Each year on the first Monday in May, Anna Wintour tosses on her favorite oversized - and overpriced - pair of black sunglasses and waltzes over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No, not to gaze at the latest exhibit, not really…but for the annual Met Gala ball hosted by her baby, Vogue.
It’s the hottest ticket in town, priced reasonably at $50,000, where celebrities gather strut along a red carpet in their most egregiously outrageous attire. It’s a chance for celebs to represent major fashion houses like Chanel or Thierry Mugler, to exhibit new collections and luscious one-of-a-kind designs. Fans and haters alike flock to social media to go full-Joan-Rivers on the A-listers.
Technically, the Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Met’s Costume Institute…but realistically, no one pays attention to that. People are more focused on the fashion and the invite list than how much money gets raised for a good cause ($17.4 million last year). To the celebrities, politicians, and personalities in attendance, it’s the ultimate acknowledgement of their fame.
An Anna Wintour-curated invite list involves only the cream of the celeb crop. The hottest names in Hollywood intermingle for one night only on the east coast. And there’s nothing the public loves more than a crossover bathroom photo of your favorite models, actresses, and singers.
Many times, fashion houses will directly invite celebrities to debut their latest looks for the Met Gala. It’s why Thierry Mugler essentially came out of retirement to premier Kim Kardashian’s wet look dress. One of fashion’s greatest nights of the year, it features the most exclusive and glittering guests of all time.
But Just What Will Everyone Wear?
Cara Delevingne for Cara Loves Karl
Laurent Vu/SIPA/Shutterstock
The 2023 Met Gala will be held on May 1, honoring the work of legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld - famous for his black-and-white styles, think classic Chanel. The theme . . . “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty,” will pay homage to his delectable creations for Chanel, Balmain, Fendi, and more - with over 150 original pieces by Lagerfeld himself on display.
Vogue’s spectacular April issue pays tribute to Karl Lagerfeld’s success with ten of the world’s most stellar models sporting his collections. Iconic designers in the fashion world commented on the loss of Karl and his impact on fashion as we know it…Donatella Versace told Vogue,
“He means a lot to designers today—especially me. We like his rebellious spirit. He would put things together that really didn’t make sense, just to show you they could make sense. He didn’t take himself so seriously, but then geniuses never do. It was like every show he did was his first. He also liked to have women around him, to give him strength. Their presence was very important—he wanted to know what women thought of what he was doing”
For those confused about what to expect from the outfits, think vintage! Since Karl Lagerfeld has designed for many of the top houses, we can only imagine how many attendees will be wearing a Karl Lagerfeld original from back in the day…which makes this year’s theme insanely sustainable.
Lagerfeld had his own distinct look with his ponytail and leather fingerless gloves. And in case you haven’t heard - he had a fluffy white sidekick cat named Choupette. She has 128K Instagram followers and a $13 million dollar estate she inherited from her darling dad. In recent years, Lagerfeld’s collections featured pieces in the hue of Choupette Blue.
And Who’s Going?
Pharrell Williams and Anna Wintour
TERESA SUAREZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
There are about 400 invitees of Anna Wintour’s who will grace the Met Gala stairs. Rumors are swirling that Brittney Griner will attend. And Chanel faces such as Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Pharrell Williams, and more, will likely show up. And then there’s the Kar-Jenner Clan who could never miss this dazzling event.
Hosted by Dua Lipa, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, and Michaela Coel, the 2023 Met Gala is going to be a moment. Who will brutally fail our ostensibly high standards? I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
Forget awards season, don’t even think about NFL playoffs, fashion’s version of the Super Bowl just announced their co-chairs. May 1, 2023 marks the 75th Met Gala, where the top-of-the-top celebrities are invited to wear the most egregious outfits in the world – all for millions to critique.
Today, Vogue announced that the annual fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute will be hosted by Penelope Cruz, Roger Federer, Michaela Coel, and Dua Lipa. And then . . . there’s Vogue’s leading lady, Anna Wintour. 2023’s Met Gala theme will be Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty.
Lagerfeld – who passed away in 2019 – was Chanel’s designer who contributed to their legendary black-and-white style. The Parisian influence will take over the Met Gala’s red carpet – one of fashion’s most highly anticipated nights.
It comes as no surprise that Penelope Cruz will be co-chair for this year’s Met. Not only did she just receive her fourth Oscar nomination for Parallel Mothers, but she was one of Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel muses.
Gina Lollobrigida and Karl Lagerfeld
APS-Medias/ABACA/Shutterstock
The three other chairs chosen are currently at the pinnacle of pop culture: Dua Lipa’s rise to superstardom with Future Nostalgia, Roger Federer retired as one of the greatest tennis players in history, and Michaela Coel’s demand after his stellar role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The exhibit will showcase over 150 of Lagerfeld’s original looks – spanning 1950-2019. Lagerfeld notoriously sketched everything…and hated fashion on display. But from May 5-July 16, you’ll see some of his finest work with Fendi, Chanel, and Chloe.
