Teasers for the Zara x Bad Bunny collaboration began the moment he stepped foot on the Super Bowl LX halftime show stage. He made Super Bowl history in a custom Zara outfit, the Spanish retailer's first step toward being named fashion search engine Lyst's "breakout brand" of Q1. Now, Zara x Benito Antonio is sure to drive just as much conversation.

Over the weekend, a surprise Zara pop-up inside San Juan's Plaza Las Américas mall gave fans the chance to shop the collaboration before the rest of the world even knew about it. According to Harper's Bazaar, the Puerto Rican musician perused the transformed storefront in person, too. Mint green walls and bubblegum pink shelves spotlighted new designs heavily influenced by his personal, elevated streetwear style. Zara locations outside the Grammy winner's home turf won't get the Bad Bunny treatment until May 21, when the entire, 150-piece collection drops online.

Judging by how fast Bad Bunny's Adidas sneakers sold out after the halftime show, Zara knew his stamp of approval was enough to win over his fanbase. The brand initially shared the collaboration's new logo on Instagram, but kept size, price, and silhouette ranges under lock and key.

Instead, Zara offered sneak peeks of branded sweatshirts, patterned T-shirts, and linen-looking suits, cut from the same ivory cloth as Bad Bunny's football-inspired, Super Bowl costume. Even the "Tití Me Preguntó" singer's off-stage style—like his affinity for oversize shorts and baseball caps—played a part in the collection.

By May 20, Zara was ready to confirm the collaboration's range, along with its official May 21 launch date.

A press release on the eve of the launch revealed the collection was created in collaboration with Bad Bunny's longtime creative director, Janthony Oliveras.

"The collection moves between tailoring, oversized essentials, textured separates, graphic statements, and summer pieces designed with the same sense of confidence, individuality, and ease that has long defined [Bad Bunny's] style," the statement read. Each style was described as "effortless, expressive, and fully his own," inspired by "the way Benito has always dressed."

Who better to bring this new line to life than Oliveras, the artist who understands the singer's aesthetic as well as him? The Puerto Rican visionary behind his 2026 Met Gala moment (more on that below), visited the dedicated pop-up alongside Bad Bunny last weekend. Oliveras's recent Instagram post revealed the A-lister went undercover in the store, wearing baggy jeans, a barn jacket, and salmon-pink slides from the new lineup.

Bad Bunny also partnered with art agency M/M Paris to spotlight "details of everyday Puerto Rican life that often go unnoticed" in the Zara collaboration. "Electric poles, street infrastructure, and handmade textures" create a sentimental through-line across hoodies, tailoring, accessories, and basics. He also modeled them in an oceanside campaign, captured by Colombian-American director and photographer STILLZ.

The news came two weeks after the 2026 Met Gala, when an almost unrecognizable Bad Bunny joined Stevie Nicks in wearing custom Zara on the red carpet. Intricate prosthetics helped him embody his 80-year-old self—an homage to the aging body portion of the "Costume Art" exhibition—in an all-black tuxedo suit.

The blazer, fitted trousers, and oversize pussy bow marked the first public-facing phase of his Zara collaboration, as Bad Bunny designed everything with the label. "It's always been a dream to have the opportunity to go to the Met with a look designed by myself," he told Vogue before ascending the museum's steps. "It's something I'm super proud of and happy about."

Zara shows no signs of slowing down this year. Two months ago, John Galliano joined the team for a two-year partnership. His first "beyond gender and beyond seasons" collection will launch in September, but much like Bad Bunny's line, most designs remain a mystery.

News of the Dior and Maison Margiela alum's career move seemed to ignite a Zaraissance among VIP fashion girls. Everyone from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Selena Gomez and Millie Bobby Brown added Zara to their early-2026 wardrobes. That said, Bad Bunny is the first A-lister to bring his affinity to storefronts from here to Puerto Rico. He certainly won't be the last, though. Zara x Stevie Nicks, you're up next.

Lily Collins wore Carolina Herrera in seasons three, four, and five of Emily in Paris. On May 11, she caught up to her character's Wes Gordon pulls in a structural gold dress at the King's Trust Celebration.

Two weeks after the L.A. local arrived in London, dressed in white jeans and Adidas sneakers, Collins joined the city's red carpet circuit with a gilded gown worthy of Emily's closet. Creative director Gordon loaned her Look 47 from the Fall 2026 fashion show: a strapless, ankle-length dress, crafted from cascading rows of rectangular and circular rhinestones. The crystals started shining atop the straight-across neckline, continued past the fitted waist, and flared ever-so-slightly beneath her knees. The puzzle-piece pattern influenced Collins's gold accessories, including her glossy peep-toe pumps and matching hoop earrings.

The 2026 award season has come and gone, but May's buzziest red carpet events are giving gold the summer spotlight once again. Four months after Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn went gold for the Golden Globes, Ciara, Tate McRae, Margot Robbie, Gracie Abrams, Hailey Bieber, and more proved metallic fashion is art at the 2026 Met Gala. Collins's Carolina Herrera crystals leaned more white gold than Bieber's Saint Laurent breastplate, Robbie's custom Chanel gown, or Ciara's gold-flaked crown, all in yellow gold.

To no surprise, many guests at last weekend's Gold Gala honored the annual soirée's "Modern Gold" dress code with intention. The Pitt's Supriya Ganesh—and Gold100 honoree—told Marie Claire her floral Naeem Khan gown felt "really whimsical and beautiful." Meanwhile, actors Liza Soberano, Poorna Jagannathan, and KPop Demon Hunters star Arden Cho sourced AAPI designers Phan Huy, Do Long, and Rahul Mishra.

For Collins, gold gowns were never a trend. Back in Sept. 2024, she made another metallic move in a ribbed Schiaparelli dress, featuring yellow-gold padlocks for shoulder straps. Hopefully her Carolina Herrera rhinestones will make the color trend a mainstay in her red carpet rotation, not just an of-the-moment, welcome surprise.

There's nothing I love more than a good celebrity nail moment, and the 2026 Met Gala was full of them. As if I didn't already have enough nail inspiration to get me through the summer, Tyla just forced me to add yet another out-of-the-box manicure to my summer nail mood board.

For this year's event, themed "Fashion Is Art," Tyla hit the red carpet in mermaid cosplay with a Valentino dress that featured a turquoise skirt and a silver, beaded top with cutouts on the sides and back and a plunging, deep-V neckline. She wore her dark hair in a wet and wavy style with long curls, and she leaned into the body makeup trend by adding a generous amount of glitter to her torso, back, and chest areas. The whole look was a slam dunk, but what's not getting nearly enough attention is the manicure she wore for the night.

The "Water" singer complemented her gown's aquatic vibe with a stunning manicure designed by celebrity nail tech, Coca Michelle. Per an Instagram post shared by Michelle following the event, Tyla's manicure was supposed to look like embellished feathers. A close-up photo of her nails shows that Michelle added long, stiletto-shaped extensions to Tyla's fingers before filing them into the shape of feathers. She then cut into the sides of each nail to give them a more realistic shape before painting them white with a flowy, turquoise design that was topped with silver studs.

I've tuned into to several Met Gala red carpets at this point, but none of them were bursting with as many noteworthy manicures as this year's event was. Practically all of the nail looks deserved a red carpet of their own, Tyla's included. Emma Chamberlain hosted the red carpet in a custom Mugler gown inspired by a Van Gogh painting, and she wore long, watercolor-painted nails to match. Blackpink's Lisa also showed up wearing nail art that went complemented her dress; she wore chrome press-ons with silver and blue studs that mimicked icicles.

I don't know if any future Met Gala attendees will be able to top the nail designs that were on the red carpet this year, but anyone who's up to the challenge has a full year to try. Get a Met Gala-worthy manicure of your own with the products ahead.

Noami Osaka committed to the 2026 Met Gala's "Fashion Is Art" theme so hard, that she ended the night wearing not one, but two different manicures that were both works of art all on their own.

After the big event on May 4, Osaka was a guest at one of the official Met Gala after-parties thrown by GQ. Much like many of the other after-party attendees, she pulled a second look out of the vault for the night and changed into something else. But while her after-party ensemble was just as extravagant as the long Robert Wun coat that she wore during the main event, she took things down a notch (or a few) with her nails.

At the Met Gala, the tennis star wore extra-long, stiletto-shaped nails painted with a black base color and a red cat eye design. The long nails practically blended in with the sheer, red gloves she wore along with her ivory coat that had red feathers attached. To match her after-party outfit, which was an all-white gown embellished with white feathers that shot out along the skirt, arms, and neckline, she went with a nail design that was rather simple: a French manicure. After the big night, her nail tech, Juan Alvear, shared a closer look at both of her manicures from the night, the latter of which was a short, oval-shaped manicure with skinny French tips in a shimmery, petal pink color.

The Met Gala was full of stunning beauty moments this year, but as demonstrated by Osaka's dainty French manicure, the fun wasn't just limited to the red carpet. After wearing long, blonde curls to the main event, Doja Cat showed up at the Saint Laurent after-party with her hair styled in a twisted French bun, while Black Panther star, Angela Bassett, switched up her look for the night and wore her hair in deep waves.

To copy Naomi Osaka's shimmery French manicure at home, read ahead for some tips.

Kylie Jenner's glam was easily one of my favorite looks of the night at the 2026 Met Gala, but she almost suffered a brow mishap because of it.

The reality star and Kylie Cosmetics founder showed up looking nearly unrecognizable with bleached eyebrows to go along with her custom Schiaparelli gown that had a flesh-toned corset, faux nipples, and a cream skirt that was folded to look like she was stepping out of the dress altogether. The entire ensemble was meant to mimic a nude statue.

Once the night was officially over, Jenner shared a behind-the-scenes video via her Instagram Story of herself and her team attempting to dye her brows back to their natural color—except things didn't seem to be going as planned. In the video, Jenner is seen laughing and joking that "my brows are ruined" since they initially looked slightly thinner than they did pre-bleach. Luckily, the 28-year-old gave the world an update almost immediately following, and I'm pleased to report that her perfectly-arched brows (in their natural dark color) have lived to see another day, as evidenced by the Instagram Story she shared on May 5. "The brows survived," she captioned a close-up photo of them.

Bleached brows are just one component of the grungy makeup trend that's slowly been making a comeback over the last year. Last spring when Lady Gaga was promoting her album, Mayhem, she made an appearance on Saturday Night Live with newly-bleached brows, and over the summer, Miley Cyrus was spotted out in Paris wearing nearly invisible brows.

If playing around with the color of your brows is something you're interested in, I'd recommend going to see a professional for an actual bleached brow moment, but if you're looking for something temporary, read ahead to get the look.

Two days have gone by and I still haven't stopped thinking about Emma Chamberlain's 2026 Met Gala manicure—especially now that I've seen the details.

The influencer and red carpet host landed herself on just about every best-dressed list imaginable when she showed up at Monday night's Met Gala wearing a Mugler turtleneck gown that was designed (and hand painted) to mimic a Van Gogh painting. The top half of the dress featured heavy yellow paintbrush strokes that cascaded down and merge into a variety of colors, from blue to red, as it reached the dress's train. As the event's "Fashion Is Art" theme would suggest, Chamberlain looked like a classical painting come to life, but the details didn't just stop at her gown. Her watercolor manicure for the night was also absolute perfection.

Per celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, Chamberlain's nails were painted to match some of the primary colors in her gown. She wore long, stiletto-shaped nails with a nude base (to match the sheer nude material that the gown was made with before being painted over). On top of the base color was a brush stroke design that Bachik created using a mixture of red, yellow, purple, green, and light and dark blue gel polish shades.

The Met Gala red carpet was bursting with tons of grungy hair and makeup looks, but the manicures each celebrity wore were also pretty remarkable on their own. Blackpink singer, Lisa, attended the event wearing press-on nails that were embellished with silver and blue rhinestones to look like icicles to complement her crystal-studded Robert Wun gown. Sabrina Carpenter also wore a manicure with a special detail. The "House Tour" singer showed up wearing a Dior dress made with film strips from Audrey Hepburn's 1954 film, Sabrina, and she wore a French manicure with black tips meant to look like film strips.

Obviously recreating Chamberlain's manicure on your own at home might require a little more time and patience, but if you're up for the challenge and want to give yourself an artsy summer manicure, read ahead to get the look.

Sure, the over-the-top fashion at the Met Gala is what most of us tune in to see year after year, but if you're not paying attention to what goes on at the after-parties, you're missing half of the entertainment, especially where glam is concerned. The best beauty looks on this year's red carpet included lots of grungy makeup and extravagant manicures, but once it came time for every celebrity attendee to leave, they took off their "Fashion Is Art"-themed hair, makeup, and attire to let loose at various after-parties throughout New York City.

To see some of the best beauty looks from the 2026 Met Gala afterparties, read ahead.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter looked great in her Old Hollywood glam, but she decided to remove the diamond headpiece and brush out her curls once it was time for the after-party.

Margot Robbie

After attending the main event wearing a simple French twist, Margot Robbie quite literally let her hair down for the Saint Laurent after-party and wore her lob haircut in loose waves.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat appeared at the museum with her hair styled in soft waves, but after the event, she hit the Saint Laurent after-party with her hair pulled up into a twisted French bun.

Tessa Thompson

Thompson's Met Gala look featured electric blue drip nails and a wet and wavy hairstyle that was put together by Lacy Redway, who said on Instagram that she wanted the actress's hair to mimic a painting. For the after-party, Thompson pulled her curls back into what appears to be a slick back bun.

Hailey Bieber

Hailey Bieber is the queen of the slick back bun, so it was only fitting for her to attend the parties in her signature hairstyle.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry ascended the Met Gala steps with her jet black hair blown out and styled in a long, silky straight look, but most noticeably, she covered her face with a chrome mask. When the event was over, she attended an after-party mask free and pulled her hair into an updo.

Janelle Monae

The only thing better than Janelle Monae's chic bixie haircut was her 3D chrome manicure.

Connor Storrie

I'm used to seeing Connor Storrie with his naturally curly hair fully on display, but for the Saint Laurent after-party, he opted for a sleek, wet look with his curls slightly combed back.

Angela Bassett

The 9-1-1 star attended the Saint Laurent after-party wearing dark, wavy hair with a generous amount of pink blush on her cheeks.

Chase Infiniti

Chase Infiniti was a guest at GQ's after-party, where she wore big, fluffy ringlets that were dip-dyed a honey blonde color.

Adwoa Aboah

The British actress made a messy updo look incredibly chic at Saint Laurent's post-Met Gala affair.

There were only a few "Wait...is that her?" moments on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, but each was more mind-boggling than the last. First, Katy Perry accessorized her Stella McCartney gown with a robot mask. Minutes later, Heidi Klum took the "Costume Art" theme literally as a Rafaello Monti-inspired sculpture. Once the carpet closed, Naomi Osaka ensured the unrecognizable trend continued with her after-party look.

The tennis legend proved "Fashion Is Art" from sunup to sundown on the first Monday in May, thanks to three on-theme creations. Osaka's initial Robert Wun serve came in the form of a voluminous coat, featuring a stand collar, oversize puff sleeves, and singular red feathers embroidered sporadically atop her bust.

As fans learned from her 2026 Australian Open outfit last January, Osaka has a soft spot for Robert Wun's headpieces. The wider the brim, the better. This satellite dish-like rendition kept most of her face card covered, but not for long.

Osaka waited until the last section of stairs to reveal her base layer: a monochrome mermaid dress, featuring 659,000 stitches beneath ruby-red beadwork. “The exterior in itself is indicative of the body," stylist Marty Harper told Vanity Fair. “There are these slits that have these crystals and feathers and it's almost as though the body's been pierced and blood is actually coming out." Wun crafted the sleeveless, hourglass gown to mirror muscle texture, blood vessels, and more anatomically-correct appendages, Harper added.

Shade-matched gloves seen beneath Osaka's aforementioned coat turned out to be opera-length—and embellished with razor-sharp acrylic nails.

Osaka transformed one last time before calling it a night. She arrived at the GQ after-party—where Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams waited inside—almost completely unidentifiable in a stiletto-grazing gown. That's because stark white lace, a matching plunge neckline, and tiered rows of full-coverage feathers covered every square-inch of Osaka's silhouette.

Germanier Spring 2026 Couture lace stretched up and around her face, shielding it from paparazzi pics, too. The mask-turned-headpiece was just sheer enough for Osaka to navigate The Twenty Two's Cafe Zaffri without a guide.

Osaka adores the art of the reveal—and not just on red carpets either. Earlier this year, she strutted into the Australian Open in a Robert Wun veil, which she traded for a visor before the tennis match.

Perhaps her masked moments will continue at the 2026 Italian Open later this week. She was only able to attend the Met Gala because of her first-round bye from May 5 to May 7. Thank goodness for that three-day window, otherwise Osaka's "Fashion Is Art" interpretations would've stayed in Robert Wun and Germanier's studios. All three clearly belong on a red carpet, don't you agree?

The 2026 Met Gala was ripe with over-the-top fashion moments, but there were a ton of manicures in the building that also looked like works of art. More specifically, I'm talking about Blackpink's Lisa, who wore an icy rhinestone manicure that I've been shamelessly obsessing over for the last 12 hours.

Last night's dress code was "Fashion Is Art," and the musician showed up wearing a sculptural Robert Wun gown with sheer, white material that was covered in crystals. The dress also featured a see-through veil that was held up with a set of 3D arms, but not even the optical illusion of her dress could keep my eyes off of her stunning 3D manicure.

Per celebrity manicurist Juan Alvear, Lisa wore "frost-bitten nails," which he created using almond-shaped KISS press-on nails that were painted with a soft nude color and topped with a hint of chrome. The nails were then embellished with silver and blue rhinestones in various shapes and sizes, and some of them had a cloudy effect to look similar to actual ice. “The nails were a nod to Robert Wun’s notorious elemental play," Alvear explains. "In this case, the nails drew inspiration from the Bvlgari jewelry freezing over.”

As to be expected, the manicures at the Met Gala were truly on another level. Sabrina Carpenter hit the red carpet wearing a Dior dress that was put together with film strips, and she wore a manicure with French tips designed to match her outfit. Naomi Osaka also showed up wearing long, dark stiletto nails that were attached to her sheer red gloves, and Janelle Monae wore a chrome manicure with 3D attachments.

To shop some of the products used to pull Lisa's icy manicure together, read ahead.

Every fashion insider's 2026 Met Gala red carpet predictions included some twist on the naked dress trend: a totally sheer Saint Laurent slip for Zoë Kravitz; a completely see-through corset for Kendall Jenner; a cheeky mini dress for Sabrina Carpenter. Imagine my surprise when, by the time Rihanna's Maison Margiela look closed the carpet, hardly any A-listers had bared it all.

For an upcoming Costume Institute exhibit exploring the ties between human anatomy and fashion, there were surprisingly few naked dresses on the corresponding Met Gala's best-dressed list—or anywhere on the May 4 Met Gala red carpet. Instead, a tasteful new take on the naked dress trend took shape.

This time around there are suggestions of what's going on underneath a star's many layers. Baring it all is out; creative gesturing at the human form is in.

The 2.0 naked dress trend took a few different forms. Zoë Kravitz and Alex Consani hewed closest to its original definition. The newly-engaged actress chose a sheer lace Saint Laurent dress with extended panniers on her hips, while the model contrasted a wispy, semi-sheer Gucci corset bodice with a dramatic feathered train.

As the night went on, the naked dressing takes became increasingly experimental—and opaque. Chase Infiniti made her Met Gala debut in a trompe-l'œil Thom Browne dress that created a naked body with thousands of carefully-placed sequins. Beyoncé returned to the event for the first time in a decade resembling a disco X-ray, in a bedazzled skeleton dress constructed by Olivier Rousteing. Cardi B's Marc Jacobs dress was, technically, sheer—but the proportions were so bulbous and exaggerated through the shoulders and hips, it hardly constituted a classic naked dress. All three Kardashian-Jenner sisters in attendance—Kim, Kendall, and Kylie—concealed their torsos beneath sculpted breastplates. So did their close friend, Hailey Bieber, in archive-inspired Saint Laurent. You could say they freed the nipple on the Met Gala red carpet, just an artificial one.

At first glance, these allusions to the naked dress trend register like nothing more than a nod to the night's dress code and theme. The exhibition at the center of the 2026 Met Gala, "Costume Art," is partially devoted to a study of "Bodily Being in Its Universality"—curator-speak for the structures making up the general human anatomy. Of course stars would want to earn their points for doing their homework, by showing off a dress that blend technical craftsmanship with interpretations of the organs, bones, and systems defining the human body. Or, by referencing a work of art that's all about the body—like Kylie Jenner's Schiaparelli ode to the half-naked Venus de Milo statue.

But as more and more Met Gala guests held back from putting their own bodies on full display, it became clear that a bigger movement was at play. Naked dresses have been a Met Gala fixture since the 1970s; they've also shown up in countless permutations across every major awards show red carpet. For a while, it seemed celebrities could find infinite ways to shock photographers (and the internet) by draping themselves in sheer fabrics or artfully allowing a breast to fly free. The discourse around what constitutes a naked dress became so intense, they were even banned at the Cannes Film Festival last year—a policy intending to put focus back on the invitees' art, instead of their bodies.

But this is the thing about fashion: The moves that once felt transgressive or risqué eventually feel expected after enough time's gone by—even a naked dress as revealing as what Chappell Roan sourced from Mugler earlier this year. So for the Met Gala, the pendulum has swung in the other direction. Now, it's unusual—and exciting—for stars to manipulate and experiment with the limitations on exposing garments without fully exposing themselves in the process.

