Anna Wintour Reacts to Rumors She Approves All Met Gala Looks

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Anna Wintour may run a tight ship, but she is no dictator.

Even though there’s been talk that she disliked the outfits, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue still plans to give her thoughts on the Met Gala looks.

During a 2025 interview on Good Morning America, she explained that many Gala attendees ask for their opinion. They do their best to assist those who seek advice, but sometimes they’re completely lost on what to suggest.

Oh my gosh, I really hope all the stars getting ready for this year’s ‘Costume Art’ theme – especially with the ‘Fashion Is Art’ dress code – get the same amazing support and helpful notes that Colman Domingo got before the 2025 event! He really nailed it, and I’d love to see everyone else shine just as brightly. It’s so exciting!

The Euphoria actor, who helped host last year’s event, shared a preview of his take on the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit with Anna, and she immediately praised it as a beautiful work of art.

She told GMA that his striking black-and-white suit, worn with a cape, was a really smart choice.

This year’s Met Gala will be co-chaired by fashion icons Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, and they’re all expected to make a big impression. Beyoncé, especially, is anticipated to make a statement, as she hasn’t attended the event since 2016.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos are also major figures at this year’s Met Gala, as they are the main donors for the 2026 event.

Anna can’t dictate who attends the private party, but she definitely has a say in the food that’s served.

Anna’s biggest cooking mistake, in her opinion, is serving food that causes bad breath. That’s why you’ll never find chives, onions, or a lot of garlic on the menu at the Met Gala.

She also told Jenna Bush Hager in 2024 that she really doesn’t like those three things.

The fashion expert is well-known for banning phones at their yearly charity event, although some celebrities still manage to secretly take selfies.

Anna turned to Jenna and said, ‘It’s lovely when people tell you they had great conversations after a meal.’ She explained, ‘That’s what I’m aiming for – a life where you don’t need to document everything with your phone.’

To have more of your burning questions about the Met Gala answered, read on. 

Getting into fashion’s most exclusive annual event doesn’t come cheap. A single ticket will set you back $30,000, and reserving a whole table costs a hefty $275,000.

Luckily, not everyone needs to buy a ticket to the Met Gala. Anna Wintour often invites promising new designers, and celebrities who are there to showcase a designer’s clothes usually don’t have to pay either.

Despite the high cost, the item is still incredibly popular – there’s currently a waiting list to purchase it.

Vintage store owner Cameron Silver, a frequent attendee of the event, told Page Six in 2017 that he knows people who were desperate for tickets. They had their outfits planned and were ready to go at a moment’s notice in case a seat unexpectedly became available, even if they weren’t sure they’d be able to attend.

The ideal guest list changes, but around 500 people is generally considered a comfortable size. While 800 guests – the most the Met Gala has ever hosted – felt too crowded.

In 2017, Sylvana Ward Durrett of Vogue told Fast Company that they aim to create a cozy and personal experience for attendees. To achieve this, they’ve significantly reduced the event size over the past few years, cutting the guest list by around 200 to 300 people.

Though the event is known for being lavish and glamorous, the organizers aim for a feeling of exclusivity, limiting attendance to around 500 guests – a number Anna Wintour typically sets. As Ward Durrett explained in the documentary The First Monday in May, they want to maintain an intimate atmosphere, as that’s what draws people to the event.

Just because a celebrity receives an invitation doesn’t guarantee their partner will be invited too – each guest must receive their own invitation.

As a longtime fan, I’ve learned that the work for this incredible event never stops! Planning actually kicks off the Tuesday right after the first Monday in May – it’s a year-round effort, honestly. It’s amazing to think about 100 dedicated people are constantly working on it, including a core team of 10 who are with Vogue full-time.

Ward Durrett, who was a director of special projects at Vogue, described her approach as relying on a single, comprehensive to-do list. She explained that this list grew continuously as deadlines approached, and the team reviewed it daily, even if some items were already covered.

