Luann de Lesseps thinks Kim Kardashian’s 2025 Met Gala look is cool — and certainly not uncool.
“I love that Kim was inspired by my cabaret look and stole it for the Met,” de Lesseps, 59, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Wednesday, May 7. “She looked fabulous and I’m so happy that she’s inspired by me.”
Earlier in the week, Kardashian, 44, turned heads at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City when she stepped out in a black leather Chrome Hearts dress and a matching Stephen Jones Millinery fedora.
The Real Housewives fans quickly took to the Internet and suggested Kardashian’s look appeared similar to de Lesseps’ attire for her cabaret show.
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After sharing the comparisons on her Instagram Story, de Lesseps gave credit to her own fedora designer.
“My hat is made by the ex-hatmaker of the queen of England — Philip Tracey — who made them for Liz Taylor, Joan Collins, the queen and me,” de Lesseps explained to Us. “Actually, I bought mine from New York Vintage 20 years ago. When I put it on, I knew it was mine.”
Given the newfound attention surrounding her accessory, the Love Hotel star sees a business opportunity and is already hard at work.
“Now that I have brought back the hat, I need a hat line now for fedoras,” she told Us. “I’m going to launch a line and make them for everyone. I’m happy Kim stole my look for the Met!”
While de Lesseps is confident she had a role in one of the Met Gala’s most talked about looks of the night, Kardashian may disagree.
After walking the red carpet and celebrating the museum’s spring 2025 exhibition titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Kardashian revealed the meaning behind her look styled by Jahleel Weaver.
“Inspired by Lenny Kravitz, a modern dandy whose fluid, bold aesthetic, alongside icons like Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, pioneered distinct and culturally significant aesthetics — shaping the way men dress for generations to come,” Kardashian wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, May 6. “Lenny’s signature Chrome Hearts style perfectly captures the spirit of this theme – Black style, razor-sharp tailoring, and dandy tradition.”
This year’s Met Gala has a dress code described as “Tailored for You,” which nods to the exhibition’s focus on suiting and menswear.
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Vogue correctly predicted that fashion lovers would witness plenty of suits plus hats, ties, canes, brooches, pocket squares and other menswear staples.
On Wednesday, Kardashian shared several behind-the-scenes images from her night, which included help from hairstylist Chris Appleton, makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic and her daughter North West.
“Every time I come to the Met, I love bringing my oldest daughter with me,” Kardashian told Vogue. “It’s just a fun few days.”
