The Best Karl Lagerfeld For Chanel Looks At The Met Gala Through The Years |

From Vanessa Paradis to Willow Smith, Vogue remembers the best Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel moments at the Met Gala.

This year’s Met Gala is devoted to the late Karl Lagerfeld, who will forever be remembered for his impact on the fashion industry. While the German designer held positions at Fendi and Chloé—along with his own eponymous brand—his tenure at Chanel is arguably his most famous.

As creative director from 1983 until his death in 2019, Lagerfeld modernized the maison, reinterpreting the codes introduced by founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Each season, in both his couture and ready-to-wear collections, he presented looks that were worthy of the red carpet, beloved by his various muses and ambassadors alike.

Naturally, many of those designs ended up gracing the steps of the Met—from Claudia Schiffer in a black gown adorned with a camellia motif (1995) to Willow Smith in couture tailoring (2016). Ahead of the first Monday in May, Vogue remembers the best Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel moments at the Met Gala to date.