Her first priority was the tent. She then detailed everything needed for it. Creating this list helps her plan the event completely, ensuring nothing is overlooked from beginning to end.

Oh my god, you wouldn’t believe how much Anna Wintour controls everything! I mean, I watched that documentary, The First Monday in May, and Andre Leon Talley said it best. He explained that Anna personally checks every single detail. Seriously, everything! From the napkins and silverware to the lighting, even the flowers and what the ushers are wearing – she’s been planning and perfecting it all for months and months. It’s insane, but that’s what makes it so incredible, you know? She doesn’t leave anything to chance!

She likes to keep everything about her look under wraps. According to Plum Sykes, a contributing editor at Vogue, Anna Wintour is very private about her Met Gala plans, wanting it to be a complete surprise until she actually arrives on the red carpet, as reported by The New York Post.

Planning seating for a wedding can be tricky, but imagine how much harder it is for the Met Gala! The team dedicates a lot of time to carefully arranging where everyone sits, making sure guests who have things in common are seated near each other.

According to Ward Durrett in The First Monday in May, a surprising amount of effort goes into seating arrangements. They consider who sat together previously, at other events, and a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering is involved.

The seating plan for the event changes constantly as it’s finalized. Ward Durett shared with Vogue that she quickly realized Velcro was a much better solution than sticky notes to prevent mistakes. She explained that early on, they used simple stickies, which caused a lot of problems – names fell off, got lost, and had to be rewritten constantly.

Ward Durrett also suggests using color-coding for seating arrangements, and often aims for an alternating male-female pattern when possible. A surprising rule she follows is to never seat couples together. She believes the purpose of these events is to encourage networking and learn about others’ work, so attendees shouldn’t spend the time simply with their partners. Sorry, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds!

Every event has those less-desirable tables – the ones stuck near the kitchen or bathrooms. The Met Gala is the same, and where designers are seated often changes from year to year.

Anna Wintour closely oversaw every detail, even scolding her team for attempting to downplay the H&M table in the documentary The First Monday in May. She reportedly said, “We can’t hide this table, it’s simply not right.”

While not a high-end designer brand, H&M – a frequent advertiser in magazines like Vogue – and other affordable brands like Topshop and Zara are appearing more often at major fashion events. H&M made a splash in 2015 when Sarah Jessica Parker wore a dress they designed specifically for her.

Big events like these always bring together people with complicated histories – you’re bound to find exes and rivals near each other. We all remember Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, and Bella Hadid at one event – it was definitely a tense situation! Organizers probably try to avoid putting people like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry at the same table when they’re actively feuding. However, the success of the event as a whole is more important than avoiding every possible awkward moment.

It’s impossible to make everyone happy, and we generally believe all seats offer a good view – which is usually true. We focus on doing our best, knowing some people will inevitably be dissatisfied,” explained Ward Durrett. “However, problems are rare, and we always try to address concerns and better manage expectations for the following year.

In a striking moment from the documentary First Monday in May, Ward Durrett openly indicated to Anna Wintour which guests he hoped would cancel their attendance by attaching three Velcro tabs next to their names on the seating chart.

Not everyone was pleased with where they were seated. As fashion critic Cathy Hawn wrote in The New York Times in 2006, John Lydon – formerly known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols – was visibly upset with his seat at the end of a long table, which many considered the worst in the room. He was so unhappy that he left twice, angrily confronting museum staff.

He eventually took his seat.

On The Late Late Show in 2018, James Corden playfully asked Anna Wintour if there was anyone she’d ban from attending the Met Gala.

Oh my gosh, it’s Donald Trump! I just love him! And Melania, of course – she’s stunning. I remember when they used to go to the Met Gala, it was iconic! Though, thinking about it, it’s been a while… I think the last time they walked up those steps was back in 2012. Still, a glorious memory!

Fashion expert Tim Gunn, known for his time on Project Runway, says he’s been banned from the Met Gala. He claims Anna Wintour blocked him after he shared a story with The Post that she didn’t like.

