And just like that, the first Monday in May is here again. This year’s dress code, “Fashion is Art,” is a nod to the Costume Institute‘s exhibition Costume Art, which places historical and contemporary items of clothing alongside paintings, sculptures and other objects from the Met’s collection to highlight the relationship between body and garment. It’s fashion’s biggest night—the Met Gala is where designers and stars alike express their wildest fashion fantasies, drawing on fine art for inspiration. Alongside Anna Wintour, co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, who have all made an impression on tonight’s red carpet. From Doja Cat in Saint Laurent to Chase Infiniti as a living artwork and Paloma Elsesser’s eBay-sourced gown, tonight did not disappoint. See our ten favorite looks of the night below.
1. DOJA CAT GIVES SKIN ON SKIN
The musician stuns in a draped Saint Laurent chiffon-and-silicone gown by Anthony Vaccarello. The color of the fabric matches her skin, and feels like an extension of the body, exuding a very Saint Laurent sensuality—a match made in fashion heaven.
2. COLMAN DOMINGO IS A TRUE ARTIST
For this Met Gala, the actor and playwright goes bold in a multicolored harlequin-print Valentino look with a coordinating cummerbund, Boucheron jewelry, and an Omega watch. Look closer, and you’ll also see a touch of pastel blue eyeshadow.
3. ANNA WEYANT EXUDES GIRLHOOD
The artist behind Vogue’s 2024 painted Kaia Gerber cover is known for her nostalgic and haunting portrayals of girls and young women. Fittingly, she wears Marc Jacobs SS26, whose exaggerated proportions make her look like a human-sized doll.
4. SARAH PIDGEON IN CHARTREUSE
The actress, who played Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Love Story, departs from the ’90s Calvin Klein color palette in a chartreuse dress from Loewe. The tube top reads like a ribbon above an architectural column skirt.
5. PALOMA ELSESSER TURNED TO EBAY
For his new project, Bureau of Imagination, Francesco Risso assembled more than 100 eBay finds into an elaborate pastel gown for Elsesser. Artistic and free-spirited, the look is exactly the Risso we knew at Marni.
6. ALEXA CHUNG KISSED THE FROG
We let out a collective gasp when the perennial It-girl appeared on the carpet steps in a chartreuse Dior gown adorned with a waterlily, and flowers in her hair. Chung knows exactly what works on her, always looking effortlessly cool.
7. CARDI B STRIKES AGAIN
Unapologetic as ever, the rapper wears a bold Marc Jacobs design inspired by German artist Hans Bellmer. Few stars commit to fashion this conceptual, and the risk pays off.
8. CHASE INFINITI IS A BODY OF ART
The rising star radiates in a rainbow-colored Thom Browne gown, covered in over 1.5 million stacked sequins. The dress, inspired by the Venus de Milo, also features tiered silk fringes in over 600 different colors. A work of art, indeed.
9. JUST ADD WATER
K-pop star Jennie wears a look from Matthieu Blazy’s recent Chanel Cruise show presented in Biarritz. She floated over the carpet like a mermaid, with the metallic sequins of her dress shimmering the whole way up the stairs.
10. TEYANA TASSEL TAYLOR
The multi-hyphenate commits to a head-to-toe silver tassel look from Tom Ford, continuing the strong red carpet presence she’s had all awards season. Playful yet powerful, the look almost seems to be melting, shifting shape with each step.
