The 2023 Met Gala is almost upon us, with this year's event promising to be one of the most glamorous to date.
The first Monday in May means only one thing for fashion's elite circle - the esteemed Met Gala takes over New York for a celebration of style and decadence.
The event has been a staple of the A-list fashion calendar since 2005 with Vogue supremo Anna Wintour leading the Gala with a 'militant' schedule.
Every year stars from the runway to the silver screen head to the opening of New York's Costume Institue's Annual Fashion Exhibition for the party and every year they are asked to follow a particular style theme.
Past themes for the fundraising event include In America: An Anthology of Fashion, Camp: Notes on Fashion and Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, which saw some of the best fan reactions.
This year Chanel's late creative director Karl Lagerfield is the inspiration with guests under strict instructions “to wear an archival look from one of the labels Lagerfeld led”.
As usual there will be plenty of rule-breakers.
Last year Kim Kardashian stole the show as she arrived wearing Marilyn Monroe's iconic nude dress - which was heralded and slammed in equal measure.
The reality star has already been spotted in NYC with a number of other famous faces ahead of this year's bash.
Here's everything you need to know about fashion's biggest night out of the year.
When is the Met Gala 2023?
The Met Gala is traditionally held on the first Monday in May every year, meaning 2023's event will take place on May 1.
The only exceptions to the tradition were the 2020 and 2021 balls. The first was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic, while the second was postponed because of the pandemic.
Anna Wintour is said to have a 'militant' schedule with the event, which she plans months in advance and holds weekly meetings to make sure all is going to plan ahead of the big day.
While the Gala sees the opening of the exhibit, which this year is' Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty', the museum will be open to the public from May 5 until July 12 at The Met Fifth Avenue in the Tisch Gallery.
What is the theme?
The Met Gala 2023 theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
The event will pay tribute to the legendary designer who died in 2019. He was well-known as the creative director of Chanel as well as for his work with his eponymous brand.
The dress code is "in honour of Karl", with guests able to choose from his vast archives at Chanel, Fendi, Chloé, Balmain, Patou and his eponymous brand.
Vogue unveiled the 2023 theme in September last year with a special announcement by Pharrell Williams.
Who is hosting?
Back in January, Vogue announced that there will be five hosts for the 2023 Met Gala.
Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz, Emmy-winning writer Michaela Coel, tennis superstar Roger Federer and Grammy-winner Dua Lipa will co-chair the event.
Vogue's editor Anna Wintour will be running the event as usual.
Who is attending?
Kim Kardashian stunned at last year's Met Gala as she showed up on the red carpet wearing Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress.
However, there had been speculation that the reality star wouldn't be returning amid reports her family were cut from the guestlist.
Luckily, an insider put the rumours to bed and insisted Kim has been put on the guestlist.
Speaking about the rumours to the US Sun, the source said: "It's been embarrassing for everyone involved but Kim is still excited and has already been working with a top fashion house to design a custom look for the night."
A PR expert has told The Mirror fans can expect drama from Kim on the red carpet.
The Moment Lab founder Matt Yanofsky said: "Kim Kardashian specialises in getting attention for herself. You can bet she will create a splash on the red carpet."
Kim's expected to be joined at the event by her sister Kendall Jenner.
Another huge name people suspect might strut their way down the red carpet is Kendall's ex-boyfriend Harry Styles.
Harry's other ex-girlfriend Olivia Wilde is rumoured to have been invited to the glitzy event.
It's also thought Billie Eilish, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and Austin Butler will grace the red carpet.
How to watch the Met Gala 2023
The Met Gala will once again be viewable via a live stream on the Vogue website. It will also be accessible through its social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The live stream will start at 6pm ET, which is 11pm in the UK.
Who is banned from attending
While all eyes are sure to be on the celebs making their way up the famous red stairs, much has been made over the A-listers who have been repeatedly snubbed from the invite list.
Wintour has previously said the only guest she'd never have back was former President Donald Trump.
While Khloe Kardashian had to wait years for an invite as she watched her famous sisters from home.
Demi Lovato appears to have been blacklisted in recent years after saying she had a 'terrible experience' at the 2016 event.
While comedian Tina Fey appears to have uninvited herself.
“I have gone to it once and it is such a jerk parade," she told David Letterman in 2015.
"Clearly, I’ll never go again, but you go and it’s this beautiful space and it’s just every jerk from every walk of life is there wearing some stupid thing.
"You walk up these huge steps…and I went and I dragged my husband along with me too, which I’m still in trouble for."
Strict rules Anna Wintour upholds
While the Met Gala is always about having fun at your fashionable best, there are some strict rules guests musts follow.
No smoking in the museum is high on the list - with Bella Hadid brazenly breaking this in the ladies loo one year.
Despite the amount of famous faces to ogle, Wintour asks that NO selfies are taken inside the bash - keeping the event exclusive to only those lucky enough to get the call up.
There is also a very stressful seating arrangement that must be stuck to - with celebs doing their best to avoid ex partners, managers and showbiz frenemies.
And no matter how famous of a nepo-baby you are, nobody under the age of 18 is allowed to walk through the museum doors on May 1.
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