He described the situation as chaotic and wild during a 2016 appearance on TopMob’s Fashion Police, stating that it had led to a continuous conflict ever since.

Although Billy Porter didn’t say he was banned, he hasn’t attended the event since first appearing in 2019.

He mentioned on SiriusXM’s Bevelations in April 2026 that he felt excluded from the trend of ‘Black dandyism’ last year. He clarified that he doesn’t attend events where he isn’t wanted, and he wasn’t invited to those particular gatherings.

Dinner will be served at the event. Stephen Colbert once shared that everyone had to wait for Anna Wintour to be seated before they could start eating.

And, like every other aspect, Wintour is heavily involved in the menu planning for each gala. 

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve heard some fascinating stories about entertaining, and this one from inside Vogue is a great example of attention to detail! Apparently, Anna Wintour once made a rule to avoid certain foods at her events. Think about it – no parsley because it gets stuck in your teeth, minimal garlic to avoid bad breath, and absolutely nothing that could possibly stain a designer gown! It all comes down to creating appetizers that are easy and graceful to eat – you want guests to feel confident and enjoy themselves, not worry about a little mishap!

Anna Wintour generally likes the food at events to match the overall theme, but it doesn’t always happen.

Sean Driscoll, the owner of Glorious Food and the caterer for every Met Gala from 1995 to 2018, explained that serving lamb potpies at the 2011 “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” gala led to numerous requests, as many guests didn’t want to eat them.

People also care about how the food looks, and filmmaker Andrew Rossi, who directed The First Monday in May, was surprised by how much detail went into it. He recalls attending a tasting with Anna Wintour and watching her research food presentations on her phone – she was checking how each dish would be presented.

It’s unclear why Anna Wintour banned selfies and social media at the event back in 2015 – no official reason was ever given. The decision remains a mystery, especially considering how popular and envy-inducing the event already was.

A source at Vogue told Pret-a-Reporter that guests received a notice beforehand stating that photography and social media posts weren’t allowed inside the gala.

The magazine didn’t offer a statement about the report, but a source shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the issue was simply about keeping guests safe and ensuring they had a good time at the event.

In the documentary The First Monday in May, Anna Wintour visibly disapproved of phone use at the Met Gala. There’s a scene where she learns a celebrity—whose identity was hidden on request—had changed his mind and decided to attend. She immediately asked Ward Durrett if the celebrity could refrain from being on his phone throughout the event.

Ward Durrett told The Post that Anna prefers classic, social gatherings. She enjoys dinner parties where guests actually talk to one another, and while they don’t actively police conversations, they might politely nudge people if someone is clearly dominating or ignoring others.

Even though Anna Wintour doesn’t allow photos, celebrities have often ignored the rule. A well-known example is Kylie Jenner’s bathroom selfie taken at the 2017 Met Gala.

Attendees must be at least 18 years old to enter the event. This age restriction was confirmed by organizers after Maddie Ziegler shared that she couldn’t attend the 2018 Met Gala because she was only 15. She explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “I can’t go, because I’m not old enough!”

I was a bit disappointed to hear the event organizer tell THR that the event would be strictly for adults from that year on. They explained it just wasn’t suitable for anyone under 18, and that new age limit was going to be enforced.

Before 2018, the Met Gala had seen some very young attendees, including Jaden and Willow Smith, who went in 2016 when they were 17 and 15. Elle Fanning first attended at just 13 years old, and Hailee Steinfeld made her debut at 14 in 2011.

It looks like there’s a way for younger celebrities to attend: if a parent goes with them, the rules allow it.

Anna Wintour has the final say on what everyone wears to the Met Gala, but attendees don’t technically need her approval—though she does know what everyone is wearing on the red carpet.

As Andre Leon Talley explained in The First Monday in May, it’s as if each celebrity was assigned a designer to create their gown. Riccardo Tisci, formerly of Givenchy, who designed outfits for Beyoncé and Madonna at the 2016 Met Gala, added that each designer chooses a celebrity who embodies their unique style and vision.