Make no mistake: The 2026 Met Gala red carpet didn't entirely kill the naked dress trend. A few guests, like Gigi Hadid, still wore nearly-entirely-sheer dresses into the Gala. Doja Cat even changed into a secret, second dress after walking the carpet in a latex coat.

But on the whole, last night's carpet just suggested there's a dedicated time and place for the sheer displays that have infiltrated events from the Grammys to the Gala and every event in between. Spoiler: It's the after-party.

Senior fashion news editor Halie LeSavage probably wouldn't add my 2026 Met Gala outfit to her best-dressed list. But being comfier than her favorite red carpet dresses is still a win in my book. Last night, I traded the "Fashion Is Art" dress code for something more akin to Amanda Seyfried's jeans outfit and Adidas sneakers on May 5.

Seyfried isn't new to the Met Gala schedule. She's been "Cinderella-ing" out of ballgowns and into off-duty outfits for five Met Mondays now. Her "Fashion Is Art" run began in a custom drop-waist Prada dress, which helped pioneer last night's powder pink red carpet trend. The ballgown also reimagined that iconic Mean Girls quote, "on Wednesdays we wear pink," because who could wait two days to debut its thick, regal ruffles?

I've been known to sleep in my jewelry after a fabulous night out, but then again, I'm no Met Gala mainstay. By the next morning, Seyfried's Tiffany & Co. diamonds returned to their rightful blue boxes, right alongside her platform Prada pumps.

Seyfried wasted no time giving her soles a break from 4.5" heels. She was the first Met Gala guest to check out of The Surrey, the five-star hotel hosting Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner a stone's throw away from the red carpet. Casual yet cool was her dress code for the morning after, judging by her slightly-oversize, pinstripe button-down, vintage Silver Jeans, and SL 72 OG sneakers from Adidas's March 2025 collaboration with Liberty London.

The Emmy winner's straight-leg jeans helped endorse a 2026 denim trend: two-tone washes. The bottoms were mostly sky-blue, before bands down both legs added indigo to the color palette.

Seyfried's year-old trainers aren't as easy to ID as say, Adidas Sambas. But both sidewall's stark-white, trio of stripes confirmed they're the half-heightened, half-slim Sl 72 Og Sneakers, which Elle Fanning, Nina Dobrev, and Emily Ratajkowski own, too.

What sets the Mamma Mia star's sneakers apart from the others—besides Adidas x Liberty London tags—is a patent floral pattern atop each upper's matte black foundation. Plus, emerald green suede lined the monogrammed heels and high-low soles. For Sambas, your only options are translucent tan or dark brown treads. That's it.

Black and white Adidas sneakers were a smart choice, because they matched Seyfried's Prada Bonnie Bag without steering clear of spring styling.

Contrary to the 2025 Met Gala, where Chris Rock, Joe Burrow, and Dapper Dan ascended those iconic stairs in sneakers, the It-shoe was noticeably absent from last night's red carpet. Sneaker sightings were scarce on the after-party scene, too.

Jeans, on the other hand, ended up in Margot Robbie's Met Gala garment bag. The Barbie actor traded a custom gold Chanel gown for an after-hours silhouette similar to Seyfried's. She styled them with a metallic jacket, a white T-shirt, and a strawberry-red clutch, all from Matthieu Blazy's recent shows.

Now that jeans have been normalized at Met Gala affairs, it's only a matter of time before sneakers join the "allowed items" list, too. By next year, they might even make the best-dressed list after all.

Shop Adidas Sneakers Inspired by Amanda Seyfried

This is The Close-Up, where the biggest names in entertainment explain the story behind their latest personal style statement.

"If only you could see me right now," an exhilarated Nia Long tells me minutes before making her Met Gala red carpet debut.

She's calling from a sprinter van stuck in New York City traffic, en route to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and fashion's biggest night. Stylists Matthew and Reginald Reisman are standing in solidarity with Long—her custom LaQuan Smith gown wasn't made for sitting. Despite the start-and-stop drive uptown—and all those seats going unused—I'm convinced when Long says her commute is, actually, "so glamorous."

Over 20 years of red carpet walks led The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star to this moment, but "it's not just me standing in a dress," she says. Long's mom, Talita Long, is an artist, painter, and printmaker, so the actress learned "Fashion Is Art" decades before it became the 2026 Met Gala's dress code.

"I just remember the times when I was a young girl going to the Met [Museum] with [my mother] and looking at all the exhibits," the Brooklyn native reminisces. "My father was a poet, and art is just in my blood." Growing up with two full-time creatives for parents, Long learned that "art is an expression of love" at an early age. And no, it doesn't need to be expressed with words: "It can be a LaQuan Smith, black velvet dress with a badass train," she says.

A sculptural neckline, upholstered hips, and the train's voluminous bustle aren't the only features making Long's gown "an ode to her 90’s rein and timeless beauty," Smith tells me over email. Only Long and Smith knew about a "little secret" tucked into the dress's bow.

"One of [my mother's] first pen and ink [creations] was called 'The Mother and Child,' she did it when she was 18 years old," Long reveals. "Shortly after that, she got pregnant with me. LaQuan and I came up with this amazing idea to have her painting tucked into my dress." While Long's mom stayed in L.A. with Long's younger son, Kez Sunday Udoka, she was still with her, all night long.

Long is a "farmer's market mom with a Chanel bag" at heart, but she was deeply involved in her Met Gala dress's creation. She picked the fabric with Smith, went to his Queens studio, and embraced the experience to the fullest. "This piece was a true labor of love," Smith adds. "Every curve, every line [was] designed to celebrate her power and presence." It took over 200 hours to create from start to finish.

"I'm very demanding and clear about what works for me; it's a beautiful thing to know yourself well enough to know what holds you and preserves the work and art," she says. "I love days like this when you see the preparation, the hard work, and everything comes together and there's no stress, because I don't think people understand the amount of pressure you feel on a carpet this large."

Being so self-aware of her personal style made Long's pre-Met Gala process quite seamless for a first-timer. Wanting to spotlight her sensuality is what drew Long to Smith's designs initially: "I love that he understands a woman's body," she tells me. "He is not afraid to allow us to express our sexuality through his design—he actually encourages that."

The two met for the first time when Estée Lauder named her the North American ambassador. "He came to my dinner and we just started talking and I felt like I knew him forever," she adds. It was also important for her to represent a Black designer on fashion's biggest stage. She did all that and more—in eight-inch heels, no less.

Once the dress was complete, Long gave her décollatage the full Met Gala treatment, frosting it with "more [diamonds] than I've ever seen in my lifetime." LEVIEV's pièce de résistance—a collar-shaped necklace, featuring over 10 emerald-encrusted pendants—was in no way "mysterious," like her black velvet gown.

Long says she never commits to a whole suite of high jewelry. Clearly, she picked the perfect soirée to step outside her comfort zone with a bold bracelet, matching earrings, cocktail ring, and her main character necklace.

The actress chose her hair and makeup looks to complement her dress and diamonds, not the other way around. First, Long's hair was sculpted into a clean updo. Its subtle swoop felt just as "pretty and buttery" as Long's makeup, courtesy of Estée Lauder's natural Double Wear line. The minute she described her makeup look, someone started playing "Brown Skin" by India.Arie in the van. Talk about perfect timing.

I have a feeling Long could wax poetic about her first Met Gala look for hours. But rustling in the background hints Long's ride uptown is coming to an end. Her "full-circle moment" on the 2026 Met Gala carpet awaits.

Photographer Dalvin Adams | Stylist The Reismans | Hair Stylist Shaylin Jones | Makeup Artist Camille Thompson, Estée Lauder

"I'm coming to the cottage—no, the GQ 2026 Met Gala after-party," Connor Storrie probably told his Heated Rivalry co-star, Hudson Williams, late last night. Both Met Gala rookies reunited on the magazine's star-studded dance floor, but not before trading red carpet fashion for opposite after-party looks.

New York City's street style scene transformed into a smorgasbord of VIPs, once Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and Hollywood's favorite It-boys left the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It didn't seem like Williams and Storrie arrived at The Twenty Two Hotel together, but knowing them, they hyped up each other's outfits like old times. (Old times being the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where they walked the red carpet together.)

Both of Williams's looks shared the same avant-garde approach to menswear, but the similarities stopped there. The actor's white button-down-turned-dress gave his initial Balenciaga suit the rest of the evening off. A satin cummerbund kept the Oxford's skirt-esque hem safe from a Marilyn Monroe moment and elevated his pantless pick in one swift cinch. It also matched the not one, but two pairs of socks stylist Anastasia Walker stacked on top of each other. The Canadian committed to the all-black bit with a brooch-topped tailcoat, ruched leather loafers, sunglasses, and a backwards Kangol hat fresh from JFK Jr.'s circa-1990s closet.

It seemed both fashion guys had the time of their lives last night. Storrie entered the GQ soirée with the brightest smile as his plus-one, too. Then, he styled a camel-colored blazer and matching trousers by Saint Laurent.

Storrie went shirtless underneath, much like he did with his 2026 Actor Awards suit by Saint Laurent. Maybe he loaned his white button-down to Williams. Simply put, any sort of Oxford wouldn't steal the show from his chocolate brown cape, which hugged his padded shoulders and billowed out behind him. Storrie even switched his pointy, red carpet-worthy shoes for patent loafers. Perhaps the Heated Rivalry pair knew matching ever-so-slightly would ignite another online frenzy among fans.

Storrie and Williams's schedules are likely packed from now until August, when production is set to begin for Heated Rivalry Season 2. The 2026 Met Gala might be the only time they RSVP "yes" to the same event until filming starts. That said, I'm sure the close friends and co-stars enjoyed rubbing elbows at Met Gala after-parties. It also marked the apex of Storrie and Williams's transformations into full-blown red carpet fixtures. They'll return to the hockey rink—and the press tour that follows—raring to serve some stellar looks.

The lights over the 2026 Met Gala red carpet dimmed around 10 p.m. last night. But the best-dressed celebrities didn't slip into Mark Hotel-monogrammed pajamas immediately. 2026 Met Gala after-party looks turned New York City streets into a mini Met Gala, one that gave guests creative freedom beyond the dress code's limits. Translation: VIPs wore whatever they wanted.

Last year, it seemed celebrities saved their most on-brand designs for last. Kendall Jenner, for one, returned to her minimalist ways in a vintage, black skirt set from Mugler. The model's slanted, paparazzi-blocking hat added just enough drama required of a Met Gala 'fit, after-hours or not. Mere miles away, Hailey Bieber swapped one "Tailored For You" tribute for another. The corset Dilara Findikoglu dress—specifically its luscious, champagne-colored velvet—was a classic Bieber move. Meanwhile, Zendaya went from custom Louis Vuitton to a sequin, ruby-red gown from Patrick Kelly's archives.

Like after-hours attire at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, the Golden Globes, and the Grammys, this year's Met Gala guests put personality first with their outfit changes. The evening wasn't devoid of naked dresses after all—everyone was saving their sheerest styles for after Sabrina Carpenter's surprise performance. Ahead, discover Marie Claire's votes for the best after-party looks following the 2026 Met Gala. Everyone proved "Fashion Is Art" on the red carpet and while boogying on the industry's buzziest dance floor.

Hailey Bieber Wearing a Dilara Findikoglu After-Party Look

Who else got déjà vu when Hailey Bieber debuted an after-party dress from Dilara Findikoglu for the second Met Gala in a row? She picked up where last year's champagne corset dress left off, with a stark white, halter-neck mini from the Spring 2026 line. Extra points if you recognized its delicate drapery from Anya Taylor-Joy's style résumé: She wore the same mini to a Tiffany & Co. event last November.

Olivia Rodrigo Wearing a Vintage Vivienne Westwood After-Party Look

Olivia Rodrigo skipped the Met Gala red carpet, but her vintage Vivienne Westwood dress at Saint Laurent's party more than made up for it. The sky blue, circa-Fall 1994 mini was hand-knit, beginning with a scoop neckline, invisible corset torso, and a ruffled, thigh-grazing hemline. Even the 3D flowers atop her left shoulder were woven over 20 years ago.

Kendall Jenner Wearing a GapStudio by Zac Posen After-Party Look

Kendall Jenner and GapStudio's Zac Posen spent the entire night together. After sharing a sprinter van, the designer behind her Met Gala red carpet dress presented her second pick: an anatomically-correct corset, featuring faux nipples and a bellybutton. (Her second Kylie-coded creation of the night.)

Then, Jenner stacked a semi-sheer, champagne slip skirt beneath the elongated bustier. A matching shawl originally shielded her face from view, but by the time she reached the Saint Laurent soirée, her mermaid waves were front and center.

Charli xcx Wearing a Saint Laurent After-Party Look

Ah, there's the naked dress I expected to see on the red carpet. Charli xcx traded a gown inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s "Irises" painting (with barely any transparency) for an almost-invisible skirt set from Saint Laurent. In theory, black lace made it full-coverage, but Charli left nothing to the imagination.

Sabrina Carpenter Wearing a Valentino After-Party Look

Sabrina Carpenter delivered not one, but three outfit changes during the 2026 Met Gala. The pop star's custom Dior dress, plus vintage pulls from Versace and Bob Mackie, all stepped aside so her Valentino Spring 2026 Couture mini dress could shine. Paparazzi pics didn't capture Carpenter's entire ensemble, but runway photos confirm there's a babydoll-esque bodice and low-rise hot pants hidden beneath her never-ending fur coat.

Margot Robbie Wearing a Chanel After-Party Look

Margot Robbie's after-party outfit was a complete 180 from her gold, carpet-ready Chanel gown. She still sourced the Matthieu Blazy-led label, but only for a tank top, metallic tweed jacket, and straight-leg jeans. I didn't know wearing jeans to a Met Gala party was allowed, but now, I hope more guests follow suit.

Zoë Kravitz Wearing a Saint Laurent After-Party Look

Zoë Kravitz's engagement ring remained strategically out-of-sight at Saint Laurent's after party. That's okay, though. I was fixated on her lace, long-sleeve mini dress and blink-and-you'll-miss-it fur hat instead.

Hunter Schafer Wearing a Steve O Smith After-Party Look

I had a feeling the silly little pouch trend would make its Met Gala debut this year. It fits just enough without overpowering an outfit. Hunter Schafer proved me right in a custom mini dress from Steve O Smith, plus a splash of Spring 2026 color trends atop her drawstring Prada pouch.

Doja Cat Wearing a Saint Laurent After-Party Look

Slip dresses were made for late-night styling. Case in point: Doja Cat's satin maxi from Saint Laurent, featuring spaghetti-slim straps and a thigh-high slit. It also wasn't too far a departure from her red carpet dress, in all its naked latex glory.

Sarah Pidgeon Wearing a Loewe After-Party Look

Loewe dressed Sarah Pidgeon from the Met Gala carpet all the way to the GQ after-party. Her second select wasn't custom, but a glossy, cool-blue skirt set from the Fall 2026 fashion show. She paired it with pointy satin pumps cut from the same spring color trend's cloth.

Alex Consani Wearing a Naked After-Party Look

Alex Consani took naked dressing a step further than her first Gucci gown, which was sheer on the top, and opaque with black feathers on the bottom. She arrived at a post-Gala affair in a barely-there midi made from burgundy lace. It was so sheer, her matching thong was unmissable underneath.

Cardi B Wearing a Lace After-Party Look

It seems Cardi B traded her gravity-defying Marc Jacobs gown for something more suitable for the VIP-crowded Met Gala. After the red carpet closed, she was spotted in a nearly-naked, corset dress, featuring turquoise lace from the off-the-shoulder neckline to the skintight skirt.

Chase Sui Wonders Wearing a Silver After-Party Look

Chase Sui Wonders and her McQueen gown ended up on senior fashion news editor Halie LeSavage's best-dressed list. I'm sure her silver, after-party mini dress would share the same fate.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret I've learned in my years as Marie Claire's senior fashion news editor and a Met Gala red carpet fashion correspondent: the night's best-dressed list never ends when dinner is served inside the museum. While everyone who wasn't invited chooses their favorites from every look on the Met Gala red carpet, the A-list guests inside pull off some of the best outfit changes we're lucky to see the next morning.

Slipping into something slightly more comfortable is a time-honored Met Gala fashion tradition—but we're used to seeing it unfold on the museum's steps. (Remember when Zendaya wore three looks up the stairs?) But it's inside where stars like Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, and Nicole Kidman decide to pull off even bigger flexes, away from the sea of paparazzi.

Luckily, a photographer or two managed to mingle with guests and snap the 6 best secret outfits from the 2026 Met Gala. Take a look, then tell me you agree: These pieces deserved a front-and-center spotlight on the actual carpet. And if stars wanted an early night, they could have made the after-party best-dressed list, too.

Sabrina Carpenter wearing Versace

Fashion's equivalent of a shot of espresso? A secret Versace outfit change—and Sabrina Carpenter, actually singing "Espresso." The Host Committee member changed out of her Dior red carpet dress and into a Spring 2018 gown referencing a Gianni Versace design from 1995.

But there are archival layers to this look: That Marilyn Monroe print nods to Andy Warhol's silkscreen prints of the actress from the 1960s—one of Carpenter's references for her current era of "Sabrinawood" styling with Jared Ellner.

Sabrina Carpenter wearing Bob Mackie

Oh, you thought Sabrina Carpenter's secret outfits were set with her Versace dress? Think again. She combined a legendary designer (Bob Mackie) with a legendary performer (Stevie Nicks) to sing a heartfelt rendition of "Landslide." Bob Mackie has been a fixture in Carpenter's performance style, but the king of gilded, showgirl maximalism has deep Met Gala history, too. At Cher's first Met Gala, she wore a tinsel-spangled Bob Mackie naked dress that was controversial for its time. But really, she was just paving the way for next-gen stars like Carpenter to pay tribute decades later.

There's a nod to another performer at play here, too: Carpenter's dress was first worn by actress and singer Mitzi Gaynor.

Beyoncé wearing Robert Wun Couture

Beyoncé's only red carpet competition is herself—even when she's considering a secret outfit change. Shortly after shutting down the official carpet in beach waves and custom Olivier Rousteing, she zipped into a spangled Robert Wun couture gown to kick off the official gala. Named the "Stargaze gown," her dress creates a celestial motif with 318,000 gilded stiches—the most the brand has ever applied to a garment, according to a press release. The night-sky shimmer wouldn't be complete without teeny-tiny Swarovski crystals, which took 4,340 hours of handwork to place.

Nicole Kidman wearing Chanel

One Chanel red carpet dress just wasn't enough for Practical Magic 2 star Nicole Kidman. Taking the stage for her official remarks as Met Gala co-chair, she peeled off the second-skin custom gown Matthieu Blazy designed for the red carpet, and stepped into another Chanel find. This time, her dress hailed from the Fall 2026 runway—and dialed up the appliqués with a mix of sequins, feathers, and 3-D florals. I can't blame her for wanting to give this intricate gown its own moment.

Kendall Jenner wearing custom GapStudio by Zac Posen

Okay, Kendall Jenner's custom GapStudio Met Gala dress didn't completely come off once she entered the official event. But it's worth shouting-out how she and Zac Posen continued their tribute to "Winged Victory of Samothrace," one of the Louvre's most famous Greek sculptures, after the step-and-repeat. The pair had hinted on the red carpet that there were "surprises" ahead at the Met Gala, and seeing Jenner's full plumage unfold certainly made it seem like Nike, the Goddess of Victory herself, was in the room.

Doja Cat wearing Saint Laurent

On the whole, the 2026 Met Gala red carpet favored trompe-l'oeil anatomy over true naked dresses. But Doja Cat, a member of the Host Committee, kept the baring-it-all tradition alive. Once inside the Met Gala, her secret outfit change involved shedding her latex Saint Laurent dress for a sheer, draped gown, reminiscent of the Hellenistic statues within the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I can't think of a single time when Ayo Edebiri attended a red carpet event and didn't understand the assignment with her glam. Case in point, she attended the 2026 Met Gala (the theme of which is "Fashion Is Art") for the third year in a row and I audibly gasped at the sight of her chic, messy braid.

The After the Hunt star showed up tonight looking extra ethereal in a sheer, white Chanel dress that was draped over one shoulder and featured a wraparound design. She had two feathers attached to both of her shoulders and a thigh-high leg slit on the dress's left side, but her ensemble isn't the only part of her look that was giving goddess energy. Over the last several months, Edebiri has mostly been spotted out wearing her hair in different variations of the blunt bob, but for tonight, she swapped out her short hair for a little more length, courtesy of hairstylist Jacob Dillon, who styled her for the occasion using a few hair products from Dae. She wore honey brown curls that were slightly lightened at the ends, and they were pulled back into a long, messy braid with a few loose pieces left out to frame both sides of her face.

In an interview, Dillon told Marie Claire that he wanted to create a look that felt "beautiful but not overly 'done.'" "We were going for something soft, romantic, and slightly undone," he said. "There’s a timelessness to a braid, but I wanted to reinterpret it in a way that felt modern and effortless."

He went on to say that he settled on the messy braided look to give the hair a dreamy, romantic vibe. "The inspiration came from that idea of quiet elegance— almost like a lived-in, romantic texture you’d see in old portraits or film, but translated in a way that feels current," he said. "We felt it captured a certain mood that was soft, had movement, as well as a bit of ease."

