Once a year, celebrities attend the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and dress according to a different theme. The 2026 Met Gala took place on Monday, May 4th. The theme this year was costume art, which coincides with The Met’s new art exhibit. In addition, the dress code was described as fashion is art. Celebrities were encouraged to create looks that intersect fashion with fine art by embodying elements of different paintings, sculptures, and other historic pieces of art. They were asked not to view themselves as a body but instead as a blank canvas ready to become art. In this article, I will cover the best-executed looks based on aesthetic, creativity, and how well they match the theme.
SZA
One of my favorite looks of the night was from the iconic R&B singer SZA. Her look was a stunning yellow gown that was incredibly detailed and well executed. In addition, her look was sustainable because all the fabric, jewels, and other elements of her outfit were secondhand items found on eBay. SZA’s designer, Emily Adams Bode, worked with a vintage dealer to find all the items, and over 100 yards of yellow fabric was sourced for the look in various materials. SZA’s ensemble showcased that the newest, shiniest, and most expensive looks aren’t always the most popular on the carpet. This method of sourcing her look matched perfectly with the idea behind the theme because fashion and art are history and tradition, so the use of secondhand elements was very creative and well done.
Emma Chamberlain
Another celebrity who had one of my favorite looks was a former YouTuber and podcaster, Emma Chamberlain. Emma also has her own coffee business, Chamberlain Coffee. She has been attending the Met Gala as a Vogue correspondent who interviews celebrities since 2021. Emma wore a stunning multi-colored gown designed by Miguel Castro Frietas. It was a mermaid gown that featured dramatic draping sleeves. The gown was hand-painted and inspired by one of Van Gogh’s iconic paintings, Garden of Arles. Her look was inspired by her family’s love of painting because her dad is an oil and watercolor painter, so she was surrounded by art during her childhood. Emma Chamberlain continues to feature her own personal fashion sense, which allows her to stand out every year.
Sabrina Carpenter
Finally, the last look that caught my eye was the pop icon, Sabrina Carpenter’s. She was wearing a Dior gown designed by Jonathan Anderson. The material of the gown was tulle and vintage film strips that had scenes from the old Hollywood film Sabrina, starring the iconic Audrey Hepburn. The strips were bedazzled with jewels, giving the gown a sparkly finish. The look was completed with a jeweled headpiece showcasing the movie title. I love this look because it was such an interesting idea to represent a famous film for the dress code, fashion is art. Also, the use of unique materials was very creative and made her look one of a kind at this Met Gala.
Met Gala – My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the theme of the 2026 Met Gala, as well as the attendees’ execution of it. The theme of costume art allowed designers to think outside the box and curate looks that grab people’s attention.