Heidi Klum and More Celebs Who Understood the Met Gala 2026 Theme

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The art of fashion was on full display at the 2026 Met Gala.

Before Anna Wintour’s yearly fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the museum revealed the theme of this year’s exhibit: “Costume Art.” The dress code, “Fashion is Art,” encourages celebrities and designers to use their bodies as a creative starting point.

And while some stars opted for more classic formal wear, others really understood the assignment.

Consider Emma Chamberlain’s one-of-a-kind Mugler dress. The vibrant design was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Garden at Arles” and included long, fringed sleeves. Artist Anna Deller Yee spent 40 hours hand-painting the dress, and it took four days for the paint to fully dry.

I was so excited to read Emma’s interview with Vogue! She described her latest gown as having this beautiful, soft watercolor quality – which makes sense, because she actually loves watercolor painting. But what really grabbed me was how she also said there’s something a little unsettling and mysterious about the way the gown moves. That contrast – beautiful but with a dark edge – is exactly the kind of art I adore, and it’s so cool to see her bringing that aesthetic to her work.

Heidi Klum was the highlight of the night, wowing everyone with her Halloween costume. She worked with her frequent collaborator, makeup artist Mike Marino, to recreate Raffaelle Monti’s famous “Veiled Vestal” sculpture, bringing the artwork to life.

The host of Project Runway told Vogue that her outfit, made of foam and latex, was a bit warm to wear. However, she was fully committed to embodying the statue she was portraying, explaining, “I really wanted to become her.”

He continued, pointing out the blues, reds, and greens, which really drew your attention and made the landscape so beautiful.

 

After all, Jason believes that Paige was the perfect subject to style for the event.

 

He explained that creating true art requires having a unique perspective. He felt Paige’s viewpoint was particularly strong, recognizable, and timely, making it clear this project would be successful.

 

Read on to look at all the celebrities who showed up and showed out at the 2026 Met Gala.

For another striking look, Kylie Jenner wore a unique Schiaparelli outfit designed to look like the famous “Venus de Milo” sculpture, created by Alexandros of Antioch. The outfit featured a sculpted top and a dramatically draped gown.

Similar to her sister, Kim Kardashian wore a form-fitting bodysuit. However, unlike her sister’s design from a fashion house, Kim’s outfit was a unique art piece created by one of her preferred artists, Allen Jones.

Kim explained to Vogue that they used body casts he began creating in the 1960s, and that the molds were originally made from a model from that same era.

Sabrina Carpenter, a member of the Met Gala host committee, showcased a unique Dior outfit inspired by art. She even incorporated film strips from Audrey Hepburn’s 1954 movie, Sabrina, wrapping them around her dress. This creative look came after Carpenter performed with Stevie Nicks inside the Gala reception.

“It’s all made of film,” Sabrina told Vogue on the Met steps, “which is my dream.”

Many celebrities impressed with their fashion choices at the event. Read on to see TopMob News’ complete list of the best dressed!

Okay, let me tell you about this incredible look! The singer, known for ‘Manchild,’ totally nailed the ‘Fashion Is Art’ theme. She wore a stunning Dior dress – and get this – it was covered in actual celluloid film strips from the classic movie Sabrina starring Aubrey Hepburn! To finish it all off, she paired the dress with gorgeous Christian Louboutin heels. It was a really clever and chic way to bring film and fashion together.

Rihanna sparkled like a diamond at the event, wearing a stunning Maison Margiela outfit covered in over 115,000 crystals, vintage jewels, and unique decorative pieces.

The YouTuber looked like she had just stepped out of an oil painting in this custom Mugler design.

The Grammy-winning artist celebrated the human form with a stunning gown by Olivier Rousteing, designed to look like a skeleton.

Though she wasn’t wearing Prada, the actress from Devil Wears Prada 2 still perfectly captured the “Fashion Is Art” theme in a Michael Kors gown. The dress featured unique, hand-painted designs created by artist Peter McGough.

The star of Heated Rivalry turned heads on the red carpet, wearing a Saint Laurent outfit that included a polka-dot halter top with a long, flowing train.

Tennis star and 2026 Met Gala co-chair perfectly captured the “Costume Art” theme with her dazzling gown. The dress was made of a Swarovski crystal mesh and featured a bold necklace designed after the iconic Wimbledon plate.

The rapper explained to Vogue that her silicone dress from Saint Laurent was designed to look like the flowing fabric on an ancient Greek statue.

Following the event’s “Fashion is Art” theme, Kardashian worked with British artist Allen Jones, who created a fiberglass breastplate for her to wear.

The actress from Euphoria seemed inspired by Gustav Klimt’s 1912 painting, “Mäda Primavesi,” with her recent Prada outfit. Her nail artist, Emi Kudo, created a matching look by layering six shades of DND Gel polish to achieve the painting’s delicate, pale nude tones with hints of blue, white, yellow, and gray.

As a huge fan of Rhode Skin, I was absolutely stunned by Hailey Bieber’s Saint Laurent dress! It was clearly inspired by sculpture, and the bodice was made of actual 24-karat gold – it was breathtaking and looked like a work of art itself.

The singer of “Water” turned up the heat in a revealing, custom-made Valentino dress, paying tribute to the Costume Institute’s exhibition focused on the body.

I was so captivated by Zendaya’s look! Her hairstylist, Yusef Williams, shared with TopMob News that he was going for something really otherworldly and artistic – almost like a beautiful sculpture. It totally came across, and I’m obsessed!

He explained that he created the style by first using the Wavytalk Steam Sesh to straighten the roots, then defining the curls with the Cool Curl Pencil. Finally, he used the Turblow Pro with a diffuser to help the style last.

The rapper lived up to his name, arriving in a custom Chanel robe. It was a vibrant pink wool piece with sleek black satin details on the collar and edges.

The gown worn by the actress, Michael, was custom-made by DiPetsa and designed to evoke the look of draped fabric, much like the sculptures created by Italian artists who skillfully carved stone.

The star of Nope looked stunning in a vibrant red Prabal Gurung dress and matching Christian Louboutin heels. And her necklace? It was a real million-dollar piece from Wempe!

As a stylist, I have to say Keke’s vibrant scarlet look was absolutely stunning! I finished it off by styling her hair using the wonderful products from Creme of Nature – they really helped bring out that incredible color. Ashanti Lation did a fantastic job, and we were thrilled with the final result.

As a huge fan, I was so excited to see the lead actress from KPop Demon Hunters honor her Korean roots! Her outfit, covered in stunning Swarovski crystals, was inspired by the beautiful and elegant women of the Joseon dynasty – it was a truly gorgeous and meaningful look.

She told Vogue that these women weren’t just wives or socialites, but true artists—the most sophisticated and cultured people of their era, excelling in music, poetry, and witty conversation.

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2026-05-06 00:17