2026 Met Gala Celebrating 'Costume Art' Wrap-up

On Monday(May 4th) the 2026 Met Gala Celebrating ‘Costume Art’ was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. To see all of the celeb looks, click HERE and continue below for the wrap-up.

Beyonce was one of many who was on theme wearing a custom OLIVIER ROUSTEING skeleton dress that was inspired by a creole woman from New Orleans named Caroline Durieux in a 1944 lithograph called 'The Visitor' or the 'The Night Visitor.' Her look was very much intentional which is something that I love about Bey because she does that a lot. I'm not 100% sold on the gown, but the feathery makes it dramatic and the look overall suits. 

Janelle Monae wore really electrical cables as gown and her custom piece was designed by CHRISTIAN SIRIANO, and accessorized with RAINBOW K jewelry. It might have been tough for her to move, but her look was definitely wearable art, inspired by the ''earth overtaking technology.'' 

Teyana Taylor chose a very playful silver fringe dress with the matching cap which was custom made by HAIDER ACKERMANN for TOM FORD. The inspiration behind her look is how clothing interacts with the body. I love it and it is very much attached to the theme. However, it would be hard to know that by looking at her dress. 

Rebecca Hall also wore TOM FOR by HAIDER ACKERMANN which was accessorized with GABRIEL & CO jewelry. Showing just a little midriff, her all black look featured a cropped tuxedo jacket and a floor length maxi skirt. I'm not sure what the inspiration was here, but it doesn't work with the theme. This would be a hit for a movie premiere. 

Rihanna stepped out in a MAISON MARGIELA FALL 2025 COUTURE liquid metal piece that featured over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewels, and recycled metal threads which was accessorized with FRED LEIGHTON jewelry. She looked beautiful and she always delivers for the gala. She noted that she felt like an 'oyster' and I think that's the perfect one word description of her look. 

Felicity Blunt and Stanley Tucci posed together wearing ETRO. They both looked great, but not costume gala great, unfortunately. 

Emily Blunt in a custom ASHI STUDIO black antique-finished tulle tailored ensemble composed of a corseted bodice embroidered with glass beads, beaded ball detailing along the high neckline, and beaded fringe tassel sleeve details, with black silk straight-leg trousers. Her look was accessorized with MIKIMOTO pearls. She looked great but this would have been the perfect movie premiere look. 

Joey King wore a custom sparkly look by MIU MIU. For me, it looks like an ice skaters costume. The fit looks off and the mismatched undergarments are bugging me. I'm not sold. 

Gigi Hadid also wore a custom look by MIU MIU. Her sheer black gown was fitted on her body two days before the gala and featured hotfix crystals, patchwork flames, and floral embroidery. The inspiration behind her look is how the body speaks through the material. 

Georgina Rodriguez look felt like the 2018, but her custom LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN aqua dress was inspired by the 'Virgin of Fátima' paintings that featured a mesh veil with embroidered rose appliqués, and a train. Her religious look was on theme and she looked pretty. 

Tate McRae wore a LUDOVID DE SAINT SERNIN gold off-the-shoulder dress which was accessorized with THE BACK VAULT jewelry. I dislike the tiered ruffled hem, but the design of the bust is beautiful. It doesn't really hit the theme for me. 

Kim Kardashian wore a custom ALLEN JONES piece that was inspired by the designer's 2013 'Body Armour' series that was modeled by Kate Moss. I love the color, but the problem that I have here is that I see her in something like this all the time.

La La wore a custom WIEDERHOEFT gown with LORRAINE SCHWARTZ jewelry. She noted that her look featured intricate embroidery and beading that adds dimension and texture along with body which is align with the theme. I just think the color kinda throws it off. 

Sarah Pidgeon wore a custom LOEWE FALL 2026 chartreuse matte satin ensemble that featured a sculptural plaid bandeau-scarf top with the matching column skirt. The inspiration behind her look was body as the canvas which touches on the theme.

Irina Shayk took a fashion risk wearing a custom two-piece ensemble by ALEXANDER WANG. Her diamond-encrusted bra top was paired by to a black floor length column skirt. Her look was also accessorized with watch armbands and sultry her look was inspired by 'functional objects as fashion.'

Camila Morrone wore a custom TORY BURCH tow-tone strapless gown with DAVID YURMAN jewelry. Her look was a reference to Grace Kelly and it was designed to celebrate the female form. She looked pretty but it's not exciting enough for the gala. 

Laufey also wore a custom gown by TORY BURCH and it featured hand-embroidered with tens of thousands of transparent sequins and delicate glass beads. Her look pays homage to her favorite instrument, the cello, but once again, it's not exciting enough for the occasion. 

Karan Johar was definitely my top favorite in this custom MANISH MALHOTRA and it was inspired by Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma. This was just spectacular.

Camila Mendes also turned to MANISH MALHOTRA, wearing a custom piece inspired by Amrita Sher-Gil’s paintings. It was about texture, tone, and presence, and understanding how couture meets the canvas.  

