Irina Shayk made waves at a Met Gala after-party on Monday night when she defied one of Karl Lagerfeld’s fashion rules by wearing sweatpants. The gala, which had a theme of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” in honor of the late designer, saw Shayk step out in a white tank bodysuit and grey sweatpants.
Lagerfeld’s disdain for sweatpants was made clear in his 2013 book, “The World According to Karl,” where he wrote that “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life, so you bought some sweatpants.” This book was a compilation of Lagerfeld’s most memorable quotes about fashion and life.
Despite Lagerfeld’s opinion, Shayk paired her sweatpants with the diamond Ana Khouri necklace she wore on the red carpet with her cream Yohji Yamamoto gown, and she swapped her flats for $6,000 Jimmy Choo x Timberland boots.
Lagerfeld was well-known for expressing his dislike of certain clothing items, such as flip-flops, which he reportedly told M Magazine in 2012, “I hate sloppy footwear. What I hate most is flip-flops. I am physically allergic to flip-flops.”
Lagerfeld passed away in February 2019 at the age of 85, and although his controversial comments about issues such as fat people, Syrian refugees, and the #MeToo movement have been condemned, he is still widely regarded as one of the most iconic figures in the fashion world. He served as creative director for Chanel and Fendi.
Leading up to the Met Gala, there was speculation about whether someone would wear sweatpants to defy Lagerfeld’s aversion, and those who recognized the potential connection between Shayk’s choice and Lagerfeld’s quote seemed pleased. As a result, Shayk landed on several best-dressed lists.
