These Met Gala hairstyles paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel archive

The Met Gala was made for referential fashion moments, taking a modern spin on a sartorial theme. This year, the annual celebration shone the spotlight on the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, the inimitable late designer who helmed fashion houses such as Chanel and Fendi, alongside his eponymous line. Yet, while we relished in his signature stark black and white, quilted detailing, tweed, and camellias, the beauty was an equally reverential affair.

Below, discover five looks from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel archive intentionally (or unintentionally) inspiring red carpet hairstyles for the 2023 Met Gala:

Chanel and Jackie O are intrinsically interlinked; consider the image of the former First Lady sporting a pink boucle skirt suit on the fateful day in 1963 when her husband, President John F Kennedy, was assassinated. But just as Jackie O drew on Chanel for strength, the house has a history of drawing on the former First Lady, too. See it in interpretations of her flicked ‘do on Chanel’s autumn/winter 1991 runway – be it sleekly swept aside as in the ’50s or cheekily flicked out as in the ’60s. It wasn't all that surprising then that we found both versions of the puffed-up bob at this year's Met Gala.

When we envision Chanel's heyday we find ourselves drawn to the gilded chains, tiny tweed two-pieces and little black dresses of the 1990s. Preferably accompanied by volume-heavy, extra large hair accessorised by the brand's emblematic black bow. Take the swept-up style seen on the spring/summer 1992 runway, for example, which undoubtedly could be found on the mood board of Sydney Sweeney's hair stylist this year.

A micro-fringe, also known as baby bangs, is probably one of the most daring looks that have experienced a renaissance in the 2020s. Bold by definition, it sits high above the brows for a serious and seemingly perennial statement. After all, if we turn back time to 1992, we saw the very same short, choppy fringe step onto the spring/summer runway at Chanel. And if we're to trust Lily James and Lizzo, the bitty micro-fringe as seen at the Met Gala is here to stay for 2023.

Few Chanel hairstyles are easier to implement in your beauty rotation than the slicked-back side part. Appearing on multiple runways since Lagerfeld first joined the French Maison in 1983, a standout iteration was the denim-doused spring/summer 2008 collection, where the slick look was sported by almost every model on the runway. Fast forward to the 2023 Met Gala, and the elevated 'do was reimagined with low ponytails, finished by loose waves, or adorned with an emblematic bow.

Call it a wolf cut, mullet, or a choppy crop, these tousled short tresses quickly became a fast favourite of Karl Lagerfeld's in the 2010s. Take the thick fringe, for example, paired with a flicked-out feathered bob and spotted on the iconic airport-inspired autumn/winter 2016 runway. The 2023 red carpet rendition of the style saw Lagerfeld's former muse Cara Delevingne don a white 'do in honour of Lagerfeld's emblematic white tresses – with a pink, a bleach blonde, and a natural choppy cut following suit.