The rest of Edebiri's glam also deserves a bit of commotion. She wore soft makeup complete with dewy foundation, brown eyeshadow, lengthening mascara, and a hint of color on her lips and cheeks. To seal it all together, the actress wore a short, milky white manicure that appeared to have a hint of shimmer to really add to the daintiness of the whole look.

To create a similar braided look at home, shop a few of the products Dillon used on Edebiri ahead.

Until tonight, Zendaya never skipped a Met Gala after-party. One red carpet moment just has never been enough from the queen of the Met—and she knows it. That's why it was so heartbreaking when Zendaya's 2026 Met Gala after-party look never came.

The tears started falling once Beyoncé and Rihanna graced the Met Gala red carpet, but not Zendaya. Reality set in right then and there: Z's three year Gala streak would end before she could interpret the "Fashion Is Art" dress code. Sometimes, celebrities who didn't score a Met Gala invite will join the festivities on the after-hours circuit. But something tells me the Challengers star is cuddled up to her husband, Tom Holland, right about now—not sitting for final touches in a New York City makeup chair.

I should've known as soon as Law Roach said, "for once, me going to the Met is about me," that Zendaya and her Christian Louboutin So Kates had other plans on the first Monday in May. At least two of my favorite Met Gala mainstays didn't RSVP "no." Beyoncé in custom Olivier Rousteing and Rihanna in Maison Margiela Fall 2025 Couture filled the Zendaya-shaped hole in my Met Gala-loving heart.

If an exhibition was made from Zendaya's Met Gala gowns, the Metropolitan Museum of Art would need an entirely new wing to hold her after-party looks. (This year's mannequin would be noticeably naked, though—and not in a naked dressing type of way.) The evolution of her second selects tracks Z's impressive transformation from Disney star to full-blown fashion icon. We all have to start somewhere, right?

For the Euphoria star, that was a surprisingly work-friendly suit skirt from Michael Kors, the same designer behind her 2016 after-Met Gala dress. A polka-dotted button-down and camel-colored blazer made it the opposite of her initial, high-low Fausto Puglisi gown. But the mini skirt's patchwork boasted the same sun motif atop her skirt, bracelet, and tiara.

Michael Kors dressed Zendaya for the 2016 Met Gala after-party, too. Her Fall 2016 mini dress was metallic gold, just like her first gown. Matching hoop rings connected the plunge top and knee-grazing midi skirt. Then, she accessorized with a double-breasted pea coat, matching knee-high boots, and the same sleek bob seen a few hours prior.

The Drama actor's after-party attire took a turn for the timeless at the 2024 Met Gala. For the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme, she ended her four-look marathon in a custom gray gown from Loewe. What a surprise to see the archival connoisseur in something fresh-from-the-mannequin—especially after she switched into a Givenchy Spring 1996 Couture gown for her second step-and-repeat.

Loewe's satin, halter-neck slip fit the then-co-host like a glove, thanks to the corset beneath the bodice's vertical pleating. Then, a hip-high slit revealed her Christian Louboutin So Kates, of course.

Zendaya pulled off an all-white, Bianca Jagger-coded suit from Louis Vuitton on the 2025 Met Gala red carpet. Later, Roach sourced Patrick Kelly's archives for a sartorial 180: a ruby-red sequin dress, featuring an oversize floral print. Her fur shawl and matching Louboutins were a few shades darker, without entering garnet territory. To offset the grandeur of her after-party gown, Z only accessorized with diamond stud earrings and her east-west engagement ring from Jessica McCormack. What else did she need?

New 2026 after-party pics are surfacing left and right, but Zendaya's would've had top billing on Marie Claire's best-dressed list. Alas, she had enough post-Gala gowns in her repertoire to numb the pain a little bit. Maybe Z just wanted Beyoncé to have her moment. When asked about her favorite Bey song over a decade ago, she said, "I'm gonna have to go with everything. Everything she does. I mean, I'm a little biased...cause I'm obsessed with her." If that's the case, I retract my disappointment, Zendaya. I'd step aside for Beyoncé, too.

I knew the 2026 Met Gala red carpet best-dressed list would be a challenge to narrow down. It's partially the guest list's fault: The only other time names like Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Zoë Kravitz are in the same room, it's the Oscars or the Grammys—and those carpets don't host nearly as many VIPs at once. But the real culprit in making my job as Marie Claire's senior fashion editor a tough one is the 2026 Met Gala dress code.

To correspond with this year's Costume Institute exhibit, "Costume Art," the co-chairs asked guests to consider "Fashion Is Art" their guiding styling principle. This guaranteed a Met Gala red carpet best-dressed list full of artistry and exquisite detail—but definitely not a universal interpretation of the evening's defining theme. Some guests focused on the exhibit's emphasis on celebrating the ties between the anatomical human form and art (hello, Beyonce's subversive naked dress); others tapped their favorite designers for stroke-for-stroke recreations of pieces first created on a painting's canvas. Sabrina Carpenter abandoned paintings and sculptures entirely, instead putting her spin on Old Hollywood with a Dior dress literally crafted from film. Then there's Rihanna: the latest Met Gala red carpet entry who shut down the event in a Maison Margiela gown so gilded, it would make Gustav Klimt's "Woman in Gold" jealous.

After spending hours poring over every Met Gala red-carpet arrival, I can say the following 14 looks are living works of art. Catch up on each of Marie Claire's picks for best-dressed below.

Beyoncé wearing custom Olivier Rousteing

She's baaaaaack! Beyoncé's return to the Met Gala red carpet after a ten-year hiatus would have earned a best-dressed ranking no matter what she wore. Still, Marie Claire's fashion editors were speechless when the singer pulled up in a custom Olivier Rousteing creation resembling a bedazzled skeleton, topped by an extra-long feather cape.

The sheer level of sparkle—and Beyoncé's arrival with husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy—is headline-worthy on their own. But as the co-chair explained in her official red carpet interview, there's more meaning than a dazzling first impression. Beyoncé said she chose to work with Rousteing given the many times he's championed her music over the years, from custom tour outfits to designing her Black Is King costumes. As for the skeleton motif? It's her way of "celebrating whatever God gave you." Amen to that.

Nicole Kidman wearing Chanel

Nicole Kidman didn't need to comb through the Met's vast archives for a red carpet reference. Instead, she and stylist Jason Bolden tapped Matthieu Blazy's Chanel for a bespoke dress that suggested she is the work of art. Vogue says the bright red sequins are a nod to "the Big Apple," aka the setting for tonight's major event. Between the fiery shade and the sequins pouring over her frame like liquid, I'd say the real homage is to Kidman herself—owning her seventh Met Gala red carpet like she belongs on display.

Doechii wearing Marc Jacobs

Don't mistake Doechii's second-ever Met Gala red carpet look for just another twist on the naked dress. Working with Marc Jacobs, the star took a definitive turn from last year's glamouratti Gucci suit while staying true to her style DNA. "I wanted to go with something human and grounded," she explained of the sinuous purple wrap—and the unexpected move to go barefoot.

Zoë Kravitz wearing Saint Laurent

Zoë Kravitz has worn several Met Gala red-carpet dresses designed by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent. But this year's took her penchant for semi-sheer dressing in a refreshingly new direction, mixing a Victorian pannier skirt with decidedly modern, see-through lace. If this is a hint at the newly-engaged Kravitz's bridal style, I'm here for it. (If only she'd let us glimpse her diamond engagement ring on the carpet...)

Sabrina Carpenter wearing Dior

Turns out, "Sabrinawood" wasn't just a Coachella costuming phase—it was a hint at the pop star's upcoming 2026 Met Gala red carpet dress. Sabrina Carpenter and stylist Jared Ellner reunited with Dior for one of the night's most personalized twists on the "Fashion Is Art" dress code. Carpenter's glossy gown is actually constructed from rows and rows of film, all pulled from the 1954 Audrey Hepburn classic Sabrina.

Emma Chamberlain wearing custom Mugler

Emma Chamberlain was the first guest to arrive at the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, and the first to ace the theme. She teamed up with Mugler creative director Miguel Castro Freitas on a gown resembling a palette mid-painting session. The skirt's layers (and layers!) of chiffon paid homage to the process of creating art as much as the finished project—which, in Chamberlain's case, could easily go on display.

Chase Sui Wonders wearing McQueen

A Met Gala red carpet debut becomes part of a star's fashion legacy. Chase Sui Wonders decided hers with this regal McQueen dress. It toes the line between red carpet risk-taking and gala benefit elegance, thanks to its semi-sheer fabric and artful, oversized bow perched on her shoulder.

Teyana Taylor wearing Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann

Some of the gowns on our best-dressed list celebrated art that froze a moment in time. Teyana Taylor, on the other hand, decided to emphasize the body in motion with her fringed Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann dress. The silver tinsel poured off her dress and matching cap like liquid metal—and as she swished up the Met Gala steps, I couldn't help wishing for a slow-mo video of her ascent.

Laufey wearing Tory Burch

Sometimes, you need a dose of minimalism amid the Met Gala fashion madness. Grammy-winner Laufey made the best-dressed list by setting aside her usual retro style and honing in on a streamlined, almost bridal Tory Burch dress. It's woven from a cream-and-silver brocade, with a matching drawstring bag. She's the calm in the Met Gala storm—and inspo for brides-to-be up and down the red carpet.

Alex Consani wearing Gucci

Plenty of stars interpreted the "Fashion Is Art" dress code to mean half-undressing on the Met Gala red carpet, including both Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner. But supermodel-on-the-rise Alex Consani is the one whose take deserves a second shout-out here. Her Gucci dress is Demna's first Met Gala creation for the house, one that brought the same zest as Consani's signature backstage soundbites. Her description? "A lot of feathers, a lot of tinsel, a lot of energy." I felt it even through the screen.

Hailey Bieber wearing Saint Laurent

I know, I know: Hailey Bieber and Saint Laurent have been Met Gala dates for several years now. But it's worth commending the Rhode mogul for branching out of her LBD mold and into something more experimental: a golden breastplate set against a skirt and chiffon cape drenched in archival YSL blue. (Specifically, a shade-and-breastplate combo first seen in a 1969 collaboration between the house and French artist Claude Lalanne.) If the armor up top looks like it's precisely fit to Bieber's measurements, that's because it's a bit of red carpet metallurgy magic: "It's a real sculpting to my body," she confirmed.

Paloma Elsesser wearing Bureau of Imagination by Francesco Risso

It takes a true fashion insider like Paloma Elsesser to do the homework on a noteworthy Met Gala red-carpet gown. To make this year's best-dressed list, she and Francesco Risso of Bureau of Imagination didn't settle for simply cutting a piece of fabric. Together, she said, "We sourced from eBay using 100 dresses from the 20s, 30s, and 40s." Given all the work that went into constructing it, "I am so proud to wear this," Elsesser said.

Chase Infiniti wearing Thom Browne

Presenting another Met Gala red carpet debut attendee who's making the best-dressed list on her first try. Armed with styling duo Wayman + Micah and the surrealist paint strokes of her Thom Browne dress, One Battle After Another and The Testaments breakout star Chase Infiniti proved her run of awards season red carpets was just the start of cementing her fashion legacy. It's worth digging into the stats behind this look: 1.5 million sequins make up the swirling appliqués, and the brand says they culminate in more than 600 colors represented on her dress.

Rihanna wearing custom Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens

Some Met Gala best-dressed entries are better late than never, Rihanna's most of all. After the livestream had officially wrapped, the Fenty Beauty mogul departed from her hotel in a crinkly, custom Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens look, reimagined from a Fall 2025 runway creation. In a previous interview with Marie Claire, Martens told us he designs with the intention of getting people to do a double take—wondering what the hell, exactly, they're looking at. The reigning queen of the Met Gala definitely upheld Martens's very specific legacy in her metallic cocoon, which unfolded to reveal a bodice absolutely dripping with embellishments.

It’s the most important night in fashion, and to no one's surprise, Rihanna closed the carpet as the belle of the ball. The 2026 Met Gala is in full swing, and the theme of the evening is "Costume Art," which pays homage to the intersection of fashion and history. The dress code is “fashion is art,” and of course, fashion’s darling, Rihanna, nailed every last detail in full-blown gilded glamour.

In a stunning gown from Maison Margiela, the singer aced the theme for the night, pairing the look with a gorgeous, futuristic-chic glam. Her hair appeared to be a sort of slicked-back mullet, decorated with gold curls throughout the entirety of her head. Her makeup was a dream, a combination of metallics and cool-toned purples, which only served to highlight the two-toned goodness that is her outfit. A frosty, neutral lip color added the finishing touch to her makeup, and short, almond-shaped pink nails completed the singer's beauty details.

It's an epic way to close out the event's red carpet, and, of course, Rihanna is and will be one of the most talked-about looks of the evening. Take a look at all of the best beauty moments from the 2026 Met Gala, and if you're feeling inspired, shop the products below to recreate Rihanna's glam at home.

Shop Rihanna's Met Gala Glam

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The question was never whether Rihanna’s 2026 Met Gala look would be epic, sensational, and one of the evening’s absolute best. Rather, it was: How would the multi-multi-hypehate one-up her own legacy as the Greatest Attendee of All Time (GAOAT)? The answer came just as the 2026 Met Gala red carpet was wrapping up, paparazzi began packing up their DSLRs, and fashion editors worldwide grew bleary-eyed; in too many jewels to count and a gilded, Gothic cape.

Styled by Jahleel Weaver, Rihanna arrived at the Met Gala red carpet hand-in-hand with A$AP Rocky and wearing a creation from Glenn Martens's Fall 2025 Couture collection for Maison Margiela. Her best-dressed look consisted of an intricate, long-sleeve bodice encrusted with over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewels, and intricate chains, each hand-sewn in a process that took 1,380 hours, the fashion house shared in a statement. If that isn't a nod to the "Fashion Is Art” dress code, then I don't know what is.

On top, Rihanna was encased in a bronze duchesse silk shroud, which draped around her shoulders and transformed into a column skirt. The silhouette was inspired by "medieval architecture of Flanders" and " the painting of Flemish primitives," Maison Margiela states.

The close-up details of Ri’s 2026 Met Gala red carpet look were equally exquisite. She quadrupled down on her outfit's shimmer with multiple cocktail rings, including a 1930s-era three-carat diamond sparkler from Fred Leighton, diamond-studded hoops, and bejeweled ear cuffs.

Rihanna continued the dripping-in-gold theme with her Met Gala glam; she wore stick-on gems on the outer corners of both eyes, and golden curl-cue pins, designed by Jennifer Behr in collaboration with Rihanna's hairstylist, Yusef Williams, were sprinkled throughout her slicked-back mullet.

Several celebrities RSVPed "no" to this year's fundraiser—including Zendaya,
Meryl Streep, and Miley Cyrus—so her presence at tonight's event is a relief for fashion fanatics worldwide. And for all the journalists who've been monitoring her comings and goings all day: Earlier Monday morning, Rihanna was spotted in New York City wearing a Yankees baseball cap clashed with a black Savage x Fenty lace bodystui and a brown satin, fur-trimmed coat.

Moreover, Rihanna's extravagant 2026 Met Gala look slots neatly into her archive of 11 iconic Met Gala moments. (Everybody moved on from her mile-long imperial yellow cape that swallowed the Met steps in 2015—but I stayed there.) Most recently, at last year’s Met Gala honoring "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," Rihanna chose a pinstriped suit gown by Marc Jacobs, complete with a polka-dot ascot and an off-kilter black top hat. A top-shelf nod to the evening’s "Black dandy" dress code, Rihanna’s look was expertly tailored to her body—her very pregnant body, at that.

"Rihanna, pregnant on Met Gala red carpet…that feels familiar," you may think to yourself.

That instinct would be correct. Two years prior, the Fenty mogul walked the 2023 Met Gala red carpet along with partner A$AP Rocky and her not-yet-born son, Riot Rose. In a fittingly dramatic fashion, Rihanna revealed her baby bump by removing a hooded rosette-motif cape and showing off a form-fitting ivory gown with a sweeping train. Both fashion components were designed by Valentino in homage to the late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, in keeping with the event’s theme.

As a nine-time Grammy winner, a Super Bowl halftime performer, a capital-B Billionaire with a makeup and lingerie empire, Rihanna has long refined the art of fashion as a statement. Her 2026 Met Gala look, in all its bejeweled magnificence, is just further proof that no one—absolutely no one—is on her level.

Just when you thought Teyana Taylor couldn’t outdo herself on the red carpet, she has defied the odds once again. Tonight, the award-winning actress made jaws drop at the 2026 Met Gala, showcasing a striking look sure to be remembered.

Taylor arrived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a distinguished committee member, wearing a custom Tom Ford gown by Haider Ackermann. Cut from fringed fabric, her silver dress featured a mysterious hood that nearly covered her face.

With each step Taylor took on the carpet, her floaty sleeves and sweeping hemline moved with her.

On the glam front, Taylor did not disappoint. The star opted for her classic red carpet makeup: a dramatic smoky eye, contoured cheeks, and a perfectly lined lip.

Taylor is a Met veteran, having attended five consecutive times since 2021. One of her most notable appearances came last year for the gala’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.

For the occasion, Taylor chose Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter to design a custom outfit that perfectly encapsulated the essence of Black dandyism. The dapper look featured a pinstriped zoot suit layered beneath an embellished burgundy cape. Carter completed the ensemble with a sumptuous satin durag, a feather-adorned hat, and lofty platforms.

To know Taylor is to understand that she’s never been afraid to stand out—a strength that she applies to both fashion and her career as a performer.

“Please don't shrink yourself to fit in rooms that were never built with you in mind,” Taylor said while delivering her acceptance speech during the 2026 Golden Globes. “Build your own, take up space.”

From commanding the red carpet to captivating audiences on screen, Taylor continues to set the tone—offering a reminder that self-expression never goes out of style.

There’s no need to hold your horses any longer. After a ten-year hiatus, the one-and-only Beyoncé has finally arrived at the legendary Met Gala. For her seventh appearance, the “Cowboy Carter” singer returns as the event’s co-chair, serving up an incredible red carpet look that will surely go down in fashion history.

On Monday, May 4, Queen Bey arrived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing an Olivier Rousteing gown covered in clusters of crystals. Styled by Ty Hunter, her skeleton-inspired dress featured a figure-hugging bodice, a sweeping skirt, and a lustrous, feathered cape that trailed behind her.

Enhanced by a matching headpiece and scintillating jewelry, the performer exuded regal flair.

When asked about the significance of her dress, Bey said it’s about "celebrating whatever God gave you.”

With a face card that never declines, Beyoncé also impressed on the glam front. Makeup artist Rokael Lizama embraced an ethereal look with soft eyeshadow, powdery pink blush, and glossy nude lipstick.

To finish things off, hairstylist Neal Farinah styled her honey-blonde strands into free-flowing waves, likely using Bey’s haircare line Cécred to achieve the glossy finish.

Perhaps the most exciting moment about Beyoncé’s long-awaited appearance was the fact that she arrived with her husband and daughter for an adorable family moment.

Jay-Z kept things simple with a sharp black suit, a coordinating vest, and a crisp button-down shirt. Blue Ivy, on the other hand, opted for a whimsical look with a gorgeous bubble-hem gown styled alongside a matching puff-sleeved jacket.

“It feels surreal....it's incredible to be here this year with her," Beyoncé said about Blue.

Standing next to each other, the trio looked undeniably impeccable.

While a decade has passed since the pop star last graced the Met red carpet, Beyoncé’s ability to command attention remains unchanged. Just as she stole the show this year, she did so during her last appearance in 2016, wearing a shimmering Givenchy Haute Couture dress by Riccardo Tisci. Designed in nude-colored latex, with dramatic puffed sleeves and lustrous, pearl-like embellishments, the elegant design marked her fifth consecutive custom Givenchy gown for the gala.

Perhaps her most daring look from the French label was her 2015 naked dress, a breathtaking confection of crystal-adorned sheer fabric that teased glimpses of her underwear.

Back to 2026, though, Beyoncé’s return to the Met Gala is noteworthy for more than one reason. Yes, it’s been a long time coming—but more than that, this year’s theme is especially significant for her, as she’s long understood fashion’s power to elevate her artistry.

Take, for example, her 2025 “Cowboy Carter” tour, where she wore Western-inspired attire—such as paisley-print bodysuits, suede boots, and bedazzled denim—to honor the Black roots of country music.

Having built a legacy on using style as an art form, it’s only fitting that the award-winning star exceeded expectations on fashion’s biggest night.

Olivia Rodrigo has had a busy few weeks, so I couldn’t be too shocked when I didn't see her on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. Fresh off a double-duty gig hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live, releasing her new single, performing it at Coachella, and announcing a brand new album, my girl could use some rest.

If that's why she ditched fashion's biggest night altogether, I completely understand. As she would say: It's brutal out here!

I would have loved to see what the “Good 4 U” singer would have worn on the Met Gala steps. The theme in 2026 is Costume Art, in celebration of the relationship between fashion and the bodies that wear it. The coordinating dress code is Fashion Is Art, which is broad enough that I just know the singer would have put her own spin on it. And, considering she just filmed the music video for her new single, "Drop Dead," in the Palace of Versailles, I thought there would be an easy artsy tie-in.

Would her look have been pink, the shade she’s been wearing non-stop since she began teasing her new album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love? Or, would she have opted for something punky and fun, like she’s worn in previous years? I have so many questions—and I’ll have to wait another year for answers.

Speaking of her past Met Gala looks, Rodrigo has shown every facet of her sartorial personality over the years. Her first-ever Met appearance came in 2021, at the first iteration of the fundraiser that did not take place on the first Monday in May.

