- Culture
- 02 May 23
The theme on the night was 'Karl Lagerfield: A Line of Beauty', with celebrities taking his usual black and white monochrome palette and running with it.
Irish fashion was given a major platform last night at the Met Gala, when Grammy winner Billie Eilish wore Simone Rocha to the lauded event.
Potentially the biggest night on the fashion calendar, the Met Gala is an annual extravaganza that sees the world's most famous faces sporting their most extravagant looks - invited personally by Vogue editor and event chair, Anna Wintour.
The star-studded occasion sees actors, singers, musicians and models work the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, providing show-stopping looks as well as raising funds for The Costume Institute.
The theme of the night was Karl Largerfeld: A Line of Beauty, and designers drew inspiration from the iconic designer and his creations over the decades.
Irish designer and NCAD graduate Simone Rocha crafted a custom look for Oscar-winning singer-songwriter and producer Billie Eilish. Rocha took inspiration from Eilish's own gothic fashion tastes, blending it with her penchant for Victorian silhouettes and materials.
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Marking her third appearance at the celebrated gala, Eilish wore a black sheer gown with a floral-patterned halterneck, corset, garter-inspired tights and ribbon detailing. The look was finished with matching sheer thigh-high stockings, full length gloves and towering black platform heels - with her hair plaited in a braid.
Simone Rocha is the daughter of fashion designer John Rocha, and trained at Central Saint Martins, London after finishing her undergrad at NCAD. She launched her graduate collection in 2010 at the Tate Modern and in London Fashion Week.
“She does not custom make anything, and I was just like, [bats eyes] ‘Please,'” Eilish told Vogue on the red carpet about Simone Rocha. “Any time I get invited [to the Met Gala], it’s such an honour. I have a great time. I go in there and I have good stories afterwards, I’ll say that.”
Back in 2021, she served as the prestigious event’s youngest co-chair, and made her debut in a Marilyn Monroe-inspired gown for the In America: A Lexicon of Fashion theme.
Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty showcased over 150 original looks designed by Lagerfeld, who died at 85 years old in 2019, delving into the former Chanel creative director’s expansive seven-decade career. Many of his original sketches are also set to appear alongside the objects on display.
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Other looks from last night were inspired by Lagerfeld's infamous white cat Choupette, which led Doja Cat, Lil Nas X and Jared Leto to dress as the feline pet for last night's event.