The world of celebrity endorsement makes for some strange spectacles.
From Penelope Cruz dressed as Mario, to Snoop Dogg rapping about Hot Pockets, it sometimes seems like celebrity's will back any brand that offers them a paycheck. But that's not the case with the celebrities on this list.
No one asked these 14 celebrities to offer these strange endorsements. These are just honest -- though sometimes confusing -- expressions of love for their favorite products.
Jessica Simpson - Nicorette Gum
Jessica Simpson says that she's never been a smoker, but she knows the power of nicotine addiction. On an episode of The Tonight Show the singer explained to Jay Leno that she was given her first taste of nicotine gum by accident:
"The first time I ever chewed a piece of Nicorette gum one of my close friends' mother .... thought she was giving me a piece of regular gum. I was chewing it and it was like a party in my mouth. It was like fireworks and 'Oh my god, I'm talking a million miles per hour and I love this gum and what kind of gum is this? I have to have this gum.'"
She makes it sound so fun... Still probably not a good idea to develop a Nicorette habit.
Danny DeVito - Limoncello
In an infamous 2006 appearance on The View, actor-director Danny DeVito gave perhaps the most sincere endorsement of limoncello by confessing that he was up all night drinking the Italian liqueur with his friend George Clooney. Whether the Always Sunny star was exhausted and hung over or possibly still a bit drunk, his loopy energy made for a compelling interview.
It made such an impact, in fact, that a few months later DeVito launched his own brand of limoncello complete with a catchy jingle and a scratch-and-sniff label. Maybe that's where Clooney got the inspiration for Casamigos.
Zendaya - Baby Foot Chemical Peel
Beauty and skincare brands are always looking for glamorous young stars to do some promotion. And Euphoria actor Zendaya is probably near the top of the "glamorous young star" list. So you might suspect that Japanese brand Baby Foot paid her to talk about their foot peel "mask"... until you read what she had to say:
"I tried it and was like, 'This is bulls***,' because nothing happened. Then a couple weeks later, I was like, "What the **** is wrong with my feet!?' They looked a mess and were seriously peeling like crazy. But, it was actually great. It worked really well and my feet were so smooth after! (I'd show you a pictures, but you'd probably throw up!)"
Doesn't exactly sound appealing.
Robert Pattinson - Cinnamon Toast Crunch
After Robert Pattinson's 2012 break-up with Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart, people were desperate to get him talking. On The Daily Show Jon Stewart tried to get him to open up over a couple pints of therapy ice cream, and when that didn't work George Stephanopoulos brought a secret weapon to the set of Good Morning America: Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
The cereal has been confirmed as Pattinson's favorite, but it wasn't enough to persuade the famously reserved Pattinson to spill the details. Instead, when Stephanopoulos asked him what he wanted his fans to know about the break-up, Pattinson deflected with an impromptu cereal commercial.
"I'd like my fans to know that Cinnamon toast is just 130 calories."
Selena Gomez - Reese's Cups
Selena Gomez loves pickles. The Spring Breakers star has shared her recipe for popcorn with tabasco and pickle juice — which actually sounds kind of tasty — but all the way back in 2009 she shared her love of a much weirder combo. In a move that we're not sure Reese's appreciated, the young star shared this image on her Twitter, noting that "Reese's and pickles are my favorite together. They just work."
Whatever you say, Selena...
Justin Bieber - Rubik's Cubes
If TV and movies have taught us anything, it's that the ability to quickly solve a Rubik's Cube is irrefutable proof of genius-level intelligence. If that's true (it's not...), then Justin Bieber is probably the smartest celebrity on Earth (he's not).
From a young age, the Biebs has been able to solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes, and has done so on camera any number of times.
But what is even more striking than his skill with the famous puzzle is his enthusiasm for it, as evidenced by this installment of The Late Late Show's Carpool Karaoke. When James Corden produces a mixed-up Rubik's Cube for Bieber to solve, the "Holy" singer doesn't treat it as a chore. Rather, he responds with, "Dope. Hell yeah!" and gets to solving it.
Mila Kunis - World of Warcraft
With the new expansion World of Warcraft: Shadowlands released in November, many recovering WoW addicts are likely to be drawn back to Azeroth to explore the fantasy world's afterlife. Among those who may be tempted is Black Swan star Mila Kunis, who discussed her obsessive relationship with the game on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in 2008.
Kunis noted that she had actually had to abandon a character when another player recognized her voice — yet she still kept playing so much that she eventually forced herself to quit entirely. So if Kunis disappears from society for the next few months, the first search party should probably be sent to the shadowlands.