Allow me to set the scene: It was September, the theme that year was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," and Rodrigo was fresh off the success of "Driver's License" and the release of her first solo album, Sour. Up until then, her red carpet style had leaned more sweet than, well, sour—which is why I loved her lacy black Saint Laurent catsuit. It took the naked dress trend to a new, cool girl-approved level.

The "In America" theme was split into two separate galas due to the pandemic, and at its next iteration—which took place back on schedule, in May 2022—Rodrigo did a stylistic 180. She swapped black for a shimmering violet Versace number.

Rodrigo had become synonymous with this very specific shade of purple by this point, and the punky, feminine take felt perfect for the moment. Smudgy purple eye makeup and matching butterfly hairpins from Jennifer Behr completed the look, giving it an almost Disney-princess-inspired feel.

Rodrigo's 2023 Met Gala appearance proved her to be the ultimate red carpet chameleon. The event, that year, posthumously honored design legend Karl Lagerfeld with a theme dedicated entirely to his legacy—"Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty."

To celebrate his life in style, Rodrigo arrived in a stunning Thom Browne number crafted in Lagerfeld's classic black-and-white color combination, adorned with flowers. Audrey Hepburn-inspired hair and a soft red lip kept the look feeling classy and timeless—the epitome of a Lagerfeld creation.

There will be more Olivia Rodrigo moments where her recent performances came from, with her next tour on the horizon. That said, if Rodrigo skips a Met Gala red carpet dress again in 2027, I might actually drop dead.

At this point, Teyana Taylor showing up to a carpet and absolutely eating is just expected—and yes, the hot mom did it again. For the 2026 Met Gala’s “Costume Art” theme (with a “Fashion Is Art” dress code), she leans into a beauty look that feels just as dialed as the rest of her ensemble. Noticeably absent from her side this carpet: her daughter Rue Rose, who just had a few scene-stealing red carpet moments of her own at this year’s Actor Awards—but Taylor more than holds it down solo tonight with her maximalist metallic moment.

Head-to-toe silver fringe is already doing the most, but look closer and the glam is right there with it. Her super-deep smokey eye taps into one of the night’s biggest beauty trends, and the layer of silver shimmer pressed on top ties it directly back to the look—catching the light the same way the metallic dress does.

Celebrity makeup artist Yeika Oliva is the visionary behind the glam, and she paired the deep eye with a super-sculpted, neutral lip—courtesy of Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick, which, obviously, considering Taylor was just named the new face of the product just a few weeks back.

Even with a look this major, the glam still lands just as hard. Even if you’re not hitting a red carpet anytime soon, shop the products below to recreate the look at home.

Shop Teyana's Met Gala Glam

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I can think of about a million things (good and bad) that have happened between 2016 and now, but seeing Beyoncé on a Met Gala red carpet unfortunately isn't one of them. The Cowboy Carter singer famously took a ten-year hiatus from the annual fashion event, but tonight she made her long-awaited return as one of the 2026 Met Gala's four co-chairs wearing glam that I'll probably obsess over for the rest of this week, and then some.

The last time Bey attended the Met Gala, the theme was “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," and she showed up wearing a beige latex gown from Givenchy. At the time, her honey brown hair featured blonde highlights and she styled it in a bone-straight blowout with a middle part, and she topped off her look with black nail polish and the smokiest smoky eye I've ever seen in my life. A lot has changed since then, and for tonight's theme, she went a completely different direction, wearing sheer nude Olivier Rousteing gown embellished with silver crystals that were applied in the shape of a skeleton. She also wore soft glam this time around, and instead of the straight look, she wore her hair in long, crimped waves underneath a large silver headpiece that matched her gown.

We've waited ten years to see Beyoncé's official return to the Met Gala, and just as I suspected, her look for the night didn't disappoint at all. Her mermaid waves were the work of her longtime hairstylist, Neal Farinah, who pulled the look together using products from Cécred's new styling collection. "We wanted to up the drama for this big night," Farinah said. "These ethereal waves are a celebration of texture, making sure the hair had definition but wasn’t confined."

Of course, her big return was a family affair. She attended alongside her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, who looked nearly identical to her in matching honey blonde mermaid waves and stunning, white bubble dress. “It feels surreal because my daughter’s here,” the artist told Vogue on the red carpet. “It’s incredible to be able to share it with her.”

To get a similar wavy look at home, shop the products ahead.

After six consecutive “no” RSVPs, Miley Cyrus returned to the Met Gala last year—in an ab-baring leather crop top and black ball skirt by Alaïa at that. Now that she’s broken her no-show streak, anticipation was high for what Cyrus would wear to the 2026 Met Gala.

Sadly, at 8:30 p.m., with the red carpet fashion wrapped and guests inside kicking off their stilettos and removing their inconvenient headpieces, Cyrus is officially a no-show at this year's fundraiser ball. Her sitting out of the 2026 Met Gala is a bummer, for sure. However, she's one of many A-listers who RSVP'd "no" to this year's event, including Zendaya and Meryl Streep.

Still, it would have been interesting to see her interpretation of the "Fashion Is Art" dress code, especially since Cyrus is known to be a fashion shapeshifter—she did, after all, play a teenage girl with a wig-wearing pop star alter ego for five years on Disney Channel. Last year’s Alaïa look also proved that there's simply no aesthetic she can't pull off. Dark and intense, consisting of all black and sharp, dramatic lines, Cyrus showed no trace of Hannah Montana and her sweet niblets on the 2025 red carpet.

The Something Beautiful singer wore a high-neck, croc-embossed leather crop top that curved up her stomach and along her breastbone, and a voluminous black fit-and-flare maxi skirt with a drop-waist silhouette. Cyrus accessorized the dramatic look with a gold statement necklace, gold earrings, and black sunglasses—all by Cartier.

Prior to that, the last time the “Flowers” singer attended the ball was in 2019, when she walked the carpet with then-husband, Liam Hemsworth, whom she divorced the following year. To the “Camp: Notes on Fashion”-themed occasion, Cyrus wore a sculptural Saint Laurent minidress, rendered in green-and-black sequined stripes and with an architectural back detail that made her resemble a candy wrapper.

Miley, if you're reading this, please come back in 2027. As one of the greatest working musicians today and a style star who's able to metamorphosize, it's "The Best of Both Worlds."

After skipping last year’s fete, Blake Lively made her triumphant return to the 2026 Met Gala. The actress has long sat atop the list of best-dressed A-listers on the annual fundraising event's red carpet, and tonight’s iteration is no exception.

Her gown paid homage to the "Costume Art" theme and "Fashion is Art" dress code, while still feeling true to her maximalist sense of style. Lively famously doesn’t work with a stylist, and her cotton candy-hued gown on the carpet is a "Met-ified" (her words, not mine) version of a Versace gown from 2006. As for accessories, she sparkled in Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry and a dainty bag that featured artwork from each of her four children.

As for her Met Gala glam, Lively chose to keep it simple and classic. In the hair department, Lively’s long blonde strands were fashioned into cascading Old Hollywood-inspired waves. Her makeup, on the other hand, felt inspired by California glam, with bronzed skin and an easy, lightly dusted eye.

Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, are always two of my favorite duos to spot at the annual fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—she starred on Gossip Girl, after all! The Met steps were basically her high school-era stomping grounds.

And while I'm in love with tonight's ensemble, I can't help but think about all the other show-stopping looks she's worn in the past. Who can forget when she arrived in a Statue of Liberty-inspired Versace gown that developed a patina right in front of our eyes? It was 2022; the theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," and I was obsessed.

Another favorite look of mine came in 2018, when Blake Lively chose an ornate burgundy velvet gown—also by Versace—to tap into the "Heavenly Bodies" theme. From her dresses's jewel-encrusted bodice and sheer paneling down the leg to the delicate crown on her head, the look remains one of my favorites.

As the carpet slowly comes to a close and the well-dressed A-listers ascend into the ultra-secretive event, I'll be left gushing over Lively's most recent cotton candy dreamscape.

There are beautiful celebrities, and then there’s Tyla. With glowing skin and hair that never misses, her glam has become one of my favorites to watch on the red carpet circuit. For the 2026 Met Gala, themed “Costume Art” with a “Fashion Is Art” dress code, she pushes that signature further—stepping out as something of a real-life mermaid, all shimmer, skin, and light-catching details.

For tonight’s carpet, Tyla is working with celebrity hairstylist Yusef Williams, who styled her hair with Wavytalk tools to create long, defined and beachy curls with a high-gloss wet look, giving the glam room to shine. On the makeup side, Valentino Beauty took the reigns with makeup artist Esther Edeme capitalizing on glow, glow, and more glow.

Then, there's the radiant skin. Tyla leaned into a full-body shimmer, layering glitter across her décolletage and even her ears. In a jist? The singer showed up to the 2026 Met Gala completely unexpected compared to the rest of the carpet—and it's definitely my favorite glam of the night.

Up close, the details get even better: micro crystal accents scattered along her eyes add just enough sparkle to tie in with the rest of the look. Her silky, bright blue bedazzled dress from Valentino gives aquatic, further lending to the real-life mermaid theme. Summer is right around the corner, and if Tyla's Met Gala look is any indication, I predict lots of deep sea babes sporting glowing, ethereal skin. To channel the mermaid queen, shop these products.

Shop Tyla's Met Gala Glam

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Sabrina Carpenter has attended four Met Galas so far, and somehow she's already become a pro at delivering a few surprises in the glam department. After her appearance at last year's event, I spent days thinking about her special Louis Vuitton-themed manicure, and now that she's come back for another stroll around the red carpet for tonight's "Fashion Is Art" theme, I can't stop obsessing over the details in her black French manicure.

This year, Carpenter arrived at the event not just as a regular attendee, but as a member of the host committee alongside other stars like Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Zoë Kravitz, Misty Copeland, and many more, so obviously, she had to go all out with her outfit, hair, and makeup for the night. The "House Tour" singer showed up wearing a custom Dior tulle dress by Jonathan Anderson that was made with actual film from Audrey Hepburn's 1954 film, Sabrina. Her platinum blonde hair was styled in tight Old Hollywood curls with a diamond headpiece, and she even wore a specialized French manicure that was painted to match the film strips in her dress.

Carpenter is no stranger to a themed manicure. She attended last year's event with the Louis Vuitton logo painted onto her nails along with some of the threads from the pantless suit she wore, and while closing out her tour in South America last month, she wore a bedazzled glaze manicure that featured chrome powder and colorful gems to match her royal purple jumpsuit.

Usually, the focus of the gala is rightfully on the fashion, but the nails for tonight have been on point, too. Aside from Carpenter's French manicure, tennis star Naomi Osaka showed up wearing long stiletto nails that were painted to match her Robert Wun ensemble, while Janelle Monae wore a 3D chrome look that had photographers fighting for a close-up shot.

To create a similar look at home, shop ahead.

Less than 24 hours before Kendall Jenner stepped her stiletto-clad foot on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, she went to a pre-ball party in a vintage Mugler Little Black Dress. Naturally, the look from the brand’s Fall ‘93 collection, fit with bow accents, a plunging neckline, and an asymmetric leg slit, begged the question: Was it a teaser for what Jenner would wear the following day? Or a red—in this case, black—herring to throw fans of the reality star-slash-supermodel off the scent?

Turns out, it was just a very chic LBD, unrelated to the statuesque custom GapStudio by Zac Posen gown Jenner ended up wearing to the 2026 Met Gala. Styled by long-time fashion collaborator Dani Michelle, Jenner's look was a head-on reference to this year’s “Fashion Is Art” dress code head-on.

Speaking with Vogue on the carpet, Posen revealed that "[Kendall] wanted to be the Winged Victory of Samothrace," referencing a Hellenistic Greek sculpture of goddess Nike that's currently on display in the Louvre Museum. The designer used an assortment of Gap T-shirts—yes, just like the ones in your PJ bin—to mimic wet marble and the motion of flight on Jenner's dress. Posen also shared that the original sculpture has wings, "so there might be a surprise inside," alluding to a wardrobe change or transformation to later take place.

Similar to sister Kylie's nearly naked sculptural Schiaparelli gown, Jenner's 2026 Met Gala red carpet look featured a nude-illusion bodice peeking out from the T-shirt top layer. Not to mention the bodice created a very tasteful, purposeful nip slip, a feat of fashion only the supermodel could make look natural.

Also worth shouting out were Jenner's Buccellati jewelry, particularly the white-and-yellow-gold pendant necklace embellished with pearls and diamonds, which she wore backward.

The model has attended the Met Gala 11 times and, canonically speaking, is an MVP of Met steps. At last year’s ball, which followed a “Tailored for You” dress code and honored the Costume Institute’s exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Jenner wore a skirt suit by emerging designer Torishéju Dumi. With a nipped-in waist, plunging neckline, and mermaid flare on the maxi skirt, her look was impeccably tailored and simple with a sultry slant—a balance that’s come to define Jenner’s less-is-more style.

But Jenner has no qualms with leaving her aesthetic comfort zone when need be. On the 2024 Met Gala red carpet, she wore a nearly naked dress by Alexander McQueen for Givenchy’s Fall 1999 Haute Couture collection. Constructed of nude and black tulle and covered with more than 100,000 black and brass beads and sequins, which were hand-embroidered over 500 hours, the gown was bolder and more elaborate than the minimalist-leaning piece she typically wears.

Adding to the statement was the fact that Jenner was the first person to ever wear the gown, since the collection was originally presented on mannequins and never shown on the runway. Given the dress’s backstory and its long time collecting dust in Givenchy’s archive, it was a perfect choice for the evening’s “Sleeping Beauties” theme.

In its sculptural magnificence, and with an assist from Posen, Jenner’s custom GapStudio red carpet dress is yet another example as to why she’s well earned her title as one of the Met Gala’s best dressed. Plus, she deserves bonus points for her pre-Gala teaser outfit from the day before—the duality of woman!

Sabrina Carpenter only has three Met Gala red carpets under her belt, but she's already been crowned a member of the Host Committee. The pop star—as well as Teyana Taylor, Doja Cat, and more—supported 2026 Met Gala co-hosts like Beyoncé for this year's event. But first, Carpenter flaunted her own Dior dress on the Met Gala red carpet.

Tonight's theme, "Costume Art," was practically made for Carpenter. "The idea was to put the body back into discussions about art and fashion," Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton told Vogue last November. It's no surprise Carpenter shined during her step-and-repeat: She adores showing some skin, which was basically required for VIPs to be on theme this year. Stylist Jared Ellner teamed up with Jonathan Anderson's Dior, the same creative director behind her viral Coachella outfits.

Carpenter picked up where Coachella's Sabrinawood theme left off in a slitted halter-neck dress sculpted entirely from authentic film. Anderson, "the genius that he is," didn't just choose any strands left on the cutting room floor, Carpenter told Vogue. Each frame hailed from Audrey Hepburn's 1954 film, Sabrina. That's right, you can follow the storyline of Sabrina from her fitted bodice, beyond the slitted asymmetrical skirt, and onto the carpet-grazing train. "We just finished all of my Coachella looks together and they hopped right into making this dream dress," she said.

Every element of Carpenter's Dior dress was a work of art. The Sabrina movie poster decorated her skull cap's center pendant, which shined alongside rows of drop diamonds and matching earrings. In true 5' form, Carpenter's platform Christian Louboutin pumps added some movie-star-worthy height.

Carpenter's career-defining hit, "Espresso," debuted two years after she attended her first Met Gala. Yes, she was albums away from discovering her signature modern-day, Hollywood pin-up style, but wearing custom Rabanne to the Met made her one to watch. "We chose to go for a very 'couture' skirt with large volume...to contrast the attitude of a mini-brassiere, as if the dress had been cut in two," creative director Julien Dossena told Vogue.

The Grammy winner is still pro-sequins today—they covered almost every square inch of her first Dior Coachella costumes. But the high-rise skirt and its elongated train wouldn't be risqué enough for 26-year-old Carpenter.

In 2024, Carpenter celebrated the success of "Espresso" on the Met Gala staircase. Her custom Oscar de la Renta ballgown nailed the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme. The black, drop-waist bodice and never-ending, bubble-hem train were fit for a princess. Her ombré skirt could've been crafted from clouds, or the backdrop of her "Espresso" cover. Both were pastel shades of sky blue—a color that soon became a Carpenter classic.

It's hard to believe there was only a year in between Carpenter's most recent Met Gala looks: She did a complete 180 for the 2025 ball. Ellner embraced the "Juno" singer's sultry side in a pantless bodysuit from Louis Vuitton. The burgundy one-piece paid homage to the "Tailored for You" dress code, while respecting Carpenter's aversion to full-coverage fashion.

Its hip-high hemline also picked up where her Short n' Sweet tour costumes left off. She opened all 72 shows in an ultra-cheeky bodysuit, custom-made to her five-foot measurements by Victoria's Secret. If Louis Vuitton added a few rhinestones, Carpenter might've considered wearing it on stage. To finish, the longest coat tails in fashion history added even more drama to her paparazzi pics.

All three of Carpenter's previous Met Galas ended with stellar after-party picks, including a silver Rabanne skirt set in 2022, a floral Oscar de la Renta mini dress in 2024, and a borrowed-from-the-boys Louis Vuitton suit in 2025. So don't worry, you haven't seen the last of Carpenter at the 2026 Met Gala. Knowing her, she'll make quite an impression once more before calling it a night.

There has not been a shortage of gorgeous Met Gala beauty looks this year. With a theme of "Costume Art" and a dress code of "Fashion Is Art," designers, fashion insiders, and celebrities pulled out all the stops. Case in point: Emma Chamberlain's neon yellow inner corner eyeshadow, Sunday Rose's pink lids, Nicole Kidman's mermaid hair. But I'd be remiss not to shout out Emily Blunt's spiky bun, which is very '90s and very sleek.

According to hairstylist Laini Reeves, who was responsible for tonight's look, the hairstyle was inspired by a '90s look Guido Paolo created for Kate Moss. "The military-style corset had a lot of detailing and a high neck, so the hair had to go away and we had to keep it very tight," says Reeves. "I wanted it to look really wet and high-shine."

To achieve the perfect texture, she doused the hair in TRESemmé Bonding Oil and slicked it back into a center-parted ponytail. Now, here's where things get interesting. To add texture and grit back into the hair, Reeves grabbed dry shampoo and worked it through. "When you put a lot of oil in the hair, it's hard to fix it with bobby pins because it gets so slippery. The dry shampoo helps gunk it back up again," she explains.

To finish it off? She let the ends "peacock" out of the bun for a '90s vibe (it's very Jenna Rink, in my opinion). "We're really going back to these knots, and buns, and ponytails," she says. And for summer? What could be better? Or more humidity-proof.

Shop Emily's Glam

Hailey Bieber has been the belle of the Met Gala ball for over a decade, at least according to my personal best-dressed lists. Myself and fellow Beliebers knew she'd reclaim her metaphorical crown at the 2026 Met Gala, but still, her Saint Laurent red carpet look proved she's in no way predictable.

Once Saint Laurent was named the Gala's main fashion sponsor last November, my gut told me Bieber would reunite with creative director Anthony Vaccarello for their fourth Met together. I gave myself a pat on the back minutes ago, when she graced the 2026 Met Gala staircase in custom Saint Laurent. Stylist Andrew Mukamal—the same creative behind her gowns at the 2026 Grammys and TIME100 Gala—dressed Bieber in cobalt-blue chiffon, which bookended a metallic gold breastplate.

The 2026 color trend marks her brightest and boldest Met Gala look, an appropriate move for a dress code this boundless. The shawl decorated her décolletage and transformed into a carpet-grazing train.

That said, her matching column skirt didn't need extra fabric. It seems Mukamal saw the Tom Ford breastplate in Vogue's round up of "Costume Art"-appropriate picks, and reimagined it. Speaking to Vogue's livestream hosts, Bieber said the armor was sculpted "exactly" to her figure.

Technically, Saint Laurent has been by Bieber's side since her first Met Gala in 2015. Her floral mini dress was a Topshop find, but she chose metallic silver platform sandals from her favorite French label.

By her sixth ascent up those iconic stairs in 2021, Vacarello dressed Bieber in (almost) head-to-toe Saint Laurent. "I’m inspired by the Grace Kellys of the world," Bieber told Vogue before her step-and-repeat. Her black velvet gown seemingly defied the "American Independence" dress code, but for good reason. Rhinestone piping along its scalloped, strapless neckline could've shined on any red carpet, dress code or no dress code.

2022's first Monday in May hosted Bieber in custom Saint Laurent once again. She nailed the "Gilded Glamour and White Tie" dress code in a "really lightweight and comfy" silk, halter-neck gown. "I did my best to be on theme," Bieber shared with Vogue on the carpet. "It's actually based on this YSL Jerry Hall reference."

She draped herself in a feather-trimmed robe, inspired by Hall's runway look in the Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2002 Couture fashion show. Still, the dress's thigh-high slit, lace-up stilettos, and Tiffany & Co. jewelry grounded the homage in Bieber's affinity for subtly risqué serves.

After a three-year hiatus from the Met Gala guest list, Bieber returned to the 2025 red carpet in (you guessed it) custom Saint Laurent by Vaccarello. Her pantless blazer dress was a cool-girl interpretation of the "Tailored For You" dress code—one her close friend, Kendall Jenner, also seemed to honor. To finish, Bieber offset the satin-lapel, single-breasted jacket's masculinity with platform, peep-toe mules and Tiffany & Co. sparklers.