That means that, for the most part, a celebrity’s look is up to the designer that invited them.

The annual gala always centers around a theme—for example, 2024’s was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and 2019’s was “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” However, guests and designers have a lot of freedom in how they choose to express that theme; there aren’t any hard and fast rules.

So, how does the Met Gala choose its theme each year? It’s a year-long process that begins well before the event. Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s dedicated curator, selects a theme that reflects current cultural trends.

Okay, so basically, what I live for is figuring out what’s about to be huge culturally, you know? Like, what’s really shifting and changing right now. I always want to see exhibits that are exciting and varied – sometimes looking back at fashion history, sometimes focusing on what’s happening right now, and a mix of shows based on themes versus shows dedicated to just one designer. It’s all about keeping things fresh and unpredictable, and I just need all of it!

Once he’s found a few promising options, he submits them to the museum director for approval. Then, Anna Wintour gives her final approval roughly a year in advance.

As a curator, I can tell you, pulling off an exhibition is rarely a solo effort! I really rely on my colleague, Anna. She has a fantastic knack for finding the right sponsors – the companies who’ll truly connect with the show. Honestly, sometimes I come up with concepts that are a little… niche, let’s say. They aren’t always the most obvious or broadly appealing ideas, and that can make securing funding a challenge. Anna helps bridge that gap and find sponsors who appreciate even the more unique aspects of the exhibition.

After walking the red carpet and climbing the famous steps, guests are greeted by Anna Wintour and the event’s co-hosts—including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams—in a receiving line. This often takes a while as everyone exchanges greetings and air kisses.

Guests then get a private viewing of the Costume Institute’s exhibition before anyone else. Afterwards, they enjoy a dinner with entertainment, including music, dancing, and performances by stars like Rihanna and Lady Gaga, offering a chance to socialize and connect with others.

A big part of the work involved in planning the Met Gala focuses on booking and coordinating the performers.

As shown in the documentary The First Monday in May, Ward Durrett struggled to afford Rihanna’s fee for the annual gala.

Oh my gosh, I just heard the most incredible thing! Apparently, Rihanna’s fee for performing is DOUBLE what anyone else has ever been paid here! I overheard someone on the phone with her team, and they were so firm – absolutely no negotiating the price. She’s worth every penny, obviously, but still…twice as much?! It’s amazing! I’m already counting down the days!

Eventually, Wintour was called to step in and figure out the situation.

In addition to the security provided by the Museum for the red carpet, celebrities can also bring their personal security teams.

The jewels are definitely the most heavily secured items at the Met Gala. In past years, celebrities like Lively have worn over $3.5 million worth of jewelry, and Karlie Kloss once sported $2.5 million in Forevermark diamonds for the event.

Because the diamonds are extremely valuable, Forevermark keeps the full security process confidential, but a guard is always present until the pieces are returned safely, a company representative told TopMob News. They also use extra security like RFID trackers and video surveillance.

So yes, Ocean’s 8 definitely got that aspect of the Met Gala right.

Because most Met Gala dresses are either made specifically for the event or borrowed from designers’ collections, celebrities usually don’t get to keep them. Typically, the gowns are returned to the design house and added to their archives.

In 2018, Balmain’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, partnered with Bono’s RED organization to auction off unique clothing items worn by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, and Trevor Noah. All of the money raised from the auction went to the Global Fund.

At the 2021 event, everyone had to wear masks and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This led rapper Nicki Minaj to decide against attending.

Okay, so there’s been a lot of talk about the Met Gala and vaccinations. Let me be clear: my decision to get vaccinated isn’t about attending the gala. It’s a personal choice I’m making after I’ve done my own thorough research, and I’m actively working on that right now. But in the meantime, please everyone, stay safe! I always recommend a well-fitted mask – the ones with two strings that really secure around your head and face, not just a loose-fitting one.

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2026-05-04 18:19