B.J. Novak - Cadbury Creme Eggs
This one is more of a tough love endorsement. When Cadbury made their Creme Eggs smaller in 2007, they thought they could get away with it. The seasonal treat is only available a few months out of the year, so most people would be unlikely to notice the difference.
One exception to that rule was Office writer and star B.J. Novak, who loves Cadbury Creme Eggs so much that he keeps a stock frozen for year-round consumption. Cadbury probably didn't appreciate Novak calling out this blatant case of "shrinkflation" on national TV, but his devotion to their product was evident nonetheless.
Lena Dunham - Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask
Girls creator and star Lena Dunham is not one to withhold the less-than-glamorous details of her life. That's certainly the case with an image she shared on Instagram of her using the $35 Neutrogena Light Therapy Mask for treating acne.
The accompanying text explained that Dunham "saw the ad for the light therapy acne mask and became obsessed" prompting her then-boyfriend Jack Antonoff to buy one for her. In case there was any uncertainty as to whether Neutrogena had approved of the image, Dunham included the hashtags #notanad and #justapsycho.
Mila Kunis is not alone in her addiction to gaming. Back in 2011, Perfect Pitch star Anna Kendrick confessed to an obsession that was extremely 2011. That was the year that Time Magazine listed mobile game developer Peter Vesterbacka as on of their 100 most influential people in the world.
At the time, Kendrick was so addicted to Vesterbacka's game, Angry Birds that Time used this quote from her in their write up: "I have three stars on every level. It's sort of disgusting how much I play the game. It's not, Oh, what level am I on? It's, Do I need therapy to break myself from playing Angry Birds?"
George Clooney - Flowbee
At some point in your life, you may have had the opportunity to try one of those silly "As Seen on TV" infomercial gadgets. Whether it's the Slap Chop, the Shake Weight, or the Tiddy Bear, chances are you won't become quite as devoted to the product as George Clooney is the the bizarre vacuum-powered hair cutting system known as the Flowbee.
The Ocean's Eleven star recently revealed why he's had an easier time adapting his routine to quarantine. Unlike many celebrities who have gotten shaggy with the advent of social distancing, Clooney hasn't had to worry about missing trips to his stylist. As it turns out, he's been cutting his own hair for decades.
In a recent interview with CBS's Tracy Smith, the Midnight Sky actor and Tequila Tycoon revealed his secret. "My hair's, like really like straw, you know? And it's so easy to cut. You can't really make too many mistakes. So years ago I bought a thing called a Flowbee ... It comes with a vacuum cleaner and the clippers? ... Listen, man, it works!"
Clooney has since demonstrated his technique on Jimmy Kimmel Live, making the whole process look easy. But he has noted that the device probably won't work for everyone, noting that he wouldn't risk his wife Amal Clooney's hair to the Flowbee.
Channing Tatum - Cheetos
In a 2015 Reddit AMA promoting Magic Mike XXL and a rainforest conservation charity, a fan asked Channing Tatum to describe his ideal sandwich. The 21 Jump Street actor didn't hesitate to share his bizarre recipe featuring Cheetos:
"bread, white. peanut butter, not crunchy, creamy. grape jelly, double portion, more than you think should actually fit on a piece of white bread. bread. and then some cheetos shoved in there, and then you're good to go."
Not sure we're gonna try this one at home...
Cardi B - Flamin' Hot Cheetos
Another celebrity who enjoys a strange combination with Cheetos is Cardi B. The "WAP" rapper shared this snack in a series of Instagram Stories in may. Dipping Flamin' Hot Cheetos in Tostitos Queso is an interesting choice, but washing it down with a glass of red wine takes it to a whole new level that is so weird it straddles the line between genius and madness.
Sandra Bullock - Preparation H
In the Miss Congeniality series Sandra Bullock plays FBI agent Gracie Hart, who is forced to go under cover and learn to navigate the world of beauty pageants. The Bird Box actor didn't initially know much about that world herself, but she apparently picked up some tricks in the course of production.
In 2005, when she was doing press for the release of Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Bullock shared one tip that was particularly memorable: "My favorite beauty-pageant secret; I didn't realize that putting hemorrhoid ointment on your face is acceptable in the beauty business. But apparently butt cream does help lines around the eyes."
It's a wonder the brand hasn't adopted that as their slogan.
Singers-turned-actors are lighting up the cinema this weekend.
In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about having your pants scared off? Maybe you just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have you covered. Take a peek at our top picks for this week…
Based on a best-selling book, a young girl has to balance living between her mostly black neighborhood and attending school with affluent white peers. When she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer, she is thrown into the middle of the arguments between communities. She will have to find her voice, be brave, and stand up for what she believes to be right.
The latest from the Marvel universe (yes, it has been at least a week since they were included in our breakdown) which focuses on a journalist who comes into contact with an alien and develops superhuman powers. Now the two forces must try to work together in the body of one man to take down an evil corporate owner, rather than get involved in the evil ways himself.
