: Getty Images

A night at the Met worthy of Gossip Girl. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s an ode to Lagerfeld in terms of the silhouette, it’s very kind of fun.” As for how Lagerfeld’s legacy remains of note to her, as Peak reflects: “[Lagerfeld] was always sure of himself and trusted his instincts, he was never afraid to play and experiment … and take risks.”

Beauty-wise, her hair is having a “little Josephine Baker moment”, Peak says, referencing the French actress and singer. Peak’s hair stylist Naeemah Lafond chimes in: “It’s vintage, retro”.

“We wanted to keep the hair close to the head, so that the dress could have its moment, while still making it a hair moment,” Lafond says.

Peak says she and Chanel creative director Virginie Viard – who was Lagerfeld’s successor at Chanel – “talked about how the top part of the dress resembles underwater sea shells, with the light pink in it”.

And it was inspo Peak took for her Chanel beauty moment, overseen by makeup artist Tyron Machhausen, and using the brand’s N1 de Chanel serum revitalisant to prep the skin, Chanel Les Beiges healthy glow foundation as the base, and Chanel Le Crayon Khol on her eyes, and among other beauty notes, finishing with Chanel hydra essence beauty mist. “We’re going for that kind of fresh, glowy, wet, dewy face look,” Peak says.

A cosy moment for Whitney Peak.

And in Machhausen’s words? “[The beauty look is] old Hollywood glamour meets modern goddess … a timeless, strong, and modern sculpted look inspired, by the incredible beading and the silhouette of this stunning couture dress.”

Back to the outfit. “The dress was made during the transitional period between Karl and Virginie,” Peak says. “It’s very special that I can pay respect to Karl and honour him … it’s Karl’s day. And also, honour Virginie in the same spirit. I’m here because of her. She’s responsible for putting me here today. It’s a mix of the two worlds.”

As for how Lagerfeld inspires her to this day, Peak pauses: “I didn’t know him as a person but he seemed unapologetic in everything he did”.

“He was very sure of himself and trusted his instincts – he was never afraid to play and experiment with things and take risks. [So] taking risks and following my gut.”

And with that, Peak is almost out the door for a night out in New York City.

Asked what era she is in, Peak says – with a hint of Gossip Girl-worthy confidence: “It’s just the beginning for me.”

“I think I am still earning my way up, experimenting and challenging myself in terms of work. I’m excited to see what comes. I’d say it’s the beginning for me, I think.” She calls out to someone in the next room with a laugh, “Would you say that’s right?”

Originally published as Met Gala 2023: Whitney Peak on taking risks, the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld – and the significance of her Chanel outfit