BIeber is a Saint Laurent girl through and through on the Met Gala red carpet. She also wore Vaccarello designs for 2021 and 2022 after-parties, including a chainmail bra and micro-mini shorts at the latter. Last year, however, Bieber switched things up in favor of a custom corset dress, which Dilara Findikoglu sculpted just for her from champagne velvet.

Since Vaccarello is co-chairing the Host Committee this year, perhaps Bieber will wear Saint Laurent from sunup to sundown. But who knows? She could have an outfit and designer switch up her after-hours sleeve.

There are always a handful of stars that you can count on for a show-stopping arrival at the Met Gala, and Kylie Jenner is undoubtedly one of them. With each red carpet look, she never fails to deliver the drama.

Jenner arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—without her beau Timothée Chalamet—wearing a sculptural Schiaparelli gown that nailed the “Fashion Is Art” dress code while remixing the classic naked dress. Her breathtaking piece featured an ultra-tight corset and a sweeping embroidered skirt that caught the attention of every single spectator. From the front, the gown appeared sculpted to her exact measurements, before peeling down—like a dress halfway in the process of being pulled on.

Stylists Mackenzie and Alexandra Grandquist completed Jenner’s eye-catching look with a massive pearl-adorned choker and matching earrings.

To no surprise, the mogul opted for full-on glam. Makeup artist Ariel Tejada pulled the look together with bleached eyebrows, a dramatic smoky eye, and nude lipstick. To finish things off, Jenner chose to let her hair flow freely.

Jenner is no stranger to the Met Gala red carpet—she has now attended the Costume Institute's annual event eight times.

To honor last year’s theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," she wore a custom Ferragamo dress designed by the oh-so talented Maximilian Davis. The embellished tweed gown showcased sheer panels, a bustier design, and a high-slit hemline for a sultry edge, while a subtle collared detail at the waist nodded to classic suiting.

Mackenzie and Alexandra Grandquist elevated the look with mesh opera gloves, shimmering Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, and embellished pumps.

While Jenner skipped the after-parties last year, we’re secretly hoping for a second appearance this evening. If her late-night look is anything like her red carpet ensemble, we’re certainly in for a treat.

Sarah Pidgeon has worn Balenciaga, Chanel, Loewe, Prada, and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's alma mater, Calvin Klein, since Love Story's minimalist charm won fans over in February. That said, she had the crème de la crème of designers to choose her 2026 Met Gala red carpet dress from. In the end, Pidgeon went with (drum roll, please): another custom Loewe two-piece, remixed from the Spanish label's latest runway.

About two hours after the curtains around those iconic stairs opened, the former Marie Claire cover star made her trip up the Met Gala red carpet steps. Stylist Sarah Slutsky reinterpreted Look 43 from the Loewe runway, trading a plaid bandeau top for bright yellow, and swapping leggings for a sleek column skirt. Matching yellow heels peeked out from underneath her skirt.

If there was a formula guaranteed to score you an invite to the Met Gala, Pidgeon certainly cracked it: She made her Fashion Month debut in the front rows of Loewe and Prada, attended the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, and even filmed her first luxury fashion commercial. (She wrapped the entire Balenciaga ad three days before the first Monday in May.)

Anna Wintour knew Pidgeon had the sartorial prowess required to walk the world's buzziest red carpet. But fans who kept tabs on her 2026 award season streak realized she was Met-ready by the first Sunday in March. Morrison ensured she ended up on 2026 Actor Award best-dressed lists galore by sourcing Balenciaga for a powder-pink, drop-waist gown. Its borderline-white shade screamed CBK-coded minimalism, while the strapless, ruched silhouette felt refreshingly modern.

After a whirlwind run at New York City, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks, Pidgeon still managed to RSVP "yes" to Chanel's pre-Oscar dinner on March 14. Her lingerie-adjacent, lace-trimmed slip dress hailed from the same Métiers d'Art Spring 2026 line as her Love Story NYC premiere dress. Its pastel-green satin matched the main Spring 2026 color trend atop her cap-toe pumps, one of the cult-collected designs behind Chanel's shopping frenzy that month.

But attending Chanel's invite-only soirée didn't tease Pidgeon's 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party dress, like most spectators suspected. She traded fresh-off-the-runway Chanel for a custom Calvin Klein Collection dress. The "platinum crystal and sequin-encrusted floor-length gown" was a tribute to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy without being too on-the-nose.

The actor's Love Story character worked at the New York designer's headquarters from 1988 to 1996. Its spaghetti-slim straps and column skirt could've been plucked from CBK's personal Calvin Klein collection. The bodice's subtle, notepad-like fold added dimension to the otherwise clear-cut shape, grounding the CBK homage in modern techniques.

Pidgeon didn't need to prove herself on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. She already did at the award ceremonies leading up to this bucket-list moment. Here's hoping tonight marks the next of many Met appearances from the It girl. Couldn't you see her earning the same Met Gala mainstay status as Gigi Hadid or Kendall Jenner?

The first Monday in May, also known as the Met Gala, is perhaps my favorite day of the year. A walk down Park Avenue (if you're brave enough) reveals swarms of paparazzi are stationed outside every hotel on the Upper East Side, and stealthy celebs sneaking around behind entourages of black umbrellas. And inside those hotel suites? That's where the glamour really happens.

With the year's theme, "Costume Art," and an accompanying dress code "Fashion is Art," the beauty looks were almost pre-determined to be above and beyond. Which, candidly, is exactly what beauty should always be. That being said, it's The Met. So the glam packed an extra punch.

As celebrities, singers, socialites, and fashion fixtures make their way to The Met, the Marie Claire Beauty Team will be here—reporting on the best beauty looks of the evening and sharing product breakdowns. Make sure to check in all night, too, as we'll be updating this story in real time.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter continues to reign as the soft glam queen. Her glowy skin, paired with champagne shimmer eyes, and a glossy nude lip was made even better by that sculpted vintage bob and crystal-draped headpiece.

Anne Hathaway

The Devil Wears Prada 2 star falls in line with a slew of celebrities rocking a smoked out eye. The perfect ballerina bun let's the shadow shine.

Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain never, ever disappoints at the Met Gala. She's not going to play it safe at a big event. Case in point? This matte, gothic glam, made even edgier with a platinum pixie and bleached eyebrows.

Ashley Graham

If I do say so myself, Marie Claire picked a particularly fashionable Motherhood cover star. The model arrived at the red carpet with wet-looking hair (I'll never get tired of this look), and incredibly fresh and dewy glam. Can we also talk about the glow on her clavicle?

Cara Delevingne

Gothic glam is shaping up to be a big trend for the evening. This smokey eye and dusty rose lip is just complete perfection. And this finger waved bixie? Dare I say it's even better?

Zoë Kravitz

I refuse to ever hide my baby hairs ever again. These to-the-eyebrow wispy pieces on Zoë Kravitz completely make this half-up, half-down updo.

Venus Williams

The tennis pro doesn't mess around with red carpet glam. My favorite part of her look? She ditched her usual matte lip in favor of this clear gloss.

Sunday Rose Kidman

Nicole Kidman's daughter brought pink eyeshadow to the red carpet and I am very much in support. Add the foot-long extensions in? And it's a 10/10 Met Gala glam.

Rihanna

The hair! The frosted lips! The metallic eyeshadow! If anyone is allowed to arrive so fashionably late, it's Rihanna.

Gigi Hadid

'90s-inspired glam has a been a big through line of the night. Case in point: Gigi Hadid's brown lip liner and voluminous side parted blowout.

Keke Palmer

Justice for pink makeup! Between the bixie and the eyeshadow, this glam is color theory at it's finest. To make it even better? The skinny eyebrows are back.

Doja Cat has never been one to shy away from fun glam, and I, for one, am always grateful. The rapper is a member of the Host Committee for the 2026 Met Gala, so, of course, she is one of the evening's VIPs. The theme of the evening is "Costume Art," which pays homage to the intersection of fashion and history and is also the name of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring exhibition. Of course, the rapper is on theme with a gown that is a stunning work of structural, latex-inspired art, and that is also so nude that it almost blends into her skin, courtesy of Saint Laurent. That being said, her eye look is the star of her glam, featuring a razor-sharp wing and immaculate cut crease.

Her makeup was done by longtime artist Ivan Núñez using M.A.C. Cosmetics. The look was a peach-toned dream, with the punchy shade sheered out on her cheeks to blend easily into her bronzer. She also wore a lip color and eyeshadow with the coolest graphic winged liner in the same color palette, keeping on theme with her monochromatic fashion moment. The makeup was complemented by gorgeous blonde waves that swished behind her as she walked, as well as ultra-realistic coffin-shaped nails that acted as the perfect accessory.

The night is only just getting started, so expect more celebrities to bring the heat for what is always one of the year's most highly anticipated events. Keep up with all the beauty moments via Marie Claire's live beauty blog, and shop a few products below that will help you easily get Doja Cat's look.

Shop Doja Cat's Met Gala Glam

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Zoë Kravitz just hit the 2026 Met Gala red carpet—on a night themed “Costume Art,” with a “Fashion Is Art” dress code—as arguably the most talked-about person in Hollywood right now. As a member of this year’s host committee—and, oh yeah, newly engaged to Harry Styles—there’s already a spotlight on her, amplified by the asteroid-sized diamond on her left hand...which she’s noticeably been keeping just out of sight. Still, even with the wedding bells buzz, her effortless beauty manages to outshine the giant rock.

For tonight’s carpet, Kravitz worked with hairstylist Nikki Nelms, who used ghd tools—specifically the new Speed hair dryer—to blast-dry the braids, creating a softly undone updo, threaded with delicate braids and loose, face-framing tendrils. Makeup artist Nina Park prepped her skin using iconic K-beauty brand SK-II for a radiant, glowing finish, then built out a tonal eye-and-lip moment—warm, bronzy shadow diffused across the lids paired with a soft, peachy-nude lip.

I can already tell this tonal lip and bronzy, smoked-out shadow is going to dominate summer 2026 mood boards. The overall effect taps into the understated, effortless beauty Kravitz is known for—paired with her sheer black Yves Saint Laurent lace gown, she radiates the carpet. Shop the products below if you're inspired and want to get the look yourself.

Shop Zoë's Met Gala Glam

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

There’s no denying that Zoë Kravitz is one of fashion’s most iconic muses—and the new owner of a headline-worthy engagement ring. While her street style is certainly worth copying, it’s truly her coveted red carpet wardrobe that cements her It-girl status. Tonight, at the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, the actress added yet another incredible look to her style file. This time, it's bound to influence bridal mood boards.

As an honorary chair of the evening, Kravitz dressed to impress. She opted for a sumptuous Saint Laurent gown by Anthony Vaccarello—no surprise, given that she’s been a long-time brand ambassador for the French luxury house. Carefully crafted with sultry lace fabric and a statuesque silhouette that billowed around the waist, her dress perfectly matched the event’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art.”

Stylist Danielle Goldberg completed Kravitz’s look with lofty pumps and dainty drop earrings, adding a polished finishing touch. However, the accessory that stole the spotlight was her shimmering engagement ring, which hid beneath her left sleeve. (For those who don’t know, Kravitz is officially engaged to Harry Styles.)

The star’s Met Gala glam deserves just as much attention as her gothic black gown. Kravitz stuck to her favorites: soft eyeshadow, warm blush, and sun-kissed bronzer. She styled her braids in an elegant half-up, half-down hairstyle.

A quick glimpse at Kravitz’s red carpet archive reveals that the actress loves nothing more than a sultry look—often defined by sheer fabrics and peekaboo cut-outs. For her last Met Gala appearance in 2021, she slipped into a Saint Laurent chainmail dress delicately stitched with scintillating rhinestones that could be spotted from a mile away. By definition, her gown was a true naked dress, boasting nothing but a matching thong underneath.

Stylist Andrew Mukamal elevated the bedazzled halter gown with Jessica McCormack diamond earrings and simple black sandals.

Tonight marks Kravitz’s tenth Met Gala appearance. Since her 2008 debut in a ‘20s-inspired mint green velvet dress, her style has evolved significantly toward a more minimalist aesthetic. However, despite her personal style shift and fresh Jessica McCormack jewels, one thing has remained certain—she never fails to make onlookers speechless.

If there's one person I can expect to wow me with a Met Gala appearance, it's Doja Cat. The singer just stepped foot onto the red carpet at the iconic event and, just as I expected, her ensemble did not disappoint.

Doja Cat is serving as a committee member of this year’s Gala (alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Teyana Taylor), so she arrived ahead of many of her buzzy, A-lister friends. The theme, as Vogue reported back in November, is “Costume Art,” and celebrates the art exhibition of the same name—the first exhibition in the Costume Institute’s first permanent galleries at the iconic museum.

Fresh off a stop on her world tour, the "Say So" singer was first spotted leaving the storied Carlyle hotel in Manhattan wearing a skin-toned silicone dress with an exaggerated shawl collar and gold detailing on the shoulder.

She arrived on the steps moments later in the same show-stopping frock—a change-up from her multiple looks last year, but more on that later—custom-made for her by Saint Laurent. She worked with longtime stylist Brett Alan Nelson to craft the look.

The songstress has never gone subtle with her Met Gala beauty looks—who can forget she showed up dressed as Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, back in 2023?—but tonight's look offered something different. She opted for long, honey-blonde tresses this time around, which flowed down to her mid-back. Her glam was equally fierce, if subdued. A smoky eye, a skintone-nude lip (which feels very early aughts-inspired, in my opinion), and bronzed, dewy skin.

While I love tonight's entry onto my list of the best-ever Doja Cat style moments, it's hard not to gush about her previous Met Gala get-ups. She kickstarted her maximalist era by donning a custom Marc Jacobs bodysuit, complete with structural, suit-inspired pin-striped details and a leopard bodice. Sheer black tights and a stiletto'd version of Jacobs's iconic Kiki Boots completed the look.

Then there was her aforementioned Choupette-inspired look, designed for her by Oscar de la Renta. It playfully winked at that evening's theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," which posthumously honored the legendary designer. A dramatic, backless, feathered mermaid gown was only the beginning. Prosthetics were used to give her a feline appearance, and her hair was tucked neatly underneath an ear-adorned hood.

One year later, she stuck to the all-white vibe but took it to another level entirely. In 2024, the theme was Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, and her approach was a little different from that of the rest of the evening's attendees. She was spotted leaving her hotel in a white mini towel dress, causing Marie Claire's fashion features editor Emma Childs to ponder: Is Doja Cat's official Met Gala 2025 look a...towel?

Moments later, the towel mini turned out to be an Easter egg for the singer's actual red carpet look: a white, maxi Vetements gown that looked drenched. It was inspired by a sleep shirt, cementing her cool-girl status.

It’s the first Monday in May, and you know what that means: The 2026 Met Gala is upon us. This year’s theme is “Costume Art,” and the dress code is “Fashion Is Art,” which spotlights the body as both the subject and the canvas. In short? There’s plenty of room to play, so expect celebrities to go bold, sculptural, and entirely over-the-top. One of the most anticipated looks of the night is from none other than Venus Williams, who is one of the co-chairs for tonight’s glamorous fundraiser.

​Williams has long been an avid collector, curator, and supporter of the arts, so fans have been waiting for her interpretation of tonight’s theme with bated breath since her role was announced in December. As expected, the tennis superstar aced the assignment, wearing a custom Swarovski gown for the event. Still, my eyes were on her glam.

Created with Charlotte Tilbury products, makeup artist Karina Milan opted for a gorgeous soft glam featuring nude lips, a smokey eye, and fresh, glowing skin. "The dress was the inspiration—the moment I saw those Swarovski crystals, I knew the makeup had to match the magic," Milan exclusively tells me. "On big nights like this, everything needs to feel cohesive, elevated, and unapologetically glamorous. While the theme was Costume Art, Venus wanted to stay firmly in chic territory, so I took a clean, classic smoky and elevated it with touches of diamond to catch the light. Effortless glamour, with a little sparkle to keep things interesting."

Williams's hair was pulled into a high, braided bun for the festivities, with crystals placed in the middle of what appears to be floral designs throughout the style. A neutral, inverted French manicure with a flash of chrome at the nail beds, courtesy of Kiss Nails, completed the look.

There are still quite a few celebrities who will make their way onto the red carpet for tonight's festivities, but so far, William's is one of my favorite looks of the evening. Keep up with the rest of tonight's 2026 Met Gala beauty coverage on Marie Claire's live beauty blog, as well as our fashion live blog, and shop a few products that will give you a similar look to Williams's glam ahead.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

It started on the rink. Then the cottage. Now the Heated Rivalry boys, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, are on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. Walking alongside A-plus-listers like Beyoncé and Rihanna, with the stars of HBO’s smash hit enemies-to-lovers hockey romance looking dapper as they make their Met Gala debut, this particular first Monday in May is a monumental night for Hollanov shippers.

Storrie hit the 2026 Met Gala first. Styled by James Yardley, he went for a look that honored the evening’s “Fashion Is Art" dress code and stayed true to his style that borrows from Hollywood’s most iconic leading men. (The Texas native has a penchant for pinstripe suits and tuxedos—think Cary Grant and James Dean.) As the good Saint Laurent global brand ambassador that he is, Storrie wore a black suit designed by creative director Anthony Vaccarello. With it, a c*nty polka-dot bow-neck blouse featuring a dramatically long scarf, which trailed several feet behind him and danced in the wind.

For accessories, he and Yardley added Tiffany & Co diamond drop earrings and two matching ruby brooches—one clipped by his neck and the other on his lapel. After a few steps on the red carpet, Storrie took off his suit jacket to reveal a gold OMEGA watch.

As for the other half of Heated Rivalry, Williams arrived later in a sky blue Balenciaga suit embroidered with black flourishes and heart motifs. Styled by Anastasia Walker, Williams wore a white button-down shirt underneath, left open to reveal his chest(naturally). The top of his trousers featured a fold-over detail and sweeping train extending from his right hip—not all that dissimilar from how Storrie's scarf billowed behind him.

The two Heated Rivalry actors were relatively unknown before HBO’s TV juggernaut debuted last November. But then they skated onto our screens as Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Williams), captured the hearts—and eyeballs, let’s be honest—of over 10.6 million U.S. viewers, and became the most booked-and-busy men in Hollywood.

The two presented at the 2026 Golden Globes and went to the 2026 Oscars after-party in matching naked shirts. Williams recently starred in Laufey’s "Madwoman" music video, while Storrie made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut earlier this winter. You saw him on the 30 Rock stage again on May 2, when he surprise-announced musical guest Olivia Rodrigo.

The fashion industry has particularly—and smartly—taken a liking to the Heated Rivalry heartthrobs. Williams walked the DSquared2 Fall 2026 men’s runway, while Storrie, joined by co-stars François Arnaud and Robbie GK, sat front row at Saint Laurent’s show. Williams has since befriended Donatella Versace and earned a “Friend of the House” title at Balenciaga. Storrie signed on as an ambassador for Tiffany & Co. in addition to working with Saint Laurent—hence why he wore both on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet.

Naturally, an invite to the Met Gala—colloquially known as the fashion Olympics—would be next for the two. And as they continue to work on the “hotter, wetter, longer” second season of Heated Rivalry, here’s to hoping Williams and Storrie have a few more fashion opportunities in the mix that can hold us over in the meantime. Fingers crossed for a Calvin Klein campaign.

The 2026 Met Gala, with a dress code of "Fashion is Art," has been a feast for my beauty editor eyes. We've seen blue eyeshadow, half-up half-down updos, and blunt bobs walk down the red carpet outside the Museum of Modern Art on this first Monday in May. But easily one of my favorite looks from the evening comes from none other than the Nicole Kidman, who is co-chairing this year's event, and also debuted what is arguably one of the year’s biggest nail trends: a short, milky white manicure.

She arrived at Fashion's Biggest Night wearing a stunning sequin and feather Chanel gown. But it was her beauty that really got my trend prediction senses tingling. Her longtime hairstylist, Adir Abergel, used extensions galore to create ultra-shiny mermaid hair courtesy of Virtue hair products. While shiny, healthy hair is never out of style per se, this season is hyper-focused on maximizing gloss (grab your at-home glazes) and sealing split ends.

Her makeup artist, Gucci Westman, went a little outside of Kidman's normal box—dragging slightly red shadow under her lash line. Now, hear me out: red eyeshadow sounds super intimidating, but when executed with a monochromatic makeup look and soft blush, it actually ends up looking incredibly wearable.

As for the nails, though? That's where I truly believe a trend is budding. Despite short nails being the Big Thing for most of the year, Kidman and nail artist Thuy Nguyen went with ultra-long almond nails in a shimmery, pearlescent off-white. The unexpected neutral shade is a major spring and summer nail trends, and having an endorsement from one of fashion’s biggest stars is everything I need to try the manicure look at my next appointment.

The best part? Her manicure was matchy-matchy with daughter Sunday Rose. Nude or natural trends are shaping up to be a huge 2026 nail trend, but frankly, they're always in style. “Quiet shine is the mood this season," Nguyen previously told MC.

I plan to recreate this look ASAP. If you're in the same boat, shop Kidman's Met Gala glam ahead.

Shop Nicole's Look

It’s no secret that Venus Williams’ lethal serve and powerful groundstrokes have made her a legend in tennis. But it’s also worth noting that the Grand Slam champion has built a significant legacy off the court—specifically in fashion, where she has become a standout style icon.

Tonight, at the 2026 Met Gala, Williams makes her seventh appearance with a red carpet outfit that is truly undefeated.

