Designs that walked the Met steps on Monday were a culmination of thousands of brush strokes, hours of hand-sewing and beading and the creative risks of many imaginative minds. From references to ancient Greek sculptures to colorful hand-painted fabrics, the 2026 Met Gala looks were fit to be framed in the Louvre.
The Met Gala is a fundraiser held every first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event benefits The Met’s Costume Institute and allows attendees a first look at its spring exhibition. This year, the exhibition’s theme is “Costume Art.”
The exhibition’s theme is not to be confused with the gala’s dress code, which this year was “Fashion Is Art.” This dress code prompted designers to craft one-of-a-kind, art-inspired couture looks for attendees.
Many designs, inspired by actual paintings, brought to life the idea that “life imitates art.” Actress Rachel Zegler’s look paid homage to “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche.
Corset detailing, luminous white fabric and a recreation of the painting’s iconic eye covering made this custom Prabal Gurung design appear as though it had stepped out of the 19th-century painting.
Also designed by Prabal Gurung, actress Angela Bassett wore a hot pink chiffon gown inspired by Laura Wheeler Waring’s 1927 painting “Girl in Pink Dress.” With 1920s finger waves and crystallized flowers cascading down her shoulder, Bassett embodied the woman in the painting and the glamour of the 20s.
Standing strong and bold at The Louvre in Paris, the Winged Victory of Samothrace captivates audiences. Sculpted in ancient Greece, the statue’s wings and sense of mystery were represented by not one but two attendees at this year’s Met Gala.
Kendall Jenner’s custom Zac Posen for GapStudio dress emulated the fabric-like drapery and flowing wind-swept movement of the Winged Victory. Posen even designed a replica of the iconic feather-like wings using chiffon. Sadly, Jenner did not wear the wings on the carpet.
Tech investor and entrepreneur Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo designed her own gown inspired by the Winged Victory, which was brought to life by Jean Paul Gaultier’s haute couture atelier. The gown is a work of art itself with intricate fabric pleating and structural elements.
The Venus de Milo, also crafted by the ancient Greeks, inspired multiple Met Gala looks this year. Kylie Jenner’s bold Schiaparelli gown was a modern take on the ancient statue, reimagining its sculptural form with intricate beading and a daring silhouette.
With an even more modern take on the Venus de Milo, actress Chase Infiniti wore a Thom Browne dress, featuring 600 different loud colors, fringe and 1.5 million sequins and beads — pure craftsmanship mixing modern elements with ancient artistry.
Musician Gracie Abrams and actress Hunter Schafer both wore looks inspired by Gustav Klimt, best known for his painting “The Kiss.”
Abrams’custom Chanel dress was glittering gold and featured an intricately beaded neckline, influenced by Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer,” also known as “Woman in Gold.” The gown’s sweeping chiffon skirt was accented with cascading gold details.
Klimt’s “Mäda Primavesi,” currently on view at The Met, served as the main inspiration for Hunter Schafer’s Met gown. Her floral bow hairpiece, empire waistline and rose detailing made the reference unmistakable, transforming her into a walking masterpiece.
While previously created artworks inspired many looks, other attendees dressed in brand new works of art. Actress Anne Hathaway looked stunning in a custom Michael Kors gown that was hand-painted by artist Peter McGough.
Hathaway and Kors attended the gala together, praising the ornate hand-painted details on the gown’s structured A-line silhouette, an art piece in itself.
Met Gala 11-time attendee, actress Blake Lively, looked ethereal in a reworked archival Versace gown. Reminiscent of a watercolor sunset, her train of billowing chiffon cascaded down the Met steps.
The star of Lively’s look, however, is her custom-made Judith Leiber bag, which frames her children’s watercolor paintings. The sentimental, crystal-embellished bag complements her jeweled bodice and Lorraine Schwartz diamonds.
Looking like a painter’s palette come to life, Emma Chamberlain turned heads in a custom Mugler look designed by Miguel Castro Freitas and hand-painted by artist Anna Deller-Yee. The gown featured real brushstrokes and took over 1,000 hours to create.
Reminiscent of vintage Mugler designs such as “La Chimera” and serving as a culmination of art and fashion, Chamberlain embodied the dress code “Fashion is Art,” earning my personal pick for best dressed.
From designs inspired by pieces hanging in The Louvre to original hand-painted works of art, the 2026 Met Gala transformed artworks into fashion. Stars like Emma Chamberlain and Rachel Zegler made bold impressions walking the Met steps, leading us all to hope for an exclusive invite of our own.