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Carla Bruni-Sarkozy knows her way around a Karl Lagerfeld design. The model and former first lady of France was one of the supers in the 1990s, and a friend to the late designer who was honored at the Met Gala last night. Earlier in the day, Bruni delivered remarks at the press preview of the exhibition “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” and reminisced on her relationship with Lagerfeld. “Despite his charisma and his creative power, despite the energy he diffused and which animated him, despite the bewitching charm of his brilliant and sharp mind, despite his elegance and generosity, and despite his wicked sense of humor, which as you can see is so well represented in this exhibition, it is his kindness that I remember the most,” she shared.
At the actual gala, she was tasked with dressing “in honor of Karl” as per the dress code. To do so, she looked to the designer’s eponymous house, and found a dress from its 2001 collection that fit the bill. It was Bruni’s first time at the gala, so the night was especially meaningful. “My first Met Ball was a unique moment,” she told Vogue over email. “Being there for Karl Lagerfeld was an honor and a pleasure. This year’s Met Gala brought together American power with French elegance—all this surrounded by the beauty of the Metropolitan Museum.”
The archival dress Bruni selected featured an asymmetrical neckline, a close-fitting black bodice and skirt, and a white inner layer peeking through. It was originally styled with a pageboy cap on the runway; instead, Bruni accessorized with a black-and-white fan, a nod to Lagerfeld’s uniform. But the standout detail was the cascading white train that flowed behind her on the carpet (and matched her fan perfectly). It was, in a word, super.
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