Arriving as the event’s co-chair alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour, Williams adhered to the “Fashion Is Art” dress code in a shimmering black Swarovski gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022). Styled by Ronald Burton III, her dress featured a sculpted bodice, a fit-and-flare silhouette, and a sweeping train that trailed behind her. Williams’ entire look stood apart from the rest with a Wimbledon-plate-inspired neckpiece crafted with Swarovski crystals.

As for glam, makeup artist Karina Milan opted for smoky eyeshadow, powdery pink blush, and nude lipstick. Hair stylist Jawara swept Williams' strands into a gorgeous updo decorated with subtle embellishments.

Hours before hitting the red carpet, Williams provided a pre-Met look at the gala's annual press conference. She wore a butter yellow blazer with gathered fabric at the shoulder and a pencil skirt to match. To finish off her outfit, she chose a Savette clutch and a pair of intentionally mismatched Herbert Levine pumps.

“I love the theme, it’s a perfect fit for me,” Williams told Vogue in a recent interview. The Met’s "Costume Is Art” theme celebrates depictions of the dressed body across a spectrum of physiques. “It’s even more important today because people feel so much pressure to look a certain way,” Williams noted. “Though there’s so much beauty in [our] differences.”

While this year’s look is surely tough to beat, Williams’ 2025 Met Gala outfit remains a top contender. For the occasion, Williams put a tennis-inspired spin on the “Tailored for You” dress code, wearing an emerald green Lacoste ensemble designed and styled by the brand’s creative director, Pelagia Kolotouros. The sporty uniform featured a high-low pleated skirt and a polo top embellished with 1,500 crystals.

Kolotouros completed the look with a cape as a nod to the fashion icon André Leon Talley, and accessorized with sequined shoes and a bedazzled headpiece.

Williams’ love for fashion extends far beyond the red carpet. She recently shared with Vogue that she plans to devote more time to sewing her own clothes once she retires from tennis. While she remains focused on the court for now, we can’t help but to imagine all the original designs she may have in store.

As Nicole Kidman says in her viral promo for AMC Theaters, we come to this place for magic. Instead of the movie theater on my corner, the magical place in question is the 2026 Met Gala. The Oscar-winning actress just hit the red carpet at the star-studded event, and all I have to say is, wow.

Kidman is serving as a Co-Chair of this year’s Gala (alongside Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour), so she arrived ahead of many of her buzzy, A-lister friends. She did arrive with one very special guest, though—her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. I love a mother-daughter date night!

The Moulin Rouge actress's gown, a custom creation by Chanel, paid homage to the open-ended "Fashion is Art" dress code. Featuring a fully sequined fish and dramatic feathered accents, it's a stunning take on monochrome dressing. Kidman no doubt teamed up with longtime stylist Jason Bolden to bring the look to life. Her model daughter, on the other hand, opted for an equally maximalist purple look by Dior for her debut Met Gala.

Kidman, an OMEGA brand ambassador, accessorized her gown with a sleek, archival Constellation “Manhattan” Jewelry watch from the brand. Designed in 1982, the stunning timepiece comes straight from the OMEGA museum and features more than 200 diamonds throughout the design.

As for her beauty look, Kidman stayed true to her signature glam, making a U-turn from last year’s bold pixie cut. This time around, her blonde tresses (and her new signature bangs!) were styled straight by stylist Adir Abergel. Her makeup, on the other hand, included lit-from-within skin and clean girl-inspired makeup courtesy of makeup artist Gucci Westman.

Even her manicure had its own moment, with ultra-fine almond-shaped nails dipped in a shimmery, perlescent off-white polish. The look was crafted for her by nail artist Thuy Nguyen.

The theme, as Vogue reported back in November, is “Costume Art,” and celebrates the art exhibition of the same name—the first exhibition in the Costume Institute’s first permanent galleries at the iconic museum. The correlating dress code is "Fashion is Art."

Kidman is a Met Gala veteran at this point in her storied career. What makes her a best-dressed contender every time is her ability to pay homage to each year's theme and dress code without wearing something that feels too on-the-nose.

Case in point: The Babygirl actress appeared on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet in a pale pink feathered creation from Chanel. The theme that year was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." In celebration of the legendary designer and her history with the brand, Kidman chose to wear a Lagerfeld-era gown from 2004, which she had already worn in a now-iconic advertisement for Chanel No. 5 perfume. It was a touching tribute that has stood out in the minds of fashion fans ever since.

Two years later, Kidman teamed her aforementioned out-there pixie cut with an otherwise simple, black Balenciaga gown on the 2025 Met Gala red carpet. Dainty bows adorned the drop-waisted bodice, which gave way to a tea-length skirt. It took a pared-down approach to the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.

Off the red carpet, Kidman has stuck to a monochromatic Chanel vibe. Just last month, she donned a monochromatic sweater set from Chanel ahead of Matthieu Blazy's debut Cruise collection runway show in Biarritz, France.

The very next day, she swapped the mushroom-gray knit set for all-black, in a sleek backless midi dress and matching pointed-toe heels. The look was cool, sleek, and a little witchy—no doubt a reference to her role in the forthcoming Practical Magic sequel that is set to hit theaters in October.

Ashley Graham has proven to be the hostess with the mostest on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. The supermodel, mogul, and Marie Claire cover star is back in the hosting spotlight for Vogue’s Met Gala livestream, alongside co-hosts La La Anthony and Cara Delevingne. Graham's "Fashion Is Art" look set the tone for fashion's biggest night.

As an early arrival to the May 4 event, Graham ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a DiPetsa gown and Gianvito Rossi shoes styled by Stella Greenspan. Her flesh-tone dress featured a deep V-neckline, woven mesh detailing, and a sweeping train. The DiPetsa gown is a near replica of a look shown at the designer's Fall 2026 show, only Graham's has an open neckline and dramatic length. With the soft romance of Graham's gown, the designer look was an artistic expression fit for the night's "Fashion Is Art" dress code. The model also sported a stack of diamond earrings, courtesy of Zales, to team with her feminine look.

As always, Graham served a full beat that was just as impressive as her gown. Makeup artist Jimmy Stam gave Graham a natural glam with fluttery eyelashes and pink lipstick. Her long, dark brunette hair was styled into a "wet" look and swept off her shoulders by Rosibel del Jesus. Her chrome manicure with silver-tipped fingers ensured Graham's 2026 Met Gala red carpet look was a work of art.

This year marks Graham's sixth Met Gala appearance, and she's never been one to shy away from showing off her figure at the event. In 2025, she served "Tailored For You” glam in a pinstripe BOSS wool dress complete with a boned bustier, reversed menswear-style lapel, and deep V-neckline. The sharply tailored gown, inspired by '90s power suits, gave Graham a dramatic hourglass silhouette.

Then for 2024's event, Graham chose even more of a figure-hugging gown. The model went with an intricately designed gown by Ludovic de Saint Sernin to represent the year's theme of "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." The semi-sheer dress featured a halter neckline, laced-up leather corset, and floral embellishments. On the red carpet, Graham told E!'s Ross Mathews that the glimmering dress took over 500 hours to create. To complete the look, Graham went with an updo hairstyle with spiky bangs, glowing, pared-back glam, sparkling jewelry by Jared, and a matching black shawl.

As the 2026 Met Gala red carpet heats up with arriving A-listers (and the best-dressed lists begin to stir), I'll still be fawning over Graham's Tk look.

It's the first Monday of May, and fashion fans know what that means: The 2026 Met Gala has officially arrived! After a memorable awards season and weeks of anticipation, it's finally time to see what the biggest stars in the world chose to wear to fashion's biggest night.

This year's theme is "Costume Art," celebrating a Costume Institute exhibit all about the relationship between bodies and the clothes they wear—in art and in real life. With a coordinating Met Gala red carpet dress code of "Fashion Is Art," guests are invited to treat their red-carpet looks as an art form. The dress code leaves a lot to interpretation, but we're expecting dramatic shapes, references to major works of art, and a naked dress or two—the kind of couture meant to be displayed at a museum.

From co-chairs Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman to Zoë Kravitz and Sabrina Carpenter, we've rounded up every A-list look from the Met Gala 2026 red carpet. Which "Fashion is Art" look tops your 2026 best-dressed list? And whose look is worthy of a spot on our list of best Met Gala looks of all time? Keep scrolling and discover for yourself.

Rihanna in Maison Margiela couture

A$AP Rocky in Chanel

Simone Ashley in Debeers jewelry

Rachel Zegler in Prabal Gurung

Cardi B in Marc Jacobs

Daisy Edgar-Jones

Rachel Sennott in Marc Jacobs

Louisa Jacobson in Dilara Findikoglu

Tessa Thompson in Valentino and Pandora jewelry

Laura Harrier in custom Di Petsa 

Wisdom Kaye

Teyana Taylor in custom Tom Ford 

Blue Ivy Carter in Balenciaga

Lila Moss

Beyoncé in custom Olivier Rousteing

Blake Lively in Versace

Ayo Edebiri in Chanel

Odessa A'zion in custom Valentino and Pandora jewelry

Maude Apatow in Brilliant Earth jewelry

Alexa Chung in Dior

Ciara in Celia Kritharioti

Devyn Garcia in Michael Kors Collection

Kim Kardashian in custom Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem

Keke Palmer

Anok Yai

Kris Jenner in Dolce & Gabbana

Tate McRae in Ludovic de Saint Sernin

Madonna in Saint Laurent

Chase Infiniti in Thom Browne and MARLI jewelry

Hoyeon in custom Louis Vuitton

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in custom Burberry and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Bad Bunny in custom Zara

Jennie in Chanel

Tyla in Valentino

Kendall Jenner in custom Gap Studio by Zac Posen

Hudson Williams in Balenciaga and Bvlgari jewelry

Vittoria Ceretti in Carolina Herrera

Karlie Kloss in Dior

Doechii in custom Marc Jacobs

Adut Akech in Thom Browne

Kate Moss in Saint Laurent

Elizabeth Debicki in Vera Wang

Margot Robbie in Chanel

Gracie Abrams in Chanel

Gabrielle Union-Wade in Michael Kors Collection and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Sabrina Carpenter in custom Christian Dior

Anne Hathaway in Michael Kors Collection and Bvlgari jewelry

Serena Williams in custom Marc Jacobs

Lily-Rose Depp in Chanel

Audrey Nuna in Robert Wun

SZA in custom Bode

Natasha Poonawalla in Marc Quinn

Rami Malek

Kylie Jenner in Schiaparelli

Hailey Bieber in Saint Laurent

Hunter Schafer in Prada

Paloma Elsesser in Bureau of Imagination by Francesco Risso

Alex Consani in custom Gucci

Jisoo in custom Christian Dior and Cartier jewelry

Eileen Gu

Lux Pascal in custom Cult Gaia

Georgina Rodríguez

Angela Bassett in custom Prabal Gurung

Colman Domingo in Valentino

Law Roach in custom Ami painted by Naïla Opiangah

Joey King in Miu Miu

Julianne Moore in Bottega Veneta

Alysa Liu in custom Louis Vuitton and Pasquale Bruni jewelry

Emily Blunt

Heidi Klum in custom Mike Marino

Carey Mulligan in custom Prada and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Naomi Watts in Dior

Lisa in custom Robert Wun and Bvlgari jewelry

Janelle Monáe in custom Christian Siriano

Irina Shayk in Alexander Wang

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Maya Hawke in Prada

EJAE in custom Swarovski

Gigi Hadid in custom Miu Miu and Jessica McCormack jewelry

Camila Morrone in Tory Burch

Rosé in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Lindsey Vonn in Thom Browne

Camila Mendes in Manish Malhotra

Olivia Wilde in Thom Browne

Damson Idris in Prada

Laufey in Tory Burch

Georgina Chapman

Marcello Hernández in Thom Browne

Angel Reese in custom Altuzarra

Connor Storrie in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Amanda Seyfried in Prada and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Dree Hemingway in Valentino and Pandora jewelry

Katy Perry in custom stella mccartney

Jordan Roth

Sutton Foster

Sarah Pidgeon in Loewe

Christine Beauchamp

Charlotte Gainsbourg in Saint Laurent

Huma Abedin

Jon Batiste in ERL Artisanal

Sabine Getty in custom Ashi Studio and AdaLioryn jewelry

Diya Jatia

Luke Evans in Custom Palomo Spain

Gwendoline Christie in Giles Deacon

Gayle King

Doja Cat in Saint Laurent

Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent and Jessica McCormack jewelry

Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo in custom Jean Paul Gaultier

Lena Dunham in Valentino

Charli XCX in Saint Laurent

Naomi Osaka in Robert Wun

Claire Foy in Erdem

Sam Smith in Christian Cowan

Tyriq Withers in Louis Vuitton

Chase Sui Wonders in McQueen and Tiffany & Co. jewelry

Lena Mahfouf in Burc Akyol

Chioma Nnadi

Nicole Kidman in Chanel

Venus Williams in custom Swarovski

Lauren Wasser in Prabal Gurung

Anna Wintour in Chanel

Bee Carrozzini

La La Anthony in Wiederhoeft

Chloe Malle in Colleen Allen

Lauren Sánchez Bezos in Schiaparelli

Cara Delevingne in Ralph Lauren

Emma Chamberlain in custom Mugler

Ashley Graham in Di Petsa

Zuri Hall

Deborah Roberts in Christopher John Rogers

The 2026 Met Gala is officially underway, and the glitterati of Hollywood and beyond are descending on the most glamorous red carpet of them all as we speak. This year's theme is "Costume Art," which is the same name of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring exhibition. The dress code is "Fashion Is Art," which means we're going to be seeing plenty of sartorial splendor on those hallowed museum steps this evening. However, beauty fans know that there is no complete look without a drop-dead-gorgeous hair and makeup look, or a set of perfectly-manicured nails. That's why I'll be reporting every celebrity and her (or his) glam choices live as arrivals hit the carpet.

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams will serve as co-chairs for this year's Met Gala, alongside lead chairperson and Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour. With veteran attendees across the style spectrum, from Sabrina Carpenter to Teyana Taylor to the Kardashian-Jenner clan—and perhaps a few notable no-shows (Taylor Swift and Zendaya, please surprise us with an appearance) I'll be here to keep you updated in real time with every delicious beauty look from the 2026 red carpet. And don't forget to check out our live fashion blog tonight for all the best outfits from this year's Met Gala.

Emma Chamberlain

And we're off! The former Vogue red carpet correspondent is looking every bit like a high fashion peacock with her platinum pixie cut and bleached brows. I adore the pop of gold on the inner corners of her eyes—super chic and catches the light so well.

Zuri Hall 

Okay, mermaid waves! The entertainment reporter is all kinds of chic with this Renaissance corset and romantic half-up, half-down hairstyle.

Naomi Elizee

When I pray to the clear, glowing skin gods, this is what I'm hoping to achieve. Vogue's Senior Fashion Editor is looking all kinds of radiant this afternoon.

Ashley Graham

Go, Marie Claire cover girl, go! Supermodel Ashley Graham proves once again that she is mother with this impeccable set of silver chrome nails.

Cara Delevingne

Holy smoky eye! Delevingne shows us how it's done with this flawless flick of liner and sculpted eye look. Her wet-look wave updo really lets her makeup shine tonight, and I'm swooning.

Mona Kosar Abdi

Okay, not to brag but the journalists tonight are absolutely eating and leaving no crumbs on the red carpet. Just look at Mona Kosar Abdi's silver eyeshadow and flawless, silky waves. The million-dollar smile is also perfection.

Kela Walker

Okay, yet another fun eyeshadow moment! Will this be a makeup trend for the 2026 Met Gala? I sure hope so, because nothing brings me joy like a touch of electric blue makeup. I'm pulling for more vivid hues tonight!

Anna Wintour and Bee Carrozzini

Our first lady of the Met Gala is here with her daughter, Bee, and both look as regal as ever.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole has arrived! The co-chair of the gala is FLAWLESS with these buttery blonde extensions. Her divorce bangs are still going strong, and I am deeply here for this overall glam. Forever our witchy, ethereal queen.

Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose

Nicole's daughter, Sunday Rose, is a mirror image of her famous mom, with long, high-shine hair that skims her rib cage. Whether it's extensions or a really stellar hair growth routine, I need to the details ASAP.

La La Anthony

Wow, okay this cherry cola red hair color on La La Anthony quite literally stopped me in my tracks. This is such a perfect color for her, and paired with this chocolate, embellished gown? Magnificent!

Charli xcx

Alert! I've spotted Charli xcx leaving the Carlyle Hotel on her way to the Met Gala a few blocks away, and she's rocking a fierce Barbie ponytail. I love that she's letting her crisp cat eye makeup shine tonight.

Chloe Malle

I would not expect that a bright red lip would look so stunning with a goldenrod yellow dress, but Vogue's editorial director pulls it off. It's giving Michelle Williams at the 2006 Oscars in the best way possible.

Lena Mahfouf

Yet another frosty blue eyeshadow situation! If you can tear your eyes away from this, ahem, handsy top, it's a very pretty makeup situation.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams, coming through, y'all! The gems in this elegant braided updo are everything, and the classic smoky eye is just *chef's kiss* for tonight.

Chase Sui Wonders

Behold, another glossy chignon on Chase Sui Wonders. This editorial wet-look effect is proving to be a new red carpet go-to for the sartorial set, and I'm not mad at it.

Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector

Train daddy is looking mighty, mighty fine tonight, and his wife Rebecca Hall is serving one of the best dark red lips I've seen on the gala circuit this season. Keep your eyes peeled for the shade reveal!

Jessica Kayll

I adore a little baby's breath woven into the hair, and designer Jessica Kayll looks too cute for words with her hair styled this this tonight.

Jamila Robinson 

Another editor slaying her glam tonight! The editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious has a seriously striking set of sculptural braids, with different colors of fabric woven into each arch. Fashion is art, indeed.

Claire Foy

Okay, this whole look is a true work of art. This red lipstick with the sculpted black veil?! I cannot handle! It's so good. Yet another reminder to wear all of the sunscreen this summer so I can have alabaster skin like Claire Foy.

Lena Dunham

The NYT best-selling author hit the carpet tonight with a pair of bleached brows and feathery brunette bangs that mirrored her red feather dress.

Zoë Kravitz

Although it seems that she is strategically hiding her giant diamond ring, Zoë Kravitz looks as stunning as ever with soft maroon eyeshadow and perfectly lined lips. Her half-up, half-down hair also has her looking like the spitting image of her mom, Lisa Bonet.

Doja Cat

The perfect cut crease doesn't exi.... I stand corrected, because Doja Cat is serving sculpted eye perfection on the Met Gala carpet. I'm also here for this butter pecan blonde hair for her spring apperance.

Gwendoline Christie

Did Gwendoline Christie take a page out of Jared Leto's Met Gala playbook? The Game of Thrones and Wednesday star looks drop-dead-gorgeous in a deep, blood red lip and platinum blonde hair, with her carbon-copy face mask on stand-by for photo ops.

Joey King

In one of the most romantic makeup looks of the night, Joey King proves that oodles of pink blush is always a good idea, whether on a red carpet or for everyday.

Connor Storrie

In his first Met Gala appearance, Heated Rivaly's Connor Storrie is showing off his flawless skin and enviable bone structure like the superstar he is becoming.

Sarah Pidgeon

That infamous blonde hair looks dazzling under the red carpet lights. Sarah Pidgeon's first trip to the Met Gala is just as elegant as I expected it to be.

Loli Bahia

I'm not saying I want to grow a unibrow just yet, but Loli Bahia is making a strong case for its glamorous possibilities tonight. The French beauty is all stunning smokey eyes and demi-matte skin tonight.

Dree Hemingway

Although most of her perfect blonde hair is covered with this robust collar, the Love Story actress still has the greatest set of cheekbones to compliment that silver gown.

Katy Perry

While I'd love to tell you what Katy Perry's makeup looks like this evening, I will say this chrome mask is kind of... intriguing? Her dark brunette hair looks sleek and smooth and her body glow is popping, but let's see if she eventually reveals the rest of her Met Gala glam.

Naomi Osaka

The tennis star did not come to play this evening with this set of ruby red claws. Her curly tendrils add a little softness to the otherwise exceptionally fierce manicure.

Amanda Seyfried

Nobody wears a Barbie ponytail quite like Amanda Seyfried. The Oscar-nominated actress looks divine tonight with her soft smokey eye and mile-long blonde hair.

Rosé

I don't know who is doing Rosé's platinum color but it legitimately looks like fairy floss growing out of her head. It's so luminous and brass-free, I'm going to be thinking about this shade for weeks.

Katy Perry (again)

Ahh, here we go! Katy Perry's mask has been unlocked to reveal a rosy pink lipstick, glowing skin, a touch of eyeliner, and bold, fluffy brows.

Angel Reese

Wow, I am LIVING for WNBA star Angel Reese with this soft updo and curtain bangs. She looks so elegant and timeless, and the soft nude makeup is just the perfect finishing touch.

Camila Morrone

I'm not 100 percent sure but I think Camilla Morrone also has cherry cola hair this evening. Or, an exceptional set of brunette low lights. Either way, she looks seriously pretty with her nude makeup and low-key glam.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde has the best jawline in Hollywood, this we know, but I'm very partial to these baby-blonde highlights that she's been wearing lately. It's the perfect summer hair color in my opinion.

Gigi Hadid

The supermodel is all bouncy, California, tan beauty at the 2026 Met Gala. Her voluminous blowout is the stuff of dreams, and her soft, rosy makeup makes her looks perfectly fresh-faced and youthful.

EJAE

A perfectly-executed smokey eye with a snatched updo to match. What else can you ask for on the most glamorous red carpet of the year?

