Elle Fanning Looked Like a Gorgeous Boho Bride at the 2023 Met Gala

For Elle Fanning, the 2023 Met Gala’s “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” theme was deeply personal—and she dressed impeccably to honor the late designer who touched her life so deeply. For a woodland take on the Chanel bride, Fanning wore a lace Vivienne Westwood gown with a black bolero jacket. She wore her hair down in loose waves and accessorized with Cartier jewelry, along with a ribbon-adorned flower crown and a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Fanning reflected on her look shortly before the Met Gala red carpet began, writing on her Instagram, “When I first heard the MET Ball theme was honoring Karl Lagerfeld, I started to reflect on memories we had shared together. The memory that stood out was when he photographed me for his ‘Little Black Jacket’ book. I was 13. Everyone that was pictured wore the same black Chanel jacket and although we all wore the same, Karl let our individual styles and personalities inform how the jacket should be worn. For my portrait, he decided to place a daisy crown on my head and put the jacket over the white dress I arrived in.”

Fanning has been more open than many celebrities about what to expect from her look. She told Variety last week that “I had an idea kind of quickly, I have to say. I sort of sketch everything out so I did a little sketch–an homage to Karl Lagerfeld, of course. I am truly going on theme. I have a good story behind the look that is special to me. I’m excited.”

Of the experience being on the red carpet, she added, “It’s major! It’s very jam-packed. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who you are. You’re all on top of each other. You’re all getting out and you all have to wait in line.”

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.