Doja used prosthetics to make her ensemble even more catlike, while Lil Nas incorporated whiskers and claws into his look.


The 2023 Met Gala kicked off on the first Monday of May (May 1), and saw musicians, actresses and other celebrities dressed up in the most fashionable and head-turning garments while descending upon New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo and more offered stunning looks, while Doja Cat, Jared Leto and Lil Nas X went the daring route with cat ensembles on the beige carpet, but some spectators were left wondering how feline costuming fit in line with the gala’s theme this year.

In line with previous themes such as 2017’s “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” and 2011’s “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” the 2023 Met Gala’s theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” to honor the late designer, who passed away in 2019. Attendees could pull from Lagerfeld’s designs for Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel and his eponymous brand for inspiration or archival looks, but in the case of Doja, Leto and Lil Nas X, they chose to pay homage to designer’s beloved cat, Choupette.