BLACKPINK's Jennie faced a whirlwind of opinions and debates following her appearance at the 2023 Met Gala. The K-pop star's vintage CHANEL dress attracted criticism from those who felt it was too simple and failed to capture the event's theme.
The Dress Controversy
BLACKPINK's Jennie recently made her debut at the 2023 Met Gala, impressing fans with her stunning appearance. However, some users online and on social media criticized her outfit choice for being too simple compared to the extravagant looks that the Met Gala is known for.
tbh i think it’s okay that people are disappointed in what was pulled for her when there are looks like these that are much more on brand for the met gala. no, the theme isn’t camp but met outfits are still known for being larger than life and extravagant. jennie deserved that. https://t.co/i3hSjO9jXN pic.twitter.com/DjwCGdFv6v
— 숩🩷🫧 (@tastehiyyih) May 1, 2023
BLINKs Defend BLACKPINK Jennie's Outfit
Despite the criticism, many netizens came to Jennie's defense, arguing that not every outfit at the Met Gala needs to be dramatic to make an impact. They pointed out that the minimalist design, makeup, and hairstyle worked perfectly for Jennie, who is known for her unique fashion sense.
In an interview on the red carpet, Jennie joked about the practicality of her outfit, saying she was curious about how people wearing larger dresses could sit down comfortably during the event. With her look, she was able to sit down properly, suggesting that she chose comfort over drama.
some people too quick to jump on jennie and her vintage chanel mini dress, just for fashion publications to choose her as one of the best dressed celebs at the met gala after seeing all the looks 😗 as a bonus, they are also even recognizing her “clean” makeup as the best
— gi ᴼᴬ 🐻ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི (@jennieaceitgirl) May 2, 2023
Meaningful History Behind Jennie's Vintage CHANEL Outfit
While some found Jennie's outfit underwhelming, the dress holds a special significance that might not be immediately apparent. The retro gown was a reimagined version of an original design by the legendary Karl Lagerfeld from his tenure at CHANEL, which spanned from 1983 to 2019. It was part of his Fall/Winter 1990 Ready To Wear collection and was known as "Look 164."
As one of Karl Lagerfeld’s last handpicked muses for the house of #Chanel, one of the buzziest first-time #MetGala attendees is undeniably #JennieKim of #Blackpink. Watch more from the star's debut here: pic.twitter.com/QU1tkdVX1M
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) May 2, 2023
As a global brand ambassador for CHANEL, Jennie was given the opportunity to wear the recreated dress to the Met Gala. During her Vogue interview, Jennie shared her appreciation for the chance to wear the vintage CHANEL outfit.
jennie literally gave a serve at the met —some people just cant appreciate fashion unless people come out with extravagant dresses, huge jewelry, and heavy makeup #JENNIEatMETGala#MetGala
— gi ᴼᴬ 🐻ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི (@jennieaceitgirl) May 2, 2023
pic.twitter.com/IMZ6ljTp8t
"I'm so honored to wear a CHANEL piece from the 90s runway. I feel incredibly fortunate that the CHANEL team recreated Karl's original design for me. I couldn't be happier."
Jennie Kim stuns at the #MetGala. https://t.co/m94XaFKHbE pic.twitter.com/R57NaT8SQP
— Variety (@Variety) May 1, 2023
Unique Fashion Moment for BLACKPINK Jennie
Jennie's Met Gala outfit choice was not the first time she wore a design based on Lagerfeld's "Look 164" from his Fall collection. CHANEL created a similar outfit for her to wear during BLACKPINK's BORN PINK concert in Paris in December 2022.
the weren’t kidding when they said jennie got that face teenagers in twenty years would make gorgeous edits of #MetGala pic.twitter.com/mOkySpWb3r
— ♰ (@jensamour) May 2, 2023
This unique fashion moment highlights Jennie's close relationship with CHANEL and demonstrates how the brand values her as a global ambassador. The controversy surrounding her outfit choice at the 2023 Met Gala ultimately serves as a reminder of her distinct fashion sense and the special connection she has with the brand.
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BLACKPINK Jennie's 2023 Met Gala outfit choice may have sparked controversy due to its simplicity, but the meaning behind her vintage CHANEL dress and the support from netizens show that she continues to be a prominent personality in the global fashion industry.