Blue Ivy made her first appearance at the gala and she looked beautiful wearing a custom look by BALENCIAGA. Her white cropped jacket and bubble hem gown with styled with dark sunglasses and $5k JIMMY CHOO pumps. I am not sure if it is the inspiration or not, but it's giving 'Winged Victory of Samothrace' and I like it. 

Hudson Williams wora a custom Balenciaga ensemble that was inspired by the Spanish fashion designer, Cristobal Balenciaga and the make-up was inspired by 'Black Swan'. It was a different interpretation on how the body is a canvas. I don't get the make-up and the pants needed to be hemmed. 

Kendall Jenner wore a GAP STUDIO by ZAC POSEN and it was definitely inspired by 'Winged Victory of Samothrace'. At one point she held up the train which showed how her gown referenced the sculpture. 

Ciara was a golden beauty wearing a custom gold embellished dress by CELIA KRITHARIOTI. Her look was inspired by 'Queen Nefertiti' and the accessories were perfectly picked to execute this winning look. 

Lisa wore a ROBERT WUN FALL 2025 COUTURE 3D scanned gown was titled 'The Veil' and inspired by a bride lifting up her veil. I love the extra-arm sculpture and her entire look featured 66,960 white Swarovski crystals throughout. She totally nailed the theme and I love it. 

ASAP ROCKY nailed this custom look by CHANEL. He looks gorgeous in pink and I love how he created his own fashion lane. The pants needed to be hemmed, but I still loved this. 

Ayo Edebiri wore a custom white one-shoulder draped dress by CHANEL. The inspiration for her look was structural, but even though she looked pretty, I don't feel her look was exciting enough either. 

Chase Sui Wonders wore a lilac ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FALL 2026 silk-chiffon and satin dress with a bow neck detail. Her gown was inspired by ancient Roman wall murals. She looked pretty but it's not a strong look.

Gwendoline Christie wore a custom dress by British designer and her longtime partner GILES DEACON. Her look was inspired by a trio of artists, John Singer Sargent, Madame Yevonde, and photographer Ira Cohen. The mask that she is carrying was created by Gillian Wearing. Her look was definitely on theme and I liked it.

Heidi Klum wore a custom MIKE MARINO and it was inspired by the beauty of Veiled Vestal by Raffaelle Monti. Her look merged together fashion and fine art and she pulled it off.

Angela Bassett looked beautiful wearing a custom dress by Prabal Gurung. She was inspired by Laura Wheeler Waring's ''Girl In a Pink Dress'' and I thought it was a great reference. 

Keke Palmer served up some leg wearing a PRABAL GURUNG 'Winged Victory of Samothrace', a 2nd-century BC Greek sculpture in the Louvre dress. She was the third celeb of the night to wear something inspired by this artist. I love the color but the shoes aren't working for me. 

Ben Platt wore a custom TANNER FLETCHVER suit that was inspired by Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting ''A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.'' I like the color story and I thought they did a great job of hand painting this suit. 

Sam Pinkleton also wore a custom suit by TANNER FLETCHER and it was also inspired by Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting ''A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.'' My only quibble is that this is black but he still looked great either way. 

Ashley Graham wore a nude DI PETSA FALL 2026 off-the-shoulder gown that was inspired by 'Serpent Skin dress' from the Medusa’s Lovers collection. My only callout here is the color. 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wore custom BURBERRY strapless gown that was inspired by Madame X. She is beautiful no doubt, but this is boring. 

Angel Reese utilized the split on her custom ALTUZARRA pink taffeta wrap dress paired with STUART WIETZMAN sandals. Her dress was inspired by 18th-century painter Thomas Gainsborough and her look merged together the classic trench, and the shoulder gown. I think it's the fabric that's throwing me off.  

Blake Lively turned to one of her go to designer brands, wearing an ombre pastel halter gown with a long flowing train in the back from ATELIER VERSACE. This is pretty, soft and dramatic, and I loved her beauty look along with the custom JUDITH LIEBER bag that featured children's artwork. However, I feel like the design of the top and the skirt are not in sink. 

Katy Perry hid her face behind a silver mask and a white strapless dress with opera gloves by STELLA MCCARTNEY. It works because it her. 

Cara Delevingne has been know to rock creative on theme looks for the MET's, but I don't think that was the cast here. She looked beautiful in this RALPH LAUREN black semi-sheer, mock neck gown and I liked the back. However, this doesn't excite enough for the occasion. 

Claire Foy wore a custom black ERDEM gown that reference the portrait of Madame X. Her draped gown came with a crystal-embroidered Barbour jacket and one strap was done that put emphasis on the scandal behind the portrait of Madame X. It's not a wow moment, but the theme was there.                   

Maya Hawke turned to PRADA of course and her dramatic gown would have been perfect on the carpet for a film festival or big movie premiere. I just don't think it works here. 

Nicholas Hoult custom PRADA ensemble seems to reference 'Tom of Finland' and he looked good. It's not the most exciting look, and I wished that he wore a hat, but at least it hits the theme.

Credit: InstarImages, Mike Coppola/Getty Images, WWD.com