Inside Nicole Kidman’s Bewitching Met Gala 2025 Hair Transformation

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Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala 2025 hair transformation was practically magic.

Shailene Woodley turned heads at last year’s Met Gala, not just with her stunning Balenciaga Couture gown, but especially with her bold and striking hairstyle.

Okay, so I’m loving this latest look on one of my clients, a fantastic Oscar winner! Her stylist, Adir Abergel, gave her a really chic chop – we went for a length that hits right at the nape of her neck. To keep it soft and flattering, we added a long, wispy side bang that just skims her face. It’s a total transformation, and she looks amazing!

From the front, Nicole’s hairstyle appeared neatly styled, but it featured a fun, flowing design in the back. Plus, her normally perfectly blonde hair got a fresh look with darker brunette roots.

Like many memorable looks from the Met Gala, the 58-year-old’s makeup and style perfectly matched the theme for 2025.

Adir shared on Instagram after the May 5th Met Gala that Nicole Kidman’s look was inspired by a sharply tailored, short haircut, aiming to capture the spirit of classic Dandyism.

The stylist explained, “I wanted to capture the spirit of this year’s theme by paying tribute to the Dandies – people who express themselves through unique style, sophistication, and self-assurance, with every element carefully chosen to reflect their personality.”

It was obvious her hair and makeup artists worked well with her stylist, who chose a stunning, full-bodied strapless gown and coordinating gloves for the Practical Magic actress.

Nicole Kidman explained to Vogue that she wanted her look for the event to be completely personal. She shared it was inspired by and in support of the celebrated individuals – both men and women – who embrace unique style and those who champion and defend them. She was proud to be part of that group.

She expressed her joy in celebrating fashion, especially the craftsmanship of tailoring, and highlighted the skilled people who work behind the scenes. She explained that the ‘dandy’ theme focuses on personalization – taking a classic black suit and making it unique with details like beautiful, custom buttons – something she particularly appreciates.

Nicole, who will be co-hosting the 2026 Met Gala with Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, has announced who she’s bringing as her date to the May 4th event. The gala’s theme is “Costume Art,” and the dress code is “Fashion Is Art.”

Nicole told Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on the March 13th episode of their podcast, Las Culturistas, that she’s thrilled to be co-chairing for what she believes is the third time, and her daughter, Sunday, will be joining her.

Okay, seriously, it’s not just that she’s with him – though that’s amazing enough! She told everyone she’s SO excited to share this whole experience with one person in particular, and honestly, I’m dying to know who it is! She did this before, back in ’03 and ’05, but she said this time feels extra special. I’m completely obsessed and need all the details!

As she admitted, “Well I just get to be there for Beyoncé.”

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes details from the Met Gala… and get ready to see Hollywood’s elite at the 2026 event!

Attending the year’s most exclusive fashion event doesn’t come cheap. A single ticket will set you back $30,000, and reserving a table costs a staggering $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 particular designer’s clothes are usually given complimentary tickets as well.

Despite the high cost, people are still eager to buy it – there’s currently a waiting list.

Vintage store owner Cameron Silver, a frequent attendee of the event, told Page Six in 2017 that he knows people who are ready to go at a moment’s notice if a ticket becomes available. They’ve already planned their outfits, even if they aren’t sure they’ll be able to attend until the last minute.

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

Sylvana Ward Durrett of Vogue explained to Fast Company in 2017 that they aim for a close, personal feel for attendees. To achieve this, they’ve significantly reduced the event size over the last few years, cutting the guest list by around 200 to 300 people.

Though known for its lavishness and glamour, the event’s organizers aim for a feeling of exclusivity, limiting attendance to around 500 guests, with Anna Wintour typically leading the guest list. 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 individual invitation.

Planning for this major fashion event begins almost immediately after it’s over, usually the Tuesday following the first Monday in May. It’s a year-round effort, with around 100 people working on it, including 10 dedicated staff members from Vogue.

I absolutely love how Vogue handles big projects! Ward Durrett, who used to be a director there, explained they use what he calls a ‘one-sheet’ – basically, a constantly growing to-do list. It sounds chaotic, but they actually review it every day, even if some items are already checked off. It’s a surprisingly effective way to stay on top of everything, and I’ve tried to adopt the same system myself!

The very first thing she tackles when planning is the tent – it’s always number one! Then, she meticulously details everything that goes with it. Honestly, making this kind of list is how she thinks through an event completely, from beginning to end, and it’s brilliant because it ensures absolutely nothing gets overlooked.

According to the late Andre Leon Talley, a former editor at Vogue, Anna Wintour pays extremely close attention to every detail. In the documentary The First Monday in May, Talley explained that Wintour personally checks everything, including seemingly small things like napkins, silverware, and lighting, often for months in advance. She also carefully oversees details like floral arrangements and the ushers’ attire.

She likes to keep everything about her outfit a secret, right up until she arrives on the red carpet. According to Plum Sykes, a contributing editor at Vogue, Anna Wintour doesn’t want anyone to know what she’s planning until the very last moment, as she told 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 the seating chart, carefully placing guests together who have things in common.

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 it often involves a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and influence.

The seating plan for the event changes constantly as it’s finalized. Ward Durett shared with Vogue that she quickly learned Velcro was a much better choice than sticky notes to prevent mistakes. She explained they used to rely on small sticky notes, which often fell off, led to lost names, and required constant rewriting – it was a real challenge!

Ward Durrett also suggests using color-coding for seating arrangements, ideally alternating between women and men. Interestingly, she has a firm rule against seating couples together. Her reasoning? These events are designed to encourage mingling and learning about others’ work, so spending the whole time with your spouse defeats the purpose. Sorry, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds!

