It feels like watching the Met Gala as a fashion fan is like being on a rollercoaster.
Scrolling through photos with the live stream rolling beside us, it’s an overwhelming onslaught of looks that prompt instant reaction and then thoughtful reflection.
My thoughts were a jumble of “Fabulous!, Oooh, that’s unusual, Where’s the colour?! Those diamonds! Oh they could have gone a little further with that, Wow Chanel is really making feathers happen….”
The dress code was “Fashion is Art,” and that came to life in a number of ways. There were the literal depictions of famous artworks, but also references that were uncovered once we dug a little deeper.
Here are the looks that caught our attention:
Rihanna in Maison Margiela and A$AP Rocky in Chanel
At an occasion where Beyonce, Madonna and Cher are expected, it really says something that we collectively hold our breath until Rihanna arrives. This year Riri and beau A$AP Rocky came in distinctly separate looks but still owned the occasion.
Rihanna’s Margiela Couture by Glenn Martens drew inspiration from the medieval architecture found in Flounders, Belgium, the dresses fabric woven with fine metal recycled threads typically used in computer wiring, then sculpted entirely by hand. A$AP Rocky’s dapper pink ensemble couldn’t be more different, but still a standout, by Mathieu Blazy for Chanel.
Connor Storrie in YSL
Saint Laurent has really been having a moment, with its celebrity dressing feeling on point in 2026. Its looks for the Met Gala were no exception. Connor Storrie is a young actor whose talent, and fearlessness with fashion, has drawn plenty of attention in recent months. The look feels daring, a balance of softer, more traditionally feminine elements on a masculine figure, as well as using jewellery to accent in a modern way. I hope it paves the way for other men to use fashion in less traditional ways going forward.
Hailey Bieber in YSL
Looking like a sculpted goddess in YSL, The beauty founder’s look was directly inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s fall 1969 couture collection, in which the designer collaborated with French artist and sculptor Claude Lalanne to mold two sculpted bodices. The colour too, has a long association with the label, a feature of the famous Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech restored by Yves Saint Laurent.
Kylie Jenner in Schiaparelli
Jenner’s gown gave the illusion of peeling away from a naked body, potentially a reference to the marble Venus de Milo. Masters in trompe l’oeil, working with Schiaparelli once again for this occasion felt like the right fit, as well as playing into the star’s usual body-con style.
Chase Infiniti in Thom Browne
Another beautiful ode to Venus de Milo, Infiniti’s dress was crafted with more than 1.5 million colourful sequins, stacked to create illusion and shape on the young actress’ Thom Browne gown.
Emma Chamberlain in Mugler
Red carpet host and online creator Emma Chamberlain wore a hand painted custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas gown. The look was created by recalling archive Mugler designs and referencing the painterly strokes of artists including Van Gogh and Munch. I love the way it uses fabric and embellishment to mimic paint dashes with an elegant sense of motion.
Sarah Pidgeon in Loewe
Not particularly on theme, but this just felt like a great red carpet moment to me. The colour, the minimalist statement, the relaxed beauty look, all came together beautifully for actress Pidgeon who leapt to fame in this year’s series ‘Love Story.