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is always one of my top contenders for best looks at the Met Gala, but she's really bringing it this year with her très chic micro bob and heavily embellished manicure.

Maya Hawke

This swinging '60s updo with XXL headband is too cute for words. Maya Hawke, and recent newlywed, is sinfully sweet on the Met Gala carpet this year.

Irina Shayk

Presenting, the perfect model-off-duty bent waves and glowing skin on Irina Shayk. With a face card this lethal, she can wear anything she wants to the Met Gala and still look incredible.

Angela Bassett

Pink on pink on pink looks incredible on Angela Bassett. I can't get over her extra rosy cheeks and soft finger waves tonight—so stunning.

Naomi Watts

This glam is pure joy, personified! Naomi Watts and her chic hair flowers are making me smile so hard.

Alysa Liu

The queen of the cool hair has arrived! The gold medalist's signature blonde and brunette striped hair looks freshly glossed and ultra shiny tonight, and her burgundy shadow compliments her gown flawlessly. More athletes at the Met Gala, please and thank you.

Karlie Kloss

The supermodel, Cartier ambassador, and mom of three looks divine with this orchid addition to her sleek chignon. Her mauve lip stain is also everything I want to wear for spring and summer makeup.

Julianne Moore

Classic Hollywood glam, coming right up! Julianne Moore proves that you can never go wrong with a bold crimson lip and a slicked-back bun.

Carey Mulligan

If you're looking for razor-sharp lob inspiration, please enjoy Carey Mulligan's Met Gala haircut. Her smokey eyeshadow and minimalist manicure are the perfect addition to her shoulder-grazing crop.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner doesn't stray too far from her typical glam but I am happy to see her play around with bleached brows tonight. The soft, sculpted hair is a nice touch with her exposed corset look.

Paloma Elsesser

I don't know when this trend of painting your ear(s) with chrome paint started, but I'm honestly kind of obsessed. What a cool way to add a little intrigue to an otherwise minimalist makeup look. Paloma, you look chic as hell, girl.

Hunter Schafer

The Euphoria actress looks sinfully sweet with this soft blowout and floral accent in her hair. Her grown-out blonde is also, low-key, one of my favorite hair color trends of 2026.

Laura Harrier

Leave it to Laura Harrier to find a new way to interpret the wet look for the Met Gala. From her glossy hair to her pitch-perfect lip combo, the actress is too stunning for words.

Anne Hathaway

Andy Sachs, who? Anne Hathaway looks immaculate with this bold smokey eye and high bun on the red carpet tonight. Her soft, rosy cheeks are also my dream spring flush.

Hailey Bieber

Obviously Hailey Bieber is going to walk the red carpet with her flawless skin on display. The Rhode co-founder brought out a dusty nude lip and slick-back bun for the evening as well.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter did not come to play with her glam tonight. Her curled faux bob is glamorous enough on its own, but the addition of the jewels really takes her Met Gala look to the next level.

Alex Consani

Another low ponytail makes its red carpet debut (Olivia Wilde was also a fan this evening) Alex Consani accents the combo with fashion-forward bleached brows and flawless alabaster skin.

SZA

Okay, the drama is giving me life! SZA, this entire look is so joyful and fun, it's definitely going down as one of the best makeup and hair looks in Met Gala history.

Serena Williams

The tennis champion is looking every bit the icon that she is with this wavy blonde ponytail. Her extra long almond manicure and silver gown are peak Met Gala glamour.

Emily Blunt

Gird your loins, because Emily Blunt is fabulous and fierce on the Met Gala red carpet. This bold smoky eye is perfection, and I love that she's back to a glossy brunette shade despite the warmer temperatures.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie is perfection with this elegant French twist and soft nude makeup. Her baby bangs have never looked more high fashion than they do tonight.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall is coming in hot with her usual nude makeup, but the effortless updo with cascading, face-framing pieces is one of her prettiest red carpet looks in years.

Sarah Paulson

I never thought I'd write that a dollar bill is a makeup accent, but Sarah Paulson is anything but boring on the red carpet. Her burgundy matte lipstick is divine, and I can't wait to see exactly what she's got going on under there.

Anok Yai

Gold face paint? On the red carpet?! It's absolutely jaw-dropping, and the Met Gala is the perfect place to try out such a bold beauty look.

Tessa Thompson

Stop it right now, I am so deeply obsessed with this blue dipped paint on Tessa Thompson's nails. This is "fashion is art" in manicure form. Not to mention, her wet wavy hair mimics the sculptural bust of her Yves Klein blue gown perfectly.

Keke Palmer

Red on red on red, and Keke Palmer knows how to rock it. Her signature cropped pixie looks radiant in dark cherry red, and her crimson lip matches her gown perfectly.

Kim Kardashian

Is this a softer side of Kim K? The Skims founder is rocking an uncharacteristically fluffy and softly curled look, with her signature matte nude lip and dark roots. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Chase Infiniti

Chase Infiniti's light-as-air afro is positively ethereal tonight. Her subtle nude makeup sculpts her cheekbones perfectly, and her flawless complexion is a sight to behold. No notes!

Tyla

The highlighter is giving, the waves are waving, and Tyla is my new nomination for the best fashion mermaid at the 2026 Met Gala.

Blake Lively

I honestly wasn't expecting to see Blake Lively on the Met Gala carpet tonight but I'm happy to see that she's serving her classic blonde bombshell curls and glowing skin.

Ciara

No that is a crown, y'all! Ciara pairs her classic nude glam with a dripping-paint head piece that must be pinned to her head in some fantastical way that is a true fashion secret.

Beyoncé

It was worth the decade-long wait! Beyoncé has officially hit the red carpet for the 2026 Met Gala, with her daughter Blue Ivy by her side, and her diamond-encrusted ribcage dress is beyond stunning, so obviously she needs her crown of blonde curls to match. Her peachy-rose blush is also so pretty it hurts.

Bad Bunny

Wait, that's Bad Bunny? His makeup team went off this evening, because I had to do about seven takes before I realized that the Grammy-winning artist had transformed into this silver fox.

Teyana Taylor

Teyana always slays a red carpet with her sculpted smokey eye makeup, but the addition of this silver fringe headpiece and matching gown is pure high fashion-meets-art. J'adore.

Ayo Edebiri

The messy low bun and gleaming highlight is absolute perfection on The Bear star tonight.

Cardi B

I can't quite figure out what is going on with the Cardi B's Marc Jacobs gown (are those balloons??) but her signature cat eye is sharper than ever tonight.

Rihanna

She's always last to hit the carpet, no matter the event, but she always delivers when it comes to high-octane glam. Rihanna is dazzling with glitter accents in both her hair and makeup tonight, and the type of ethereal glow that is befitting the mom of three. Rih, you're always worth the wait, and the 2026 Met Gala is always the best stage for your beauty.

And that's a wrap on our live coverage of the 2026 Met Gala's beauty looks! Thanks for following along, and be sure to tune in tomorrow for all of the best after-party looks. From fashion and beauty, we'll be covering all of the most glamorous moments of the evening. Until next year!

At Marie Claire, we’ve been thinking about 2026 Met Gala live fashion updates—and our eventual best-dressed list—for months ahead of the first Monday in May. It’s been top of mind since the 2026 Costume Institute theme ("Costume Art") and dress code ("Fashion Is Art") were announced—invitations for this year’s A-lists guest to explore the relationship between bodies and the fashion they display, in visual art and on the Met Gala red carpet.

Every Met Gala registers to Marie Claire’s expert editors as a Fashion Olympics, but with directives like this—and co-chairs including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams—the May 4, 2026, installment was instantly bound to deliver more looks that will live rent-free in our heads for years.

Tonight, follow along with senior fashion editor Halie LeSavage, fashion staff writer Meguire Hennes, and the entire Marie Claire team as we cover the 2026 Met Gala red carpet fashion live from New York City. We’ll divulge our honest takes on every look as it ascends the famed Met steps; track down the designers dressing stars from Hailey Bieber to Zoë Kravitz; and share our votes for the 2026 outfits worthy of a best Met Gala red carpet outfits of all time ranking. We’ll also keep you posted on the developments taking shape around the 2026 Met Gala fashion, like first-time couple debuts and the controversy brewing around this year’s co-sponsors. And, we'll answer the question every pop culture fanatic is asking: Are Taylor Swift and Zendaya definitely skipping this year?

By tomorrow morning, every Met Gala 2026 live red carpet fashion update we share will be on everyone’s minds—not just our own. Read on for our editors’ expert, no-holds-barred updates on the 2026 Met Gala's red carpet fashion ahead.

A Pre-Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet Vibe Check

“I live a few blocks away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Before tonight’s coverage really got started, I thought I’d walk by the red carpet and scope out the set-up. Early in the morning, there was a buzz of activity: the sidewalks were more crowded than the average Monday, and I could hear crews setting up inside the white tent covering the carpet. (Alas, I couldn’t sneak a peek inside.) So far, no protestors, either—but it was still early.” —Halie LeSavage

So, How Can I Watch the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet?

"The first Monday in May belongs to the 2026 Met Gala, which is already taking over the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Much like the Oscars and Golden Globes, guests can start arriving as early as 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST. The early bird can still get a spot on best-dressed lists, after all. However, the Vogue.com official livestream—hosted by La La Anthony, Cara Delevingne, and Marie Claire cover star Ashley Graham—won’t kick off until 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. EST.

"Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait for Vogue to start reviewing red carpet looks like Heidi Klum on Project Runway. My fellow Met super-fans (read: colleagues) are perched on our couches ready to react all night long. Plus, our deputy social director, Christina D'Ambrosio, has secured her spot on those iconic steps. Follow Marie Claire on Instagram and TikTok for the best view of the 2026 Met Gala and behind-the-scenes moments far from the watchful eye of Vogue." —Meguire Hennes

Peek Inside the 2026 Met Gala Exhibit: "Costume Art"

"Before the Met Gala red carpet opened, fashion insiders gathered within the museum to unveil a first-look at the official Costume Institute exhibit. Titled 'Costume Art,' it's an exploration of the relationship between bodies and the garments they dress in, in all forms of visual art.

"The exhibit is divided into two sections: Diversity in Bodily Being and Bodily Being in Its Universality. The first explores a range of body types, from those with disabilities to bodies experiencing pregnancy. The second dives deep into the anatomical body—and how it relates to aging and mortality. Both sections combine paintings and sculptures with runway pieces by the likes of Thom Browne, Dior, and more. From the photos alone, I know I'm already excited to go see the exhibit IRL when it opens to the public next week." —Halie LeSavage

Before the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion Arrives, a Look Back at the GOATs

"Decades of fashion history have been made on the Met Gala steps, from early looks modeled by Cher to Diana, Princess of Wales, in her only appearance before her untimely death. There are so many moments to reminisce on before tonight’s event, I asked Marie Claire editors to pick their all-time favorites to get us up to speed before the 2026 edition. The Slack conversation was intense, but we landed on 19 looks that we know we’ll keep talking about next year (and the year after that). Which ones made our ranking of the best Met Gala red carpet looks of all time? I’ll give you a hint: Rihanna is definitely there—but not in her Pope costume." — Halie LeSavage

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Dress Code

"If the Met Gala is a national holiday for you (same), you know one doesn’t just show up to fashion’s biggest night. VIPs started preparing for this five-minute step-and-repeat months ago—some as soon as the theme was announced last November. ‘The title ‘Costume Art’ refers to the history of the costume institute,’ said Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton. That pertains to the exhibition inside the 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries. But, it’s still the backbone of the dress code." —Meguire Hennes

"The dress code is the blueprint for Met Gala guests. Follow it, and Anna Wintour might just nod in approval. Defy it, and well, it could be a conversation-starter, at least. To set up Hollywood’s elite for success, Vogue curated 56 runway looks that align with the ‘Fashion Is Art’ dress code—all of which could appear on the red carpet tonight. Shalom Harlowe’s Alexander McQueen performance art, Zendaya’s Tom Ford breastplate, and naked dresses from Maison Margiela and Dilara Findikoglu made the cut. Method, art-centric creations from Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Valentino’s archives were split into Rococo, Baroque, and Renaissance-era interpretations of 'Fashion Is Art,' too. As long as VIPs hone in on the body, either through a surrealistic or literal lens, they can make their ‘Fashion Is Art’ argument, no questions asked." —Meguire Hennes

The Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion Arrivals to Watch First? The Co-Chairs

"The 2026 co-chairs list might just be the Met Gala’s most iconic yet. Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and (drum roll, please) Beyoncé will breathe life into the theme and dress code. Not only that, Queen Bey’s co-hosting gig will double as her return to the Met Gala after ten years. The last time she ascended this iconic carpet, it was in Givenchy’s latex, skin-colored take on the naked dress trend—before it was a fashion fixture." —Meguire Hennes

"Details about the Grammy winner’s 2026 Met Gala look have remained under lock and key in recent months. Last week, she styled a voluminous, 'Hold Up'-worthy gown from this year’s main fashion sponsor, Saint Laurent, though. Will she wear Saint Laurent tonight? All will be revealed soon enough. But knowing Beyonce, she’ll take her time getting to the red carpet—you know, to build anticipation. 'Of course, with Beyoncé, you’re never quite sure she’s going to turn up, but she knows her timing and she was certainly worth the wait,' Anna Wintour told Vogue, reflecting on her 2012 Givenchy gown." —Meguire Hennes

Even More Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion Names to Know: The 2026 Host Committee

"Wintour, Kidman, Williams, and Beyoncé will be supported by Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, the co-chairs of the Host Committee. The larger Host Committee stars Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Lena Dunham, A’ja Wilson, and more. Besides Beyoncé, I’m especially keeping my eye out for Carpenter and Taylor, both of whom delivered some of my favorite 2025 Met Gala moments." —Meguire Hennes

What's Met Gala Fashion Without a Little Controversy?

"There are two more names associated with this year’s Met Gala who aren’t getting quite the same red-carpet welcome: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez-Bezos. The pair—and the former Amazon CEO in particular—are lead co-sponsors for the event, a move that’s drawing backlash from all corners of the internet. Protest signs nodding to alleged workplace abuses at Amazon appeared across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday morning. Meanwhile, fashion commentators are bristling at Sánchez-Bezos’s eventual arrival on steps—a move that’s being seen as ‘buying’ her way into fashion’s inner circle." —Halie LeSavage

It's Time! The First Met Gala 2026 Fashion Arrivals—and a Glimpse at the Red Carpet

"Any Met Gala aficionado knows one of the most exciting reveals happens before a single step-and-repeat. The carpet itself—and the press-blocking walls up each end—are dressed to the nines, too. Last year’s garnishes set a high bar for the 2026 Met Gala. For a quick refresher: A large portion of the 2025 staircase was covered in navy blue carpet, featuring daffodil embroidery on top. Then, the butter-yellow and orange flowers came to life in front of the press, which added tons of visual interest behind each celebrity—instead of just cameras and tuxedos." —Meguire Hennes

"From the first arrivals hitting my feed, it looks like the 2026 Met Gala red carpet isn't red at all. It's taking a similarly garden-inspired tack, with what look like moss-lined bricks and greenery lining the sides. I'm not sure how it quite relates to the 'Costume Art' exhibit yet, but I suspect the organizers will share some details when they arrive on the carpet in a little bit." —Halie LeSavage

What Else Can We Expect From 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion? Our Expert Predictions

“Well, my top 2026 Met Gala prediction had to do with Zendaya. We all know she loves an outfit change, so I anticipated a Shalom Harlowe-esque transformation atop the first set of stairs—down to the car-paint-spraying robots. That would’ve been a history-making “Fashion Is Art” moment. Alas, late last week, every Zendaya fan (myself included) shed a tear when word spread that she would skip a Met Gala red carpet dress. She’s having one of the biggest years of her career, so I’ll cut her some slack.” —Meguire Hennes

“As for the rest of the guest list, expect a widespread appreciation of anatomy. The exhibition itself spotlights Met-made mannequins from authentic, modern-day bodies, so why wouldn’t the red carpet reflect that? Prepare for pieces that cradle each A-lister’s silhouette, rather than bury it beneath fabric. On the off chance someone does debut a voluminous gown, it’ll likely be sculpted from see-through chiffon—think Vanessa Hudgens’s Moschino moment in 2022, or Elle Fanning in translucent Balmain in 2024. Remember: Tonight is about adoring the body inside the design, not the other way around.” —Meguire Hennes

“I completely agree with Meguire here—it’s going to be a big night for naked dresses. But I’m also hopeful that some guests—or at least, their stylists—will brush up on their art history and make some considered homages to paintings and sculptures included within the exhibit. How unexpected would it be to see Hailey Bieber channel one of Renoir’s dancers, or Tyla take on the draper of the Winged Victory of Samothrace?” —Halie LeSavage

'Marie Claire' Editors' Most Anticipated 2026 Met Gala Arrivals

“Every year I’m hopeful Taylor Swift will return to the Met Gala, and every year I’m disappointed when she decides to stay home. But there are dozens of other stars I’m excited to keep an eye out for. Teyana Taylor, fresh off an impressive awards season run where she topped every best-dressed list, is no doubt going to impress no matter who she’s wearing. We’ve also already mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating: Tonight’s gala is Beyoncé’s first in a decade. She’s going to shut down the carpet, no questions asked.” —Halie LeSavage

"I'm so excited for Zoë Kravitz (and her diamond engagement ring). I expect her piece will be more embellishments than actual fabric, perhaps in the same vein as her lingerie-exposing, 2021 Saint Laurent chainmail slip. Now that she—and creative director Anthony Vaccarello—are co-chairing the Host Committee, she’s all but required to respect the dress code. Tonight’s the night she’ll become Vaccarello’s blank canvas, whether she’s dressed in surrealist art or the nakedest number possible. Knowing Kravitz, her pick will still be unpredictable—much like her peekaboo butt panel at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.” —Meguire Hennes

"If anyone is guaranteed to go the risqué route, it’s Sabrina Carpenter. She’ll also be representing short fashion girls on the red carpet—a body type that’s honored inside the 'Costume Art' gallery, too. Fresh off a two-weekend collaboration with Dior at Coachella, perhaps creative director Jonathan Anderson will bring her part-pin-up, part-Hollywood starlet style to life. If Carpenter takes a break from Dior, I could see her in a sheer, Old Hollywood gown from Valentino Spring 2026 Couture. This one shows enough skin to 'put the body back into discussions about art and fashion,' just as curator Andrew Bolton intended. It also matches the opulence of not only the Met Gala, but Carpenter at her core. —Meguire Hennes

Media Warms Up the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

"Reporters and TV personalities warmed up the 2026 Met Gala, much like they did at the 2026 Oscars, the Actor Awards, the Grammys, and more. Extra host Mona Kosar Abdi set a semi-sheer tone for future 'Fashion Is Art' dressers in a skintight, stark-white gown crafted from transparent lace. Its only opaque elements? Beside her corset's peekaboo boning, matching, sculptural strands of white silk wrapped around Abdi's bodice and onto a carpet-grazing train.

