Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette was more than just the late Chanel creative director's pet. The Birman cat was his muse, a concept I understand fully as the mother of my own two cats, Trish the Tabby and Kit the Kitten. Like Lagerfeld, my cats are always by my side; Choupette was as ubiquitous in photos of the designer as his finger-less gloves or dark sunglasses. So, it's no wonder many celebrities paid homage to her on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet.
Choupette is a star in her own right, with both a German car commercial and Japanese beauty campaign under her belt. Beloved by the fashion industry and Lagerfeld's team, she currently resides in Paris, where Kim Kardashian paid her a visit to seek inspiration for what would become her Schiaparelli Met Gala look. Meanwhile, Jared Leto, Doja Cat, and Lil Nas X made pronounced sartorial statements inspired by Choupette when they arrived at the ball on Monday, May 1.
"[Choupette is] an inspiration for elegance. For attitude."
Leto's costume allowed him to completely transform into the iconic cat, while Doja Cat tapped Oscar de la Renta and her makeup artist Ernesto Casillas for a feline-friendly glow-up. Lil Nas X appeared on the red carpet, covered in Swarovski crystals, pearls, and silver body paint by Pat McGrath, to pay homage to Choupette. His ornate mask featured whisper-thin whiskers. Fully committing to the bit, both he and Doja Cat even meowed their way through Vogue's red carpet interviews. Finally, Janelle Monáe and "SNL"'s Chloe Fineman toted cat purses to the Met ball, designed by Thom Browne and Judith Leiber, respectively.
In a 2015 interview with The Cut, Lagerfeld explained why Choupette makes such a great muse. "[Her two personal maids] play with her, they have to take care of her beautiful white hair, the beauty treatments for her eyes, and they entertain her. She is the centre of the world. If you saw her, you would understand. She is kind of Greta Garbo. There is something unforgettable about her, the way she moves, the way she plays. She's an inspiration for elegance. For attitude."
With Choupette's attitude and affinity for luxury, one has to wonder whether she was consulted for the following Hollywood A-lister tributes. Based upon my intimate exchanges with Trish and Kit though, I'm quite pawsitive Choupette will never reveal her private correspondences.
Ahead, see all the fashion moments in honour of Choupette at the 2023 Met Gala, and decide for yourself whether she'd approve.