The human body is a vessel for fashion. From dazzling classical art references to bold looks exploring the scientific capabilities of craftsmanship, this year’s “Costume Art” themed Met Gala dove into the connection between art and humanity.
BEST DRESSED:
Emma Chamberlain in Mugler:
Dressed in a stunning yellow number, Emma Chamberlain’s look of the night was a classic interpretation of the Met Gala theme. The dress stuns with a beautiful swirl of colors over the waterlike texture of its fabric, capturing vibrant yellow around the bodice that transitions through to many other colors into deep indigo around its train. The handpainted gown was a product of 40 hours of work from artist Anna Deller-Yee, and Chamberlain’s body became its canvas. By combining visual art directly with fashion, Chamberlain truly became a human vessel of art.
Eileen Gu in Iris van Herpen and A.A.Murakami:
Eileen Gu’s “Airo” gown features 15,000 glass spheres meticulously attached to the garment as well as microprocessors physically emitting bubbles that provided a surreal and animated tone to her look. The designers Iris van Herpen and A.A.Murakami play with the ephemeral nature of bubbles, making a temporary fixture a permanent one. This contrast coupled with the dress’s striking silhouette is only aided by the intention behind the gown. The garment is a celebration of motion and nature within humanity, while utilizing science for its creation. As an athlete, these aspects of humanity and art are intertwined for Gu, and there is no better way to express this than wearing it.
Rachel Zegler in Prabal Grung:
The very first thing you notice about the outfit is what you cannot see. Zegler graces the famous Met steps in a stunning ivory white dress and a stark silk blindfold covering her eyes. She wears the fitted white corset very elegantly, and its clean yet bold statement was refreshing to see on the carpet. The blindfold with the detailing on the bodice created a character of both innocence and vulnerability. The look is an elegant homage to the painting “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche. Zegler’s look perfectly captures its poignant beauty.
WORST DRESSED:
Rosé in Saint Laurent:
While there wasn’t much wrong with the dress itself, the only glaring error was that it wasn’t much at all. The jeweled bird paired with the Tiffany and Co. diamond necklace is indeed a good reference to “The Birds” by Georges Braque, but it has already been a staple in Saint Laurent couture. The dress overall felt like an attempt to play things safe, but that is challenging for a theme so especially demanding of interpretation and detail. In Rosé’s case, one cannot help but feel the potential for something more.
Cardi B in Marc Jacobs:
Cardi B’s look was certainly a bold one. The dress was inspired by “The Doll” by surrealist artist Hans Bellmer. The 10 photographs that comprised this work explored themes of the uncanny, violence, and trauma as well as the objectification of the body. The dress features black lace accents over multiple bulbous bunches of fabric in the shoulder and train areas. While the look does do the inspired work justice, it is quite uncomfortable to look at. Perhaps that was her purpose for wearing the garment.
Karlie Kloss in Dior:
Karlie Kloss donned a sleeveless white Dior gown for the Met Gala 2026, paired with a purple flower in her hair and green heels. While the fabric and sewing is quite beautiful, the inspiration for this dress is unclear. There are some things to work on with this look. The pure white is a statement, but one might find it difficult to find much content and coherence in her look as there is basically only white. While the shape of the dress is interesting and adds to her overall image, it’s not the most flattering and can look awkward.