"Opposite Abdi on the mossy-green carpet was Zuri Hall, dressed in a similarly cinched lace gown. Her ribboned corset leaned a touch more ivory and opaque than Abdi's. But the skirt became partially sheer before the hem's tiered lace ruffles added dimension and obscurity."—Meguire Hennes

Emma Chamberlain Makes a Melting Fashion Statement on the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

"The Met Gala red carpet has barely started, and Emma Chamberlain is already on my short-list for the night's best dressed. I almost can't believe how her strapless gown mimics the effect of paints mixing on an easel—it looks like if I reached out and touched the skirt, I'd have paint on my hands. Trust that I'm running to track down the designer behind this as I type...and, voilà! She's wearing custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas, styled by Jared Ellner." —Halie LeSavage

Inside: Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion. Outside: Met Gala Protests

"The Met Gala red carpet is officially underway, and so is the pushback outside. Demonstrators just beyond the carpet are protesting Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez-Bezos with homemade signs critiquing Amazon (which Bezos infamously founded) and its workplace practices. While the co-sponsors will likely stop for a red carpet interview when they arrive, I'm not sure they'll address the pushback outside..." —Halie LeSavage

Ashley Graham Delivers the First Naked Dress of the 2026 Met Gala

"The 2026 Met Gala red carpet only opened a half-hour ago, but it didn't take the naked dressing trend long to dominate it. Marie Claire cover star (and Vogue.com livestream host) Ashley Graham proved 'Fashion Is Art,' especially when your silhouette is the canvas. Graham's plunge gown from Di Petsa was sculpted from nude chiffon, featuring matching netting on top for extra dimension. Stylist Stella Greenspan ensured each side of the skirt curved up and around the supermodel's thighs, before the train turned increasingly more translucent. Still, her Gianvito Rossi shoes were almost invisible. Don't miss her metallic silver-dipped fingers, which suggested Graham went straight from the art studio to the Met Gala's staircase."—Meguire Hennes

Cara Delevingne Arrives in Double-Take-Worthy Fashion

"Don't apologize for whipping your head around to catch the back of Cara Delevingne's 2026 Met Gala dress. I certainly was stunned by the sheer open back—and the cascading lace train. Maybe we need a Madame Web reboot with her as the star?" —Halie LeSavage

Anna Wintour Shows a Rare Smile On the 2026 Met Gala Sidelines

"The woman of the hour—rather, the entire evening—has arrived. I spotted Anna Wintour on the Met Gala sidelines, gazing at Cara Delevingne and Ashley Graham's 'Fashion Is Art' interpretations in awe. If only someone was there to give the feather cape atop her ombré, aquamarine-to-black Chanel dress a Wintour-esque nod of approval. Trust: I'm sending her one from afar."—Meguire Hennes

La La Anthony Ascends the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

"I always look forward to Wiederhoeft's Met Gala designs, and this snatched dress for La La Anthony doesn't miss. All that intricate beading, including those dewdrop-adjacent charms? Stunning from neckline to hem. Stylist Zerina Akers is off to a strong start tonight." —Halie LeSavage

Lauren Sánchez-Bezos Makes an Understated Met Gala Entrance

"With all those eyes (and protestors) watching for Lauren Sánchez-Bezos and her husband, Jeff Bezos, it seems the former journalist wanted to go understated on the carpet. Was her cinched-in, strapless navy gown enough to keep her from pulling focus away from the main event? According to the throngs of demonstrators outside, probably not." —Halie LeSavage

Charli xcx's "Vampy" Met Gala Dress Debuts Outside the Carlyle Hotel

"This Saint Laurent take on Charli xcx's vampy style—the woman lives and dies by a black dress—is both modern and timeless: the cut and color are traditional, as are the diamond accessories, but the appliqué flower and gauzy fabric lends it a modern edge. Very cool, very Charli." —Jenny Hollander, digital director

Chloe Malle's Met Gala Debut as a 'Vogue' Lead Nods to Another Famous Woman

"In her first Met Gala appearance as head of Vogue, Chloe Malle chose an orange chiffon dress from Colleen Allen art fanatics everywhere will recognize. The gauzy fabric and clementine shade certainly seem adjacent to Flaming June, the 1895 painting by Frederic, Lord Leighton." —Halie LeSavage

Venus Williams Is the Second Met Gala Co-Chair to Shimmer On the Carpet

"Two of the three celebrity co-chairs have worn something sparkly on the Met Gala staircase, first Nicole Kidman, now Venus Williams. While I wait to see if Beyoncé follows suit, I'm bewitched by the sheer shimmer Williams's fitted black gown brought to the carpet. But since Swarovski designed it just for her, I'm not surprised. It wouldn't be a proper Swarovski pick without intricate strands of diamonds decorating her décolletage, right?" —Meguire Hennes

"As the Met Gala's co-chair, Venus Williams is under the spotlight tonight—and boy, did she deliver! The star arrived in a dazzling Swarovski dress dripping in crystals. My favorite part about her look is the scintillating neckpiece that's so bright, it can be spotted from a mile away." —Lauren Tappan, fashion editor

Nicole Kidman Pairs Her Sequin Met Gala Gown With a "Sweet" Mother-Daughter Moment

“I will be thinking about Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala look for a long, long time. It’s stunning. She looks incredible (and has never looked better). Add in the sweet mother-daughter moment with her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, and you’ve got a truly iconic moment.” —Julia Marzovilla, fashion e-commerce editor

This Year, Met Gala Fashion Is Hands-On

"Almost an hour into the Met Gala red carpet, an anatomical trend is taking shape: life-like hands hanging on to dress fronts for dear life. I'm sure once more Schiaparelli guests make it to the carpet, we'll see more photorealistic digits—and some internal organs, too." —Halie LeSavage

The Woman Behind the "Costume Art" Exhibit's Inclusivity Efforts

"Amid all the red carpet fashion, don't forget that tonight is about celebrating the Costume Institute's latest exhibition—much of which was brought to life by Sinéad Burke, pictured here. Her organization, Tilting the Lens, aims to make fashion more inclusive in every realm, including this year's Met Gala. Inside 'Costume Art,' she advocated for changes all visitors can appreciate, including mobility-friendly walkways, mannequins of various bodytypes, and an ASL interpreter for visitors." —Halie LeSavage

Chase Sui Wonders Is a Wonder in Lavender On the Met Gala Red Carpet

"It's hard to believe tonight's marks Chase Sui Wonders's first-ever Met Gala. I thought she had at least a few appearances under her belt, once she arrived in a bow-tied McQueen gown fresh from the Fall 2026 fashion show. You may recognize the neckline's silk, V-shaped panel from Chappell Roan's recent Paris Fashion Week run. The pop star styled the same semi-sheer slip, except in black." —Meguire Hennes

The 2026 Met Gala's Biggest Fashion Muse Is..

"John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, better known as 'Madame X,' is shaping up to be the Met Gala's most popular reference. Before the official livestream had even begun, two guests—Claire Foy in Erdem, and Lauren Sánchez-Bezos—had paid the once-controversial painting homage with corseted gowns featuring suggestively falling-off straps. I predict we'll see at least one more before the night is over." —Halie LeSavage

Gigi Hadid's Miu Miu Met Gala Moment Paints the Town

"Gigi Hadid's Met Gala gown couldn't be a further departure from her pre-ball ballet flats. Yes, both hailed from Miu Miu, but her bejeweled gray gown was entirely transparent. Sheer rhinestone fabric revealed pastel underwear beneath the bodice's paintbrush-looking strokes. As if her look wasn't ethereal enough, she committed to the artsy princess bit with tulips instead of a purse. Catch me romanticizing my local tulip field the Hadid way this summer." —Meguire Hennes

Lena Dunham's Valentino Met Gala Gown Is One for the Books

"There's plenty of blood red on the carpet tonight, but the most poignant, to me, is Lena Dunham in Valentino. So much of her memoir Famesick is about the agony of living inside her body—in her words, a body that feels like 'towing a wrecked car across town at midnight'—and in a year where bodies are made art, inside a heavily scrutinized body that has been the subject of art, while also being the scene of the crime for Dunham herself, so to speak—honestly, it's poetry." —Jenny Hollander

Connor Storrie Struts From the Cottage to His First Met Gala

"Forget a 'cunty little bob.' Instead, Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie raises you, the cunty big scarf. The actor was spotted leaving his hotel ahead of the 2026 Met Gala in an exceptional Saint Laurent suit and a black and white polka dot pussy-bow blouse, which came with an extra, extra long scarf. The built-in accessory trailed several feet behind him and danced dramatically in the wind, creating the proper amount of fanfare for the heartthrob's Met Gala debut." —Emma Childs

Naomi Osaka's Met Gala Gown, By the Numbers

"Tennis phenom Naomi Osaka's Met Gala dress has stats to rival her own. The Robert Wun gown required over 3,280 hours of handwork, including placing the 659,000 Swarovski crystals lining the blood-red dress underneath her white cape. The brand says it's 'illustrating the human anatomy, needle by needle.' I say Osaka is cementing herself as a Met Gala GOAT in the making." —Halie LeSavage

Masks Off, Gwendoline Christie Has Arrived at the Met Gala

"My Marie Claire colleagues and I assumed masks would play a part on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. About two hours in, Gwendoline Christie proved us right with a handheld mask alongside her gown's tulle take on the ruby red theme. I just realized it was her only visible accessory, apart from a voluminous feather hat and a statement dark lip." —Meguire Hennes

Zoë Kravitz's Met Gala Gown Makes Jaws Drop—Even With Her Engagement Ring Hidden

"Zoë Kravitz just delivered one of my favorite looks of the night! Okay, maybe I'm a bit biased because the star is my style icon, but you simply can't deny that this Saint Laurent look deserves all the praise. I absolutely love the sultry lace fabric, but what stands out the most is the sculpturesque silhouette that looks like a true work of art." —Lauren Tappan

Angel Reese Shoots and Scores a Met Gala Slam Dunk

"My jaw nearly dropped to the floor when I saw Angel Reese's custom Altuzarra Met Gala gown. Designed with dramatic puff sleeves, a high-slit hemline, and a lengthy train, her dress commands attention. Not to mention, the powdery pink hue makes her look like a true princess." —Lauren Tappan

Laufey Channels "Fashion Is Art" Through a Bridal Lens

“I got married almost two years ago, but if I were to do it again, I would want to wear Laufey’s look at the 2026 Met Gala. From the high neck to the column fit, it’s simply angelic. It’s structural and perfectly executed and I am simply shocked. She’s a bona fide fashion girl now!” —Julia Marzovilla

Sarah Pidgeon and Her Met Gala Debut: A 'Love Story'

"The stars of 2026's biggest shows are now having equally major breakout moments on the Met Gala red carpet. Case in point: Sarah Pidgeon, who paid homage to Nicole Kidman's 1997 Galliano Oscars gown with a custom Loewe look of her own. Personally, I'm so excited to see the former Marie Claire cover star branch out from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy references to spotlight her own muses." —Halie LeSavage

Janelle Monae's Surrealist Return to the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

"The singer is back, and more eye-catching than ever. Janelle Monae delivered an intricately beaded Met Gala red carpet dress—designed by a new-to-her collaborator, Christian Siriano. I just have one question: Where on earth did they source all the pieces for this gown?" —Halie LeSavage

Are Hudson Williams and Odessa A'zion Planning a Met Gala Outfit Change?

"Ever since Doja Cat wore a literal bath towel to the 2024 Met Gala, I've kept a sharp eye on celebs who appear to leave their hotels in nothing but their shower gear. Hudson Williams and Odessa A'zion seemed up to the same trick ahead of the 2026 carpet, but I won't be convinced until they show up on the Met steps in their spa gear." —Halie LeSavage

Karlie Kloss Takes Dior as Her 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Date

"Karlie, looking 'Costume Art' right in the eye in Dior Spring Couture." —Emma Childs

Heidi Klum Does the Met Gala Fashion Most

The look that sparked several Marie Claire editor reactions...

"Halloween came early this year!" —Julia Marzovilla

"Had a feeling she was going to do the most." —Lauren Tappan

Stevie Nicks Presents Zara by John Galliano at the Met Gala

"I didn't expect to see Zara by John Galliano on a red carpet until September, when the collaboration's first chapter hits stores. But Stevie Nicks got first dibs on the 'beyond gender and beyond seasons' partnership for her first-ever Met Gala. Midnight-blue, silk taffeta intricately embroidered with tulle and chiffon rose appliqués became voluminous atop a dramatic crinoline. It wouldn't be a Stevie Nicks set without a feather-trimmed top hat from milliner Stephen Jones. Longtime Fleetwood Mac fans know its been her calling card since the '70s." —Meguire Hennes

The Met Gala Is a Family Affair

"From the minute I learned that Devil Wears Prada 2 co-stars Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci were brother and sister in-law, I was immediately jealous. Seeing them together on the carpet is the sweetest thing. Their structural looks feel tailored to perfection, and very New York-coded." —Julia Marzovilla

Sabrina Carpenter's Dior Dress Is Fresh From the Cutting Room Floor

"I was hoping Sabrina Carpenter would reunite with Dior's Jonathan Anderson for the Met Gala. My dreams came true—and then some—when she arrived not in fabric, but authentic film from halter neckline to hem, which played out Audrey Hepburn's 1954 movie, Sabrina. I know, she's too iconic for her own good, right?

"'We just finished all of my Coachella looks together and they hopped right into making this dream dress,' Carpenter told Vogue on the carpet. Just when I thought it couldn't get more memorable, her diamond-drop skull cap featured the Sabrina movie poster." —Meguire Hennes

Kylie Jenner Reunites With Schiaparelli to Prove "Fashion Is Art"

"There's no doubt that Kylie Jenner knows how to make jaws drop. Tonight, on the Met Gala red carpet, she did just that in a stunning Schiaparelli gown. The centerpiece of the look? An ultra-tight corset cinched around her waist. I'm not sure how she could possibly breathe in that thing, but she looks fantastic." —Lauren Tappan

It Took Bad Bunny "53 Years" to Transform Into His Met Gala Look

"Every Marie Claire editor had the same reaction to Bad Bunny's Met Gala look: Wait...is that him in old man makeup? Turns out, his chiseled cheekbones were stacked beneath pounds or prosthetics and an all-black suit. Props to my man for committing to the exhibition theme. Part of the new gallery focuses on honoring and normalizing aging bodies.

"'It's getting part of my life, always trying to do something different,' the singer told Vogue on the carpet. 'This day of the Met is a perfect day to explore and be creative and express yourself in different ways, so that's what I'm doing tonight.' According to Benito, it took 53 years to transform into his older self." —Meguire Hennes

Kendall Jenner Is a GapStudio Goddess at the Met Gala

"Kendall Jenner's gown? Hang it in the Louvre. In fact, her reference already is; Jenner worked directly with Zac Posen on a custom GapStudio gown inspired by the Victory of Samothrace, a Hellenistic Greek sculpture of goddess Nike that's currently on display in the Louvre Museum. Posen draped bunches of Gap T-shirts to create a wet marble look, making her look—dare I say it?—the chicest wet T-shirt contest of all time." —Emma Childs

Keke Palmer Is the Met's Most Glamorous Lady in Strawberry Red

"Keke Palmer is the star of the show, wearing a $1 million necklace from Wempe. But let us not overlook her strawberry red dress, which deserves just as much attention. From the carefully wrapped chiffon fabric to the high-low silhouette, this delectable piece is one to remember." —Lauren Tappan

Lisa Flaunts a Skeleton Sculpture at the Met Gala

“Lisa is such a fashion girl, so I was expecting something special from her at the Met Gala tonight. What I didn’t expect, though, was for her to wear 3D molds of her arms. But, that’s what we got from her Robert Wun gown. Her 3D-printed arms were holding up a sheer, bedazzled hood, giving her a fairy-like, ethereal feel." —Julia Marzovilla

Sorry (I Ain't Sorry), the 2026 Met Gala Belongs to Beyoncé

"Apologies to my fiancé for screaming at the TV. But I had good reason: Beyoncé made her official return to the Met Gala. She pulled off skeleton couture crafted just for her by Balmain alum Olivier Rousteing. Faux ribs, a collarbone, and pelvis were sculpted from rhinestones atop nude illusion mesh. The most dramatic of feather capes added just enough obscurity on the red carpet.

"But for Bey, her favorite moment was when her daughter, Blue Ivy, made her Met Gala debut. 'It feels surreal because my daughter's here. It's incredible to be able to share it with her,' the Grammy winner told Vogue. 'I think it's really just experiencing this through the eyes of Blue and being able to relax. I've done so many incredible iconic looks with him.' Perhaps she's referencing the costumes he created for her Renaissance, Cowboy Carter, or Formation tours." —Meguire Hennes

Kim Kardashian Boards the Met Gala Breastplate Bandwagon

"About an hour after Hailey Bieber arrived in a Saint Laurent breastplate, Kim Kardashian maximized the body-ody trend in a metallic-orange bodysuit. The custom Allen Jones one-piece fit her exact measurements, while its coned busts channeled her Marilyn Monroe moment at the 2022 Met Gala." —Meguire Hennes

The Met Gala Saves the Best Looks for Last

"Is it really the Met Gala if a few VIP guests don't arrive fashionably late? This year, Cardi B, Ayo Edebiri, Doechii, and Margot Robbie walked the carpet minutes before it closed. Cardi, for one, showed up and out in a sculptural Marc Jacobs gown, featuring ballooned lace atop the bust and mermaid hem. Ayo Edebiri's stark-white design couldn't have been a more ethereal departure from Cardi's avant-garde silhouette. The feathers atop Edebiri's shoulders looked like they were sculpted there from marble." —Meguire Hennes

"Much like Cardi—but in an entirely different font—Doechii also wore Marc Jacobs to the 2026 Met Gala. Burgundy chiffon stretched from her torso, around her neck, down to an asymmetrical, delicately-draped skirt. Leaning into the dress's bohemian aura, Doechii went barefoot atop the fresh-from-the-garden carpet. Meanwhile, Margot Robbie looked every bit an Old Hollywood star in a metallic gold gown, which channeled the feather trend started by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Lena Dunham." —Hennes

Breaking: Rihanna Re-Opens the Met Gala Red Carpet

"The carpet may have closed, but the rules don't apply for Rihanna. She—and boyfriend A$AP Rocky—finally exited the Carlyle Hotel around 9 p.m. ET, but her bronze Maison Margiela gown was well worth the wait. Her long-sleeve bodice's intricate embroidery was just as mind-boggling as the almost wet-looking shine of her sculptural skirt. And don't even get me started on her golden curls." —Meguire Hennes

Teyana Taylor's Fringe Was Made for the Met Gala Dance Floor

"I wish I could borrow Teyana Taylor's custom Tom Ford gown for one Monday—it doesn't even have to be Met Monday. All I want to do is let loose on any dance floor with its silver fringe flowing in the breeze." —Meguire Hennes

A Color Trend Fit for a Met Gala Princess

"Baby pink, ballet slipper, blush—whatever you call it, the light pink pastel is sweeping the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. I've seen Amanda Seyfried in a drop-waist pale pink Prada gown and Angel Reese in a robe-style custom Altuzarra gown in the same shade, but I'm sure more pink will pop up in Marie Claire's best-dressed list." —Emma Childs

The Pastel Takeover Continues With Blake Lively's Arrival

"Blake Lively took the Met Gala’s 'Fashion Is Art' dress code very seriously. The star arrived on the red carpet in a Versace gown decorated in pastel shades of yellow, pink, and purple, which blended together to create a watercolor effect. Designed with a flattering halter neckline and a bedazzled bodice, her look stood out among the rest." —Lauren Tappan

Celebrities Turn the Met Gala Red Carpet Gold

"By the time the step-and-repeats started winding down, the red carpet was practically painted gold. Everyone from Ciara and Gracie Abrams to Margot Robbie and Tate McRae proved 'Fashion Is Art' especially in such a striking shade. Ciara, for one, took the color trend a step further by wearing a choker necklace and crown, featuring gold tips." —Meguire Hennes

It's Time for the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Best-Dressed List

"Well, friends, we're nearing the end of the night—which means it's finally time for me to reveal my Met Gala best-dressed list. I chose 14 stars who I felt took the night's 'Fashion Is Art' theme to heart (rhyme unintended), whether they referenced a favorite painting or nodded to one of their own artistic influences. There were some extra-late entries from Met Gala regulars—hi, Rihanna in Maison Margiela!—and some surprises from the evening's newest faces. All came with a double-stamp of approval by Marie Claire's style director, Sara Holzman. So now, I invite you to read and let me know, which were your best-dressed?" —Halie LeSavage

That's a Wrap On the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

"Well, another first Monday in May has come and gone. Overall, there were far fewer naked dresses than I expected, and far more homages to painting, sculpture, and even film. It was also far less uniform than last year's 'Tailored to You' suiting extravaganza. Of course, the night is still young—and the after-party circuit could surface much more..." —Halie LeSavage

"I swear, I turned on the Vogue.com livestream, waxed poetic about Beyoncé's custom Olivier Rousteing gown, and bam, the 2026 Met Gala red carpet closed. I'm still getting my 'Fashion Is Art' bearings, but honestly, the twists and turns tonight were endless (complimentary). Surprises are what I crave in a Met Gala circuit, especially when celebrities still find a way to honor the dress code. Beyoncé, Hailey Bieber, Rihanna, and Naomi Osaka did that for me tonight—but not with the naked dresses I expected.

"Bieber, Rihanna, and Osaka wore full-coverage 'fits from Saint Laurent, Maison Margiela, and Robert Wun respectively. Each look highlighted the relationship between fashion and anatomy, just as Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton requested. Meanwhile, Beyoncé went about 60-percent sheer, 40-percent bedazzled skeleton, altogether making a surprisingly anti-naked dress. Consider me bamboozled—in the best way." —Meguire Hennes

"And with that, we'll see you back here in 2027 for the next Met Gala! Until then, read up on all our favorite looks of the night—and then keep up with our after-party coverage while you're at it." —Halie LeSavage

Gigi Hadid has a long night of sky-high stilettos ahead of her at the 2026 Met Gala. So she's wearing Miu Miu ballet flats for as long as possible on the first Monday in May, before it's time to slip into her red carpet dress. Knowing Hadid, she won't ditch the Mary Janes until the minute her sprinter van's doors open.

Minutes before Hadid found her seat in the makeup chair (where she'll presumably stay for the next few hours), paparazzi spotted her outside the Carlyle Hotel in an off-duty outfit. For Hadid, four-figure Miu Miu flats are considered casual, even the tricky-to-track-down, satin Mary Janes. If their contrasting elastic straps, round toe boxes, and slipper-esque soles seem familiar, that's because Olivia Rodrigo just wore a baby-pink pair to host and perform on Saturday Night Live. The cult-collected shoes also joined Rodrigo on-stage during an American Express concert last October, except the satin was the same olive shade of green as Hadid's.

That said, these Miu Mius are one of few It-shoes that can bridge the gap between putting comfort first and serving a look. Case in point: The ballet flats looked just as chic with a heather gray crewneck and the lace-trimmed skirt trend as they did Rodrigo's SNL babydoll dress.

The first Monday in May marked the grand return of Hadid's new ballet flats, following an eight-month hiatus. Why dust them off now? Knowing the supermodel, she could be teasing the designer behind her 2026 Met Gala red carpet dress. The Met mainstay used the same not-so-sneaky teaser last year, after all.

On May 2, 2025, three days before tackling the "Tailored for You" dress code, she wore Miu Miu's Arcadie Bag around New York City. Then, just as fans suspected, the Italian label dressed her for the 2025 Met Gala in a custom metallic-gold gown, inspired by Josephine Baker. (She traded the Arcadie for the Wander Bag, though both were sculpted from the same Matelassé technique.)

Two days later, Hadid officially debuted the olive-green ballerinas steps away from those iconic steps. They're her favorite pre- and post-stiletto shoes, two Met Galas in a row.

Shop Ballet Flats Inspired by Gigi Hadid