Okay, so I’ve noticed something about the Met Gala, and honestly, it obsesses me. Every single event, there’s always that one table that’s…less than ideal, you know? Stuck way in the back, practically next to the kitchen or the bathrooms. And it’s not a fixed thing! Every year, it’s a whole drama trying to figure out where the designers will be seated – it’s like they’re constantly shuffling things around. I spend way too much time analyzing the seating charts, honestly!

Wintour was deeply involved in every detail, even scolding her team for attempting to downplay the H&M table in a scene from the documentary The First Monday in May. She insisted, “We shouldn’t hide this table, it’s really not fair.”

While not known for high-end or designer fashion, brands like H&M (which advertises in magazines like Vogue) and more affordable options such as Topshop and Zara are increasingly appearing at major fashion events. H&M made a splash in 2015 when Sarah Jessica Parker wore a custom dress designed for her.

Big events like these always bring together people with complicated histories – you’re bound to find exes and rivals in close proximity. We’ve seen it before, like when Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, and Bella Hadid all attended the same event. Organizers probably try to avoid obvious conflicts, such as seating Taylor Swift and Katy Perry near each other during their public feud. However, the success of the event as a whole is the priority, even if there’s some underlying tension among guests.

It’s impossible to make everyone happy, and we believe all our seats offer a good view. Ultimately, we focus on doing the best job we can, understanding that some people will inevitably be dissatisfied,” said Ward Durrett. “However, we’ve consistently delivered positive experiences, with very few complaints. When issues do arise, we make an effort to work with those individuals the following year to ensure their expectations are met.

In a striking moment from the documentary First Monday in May, Ward Durrett pointed out three people on the seating chart with Velcro tabs, and directly told Anna Wintour he hoped they wouldn’t attend.

Fashion critic Cathy Hawn wrote in a 2006 New York Times article that John Lydon, formerly known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, was noticeably unhappy with his seat at a museum event. It was at the end of a long table and considered a poor location. He became so upset that he left the event twice, angrily confronting museum staff.

He eventually took his seat.

On a 2018 episode of The Late Late Show, James Corden playfully challenged Anna Wintour to reveal which celebrity she’d ban from ever attending the Met Gala again.

She responded, “Donald Trump.” (Both President Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, have gone to the Met Gala a number of times, but the last time they walked the famous steps was in 2012.)

Former fashion mentor Tim Gunn claims he’s been banned from the Met Gala. He says Anna Wintour blacklisted him after he shared a story with The Post that she didn’t like.

I remember when things really kicked off – it was absolutely wild, as he described on TopMob’s Fashion Police way back in 2016. Honestly, it felt like the start of a full-blown rivalry, and it’s been that way 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 the April 2026 episode of SiriusXM’s Bevelations 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 that he wasn’t invited in the first place.

Dinner will be served at the event, but Stephen Colbert 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. 

According to a source at Vogue, Anna Wintour once prohibited certain foods from events because they could get stuck in teeth (like parsley), cause bad breath (too much garlic), or, crucially, stain a guest’s dress. This led to appetizers being specifically designed for easy, mess-free eating.

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 caterer for the Met Gala from 1995 to 2018, explained that serving lamb potpies at the 2011 “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” gala led to numerous requests for alternative meals, 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 – a testament to her meticulousness.

It’s unclear why Anna Wintour banned selfies and social media at the Met Gala back in 2015 – no official reason was ever given. The decision remains a mystery, though it was made by Wintour herself.

According to a source at Vogue, guests received a warning before the gala: photography and posting on social media wouldn’t be allowed inside the event.

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 enjoyed the event.

In the documentary The First Monday in May, Anna Wintour visibly disapproved of phone use at the Met Gala. A scene shows her learning that a male 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, face-to-face interactions. She enjoys dinner parties where guests actually talk to one another. While they don’t interrupt conversations, they might politely point out if someone is being disruptive.

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.

The event is strictly for those 18 and older. Organizers confirmed this rule 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!”

The event is not suitable for anyone under 18, the organizer told The Hollywood Reporter. The new age restriction began this year.

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.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve noticed a little trick happening with the younger celebrities at events! It seems if a teen or younger star’s parents are attending, they’re often allowed to come along too – it’s a cute way to keep families together on the red carpet.

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

According to Andre Leon Talley in The First Monday in May, it’s as if each celebrity was assigned a designer to create their gown for the Met Gala. Former Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci, who designed outfits for Beyoncé and Madonna in 2016, explained that each designer chooses a celebrity who best embodies their artistic vision.

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

The annual gala always has a central theme – for example, 2024’s was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and 2019’s was “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” However, guests and designers are given plenty of creative freedom in how they interpret it – 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 feels current and reflects what’s happening in culture.

I aim to focus on topics that feel current and reflect a changing culture, or one that’s about to change,” he told Vogue. “We always want a variety of exhibits – some looking at history, others at the present, and a mix of shows focused on broad themes alongside those dedicated to individual designers. The goal is to keep things interesting and diverse.

Once he’s found a few good options, he gets approval from the museum director, and then Anna Wintour gives her final approval around a year in advance.

The curator, a highly respected figure in the British art world, said it would be very challenging to manage without her colleague’s help. Anna is responsible for finding sponsors for the exhibition, and she’s good at it. The curator admitted that sometimes their own ideas aren’t the most attractive to potential funders, especially if they aren’t mainstream or widely popular.

After walking the red carpet and climbing the famous steps, guests are greeted by Anna Wintour and the event’s co-chairs – 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, and have a chance to socialize and network.

Honestly, the biggest headache for the Met Gala planners? It’s always the performers. Getting the entertainment right is where all the real pressure comes from, believe me. I follow everything about this event, and it’s clear that’s the part everyone obsesses over!

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 amazing thing! Apparently, Rihanna’s fee for performing is, like, DOUBLE what anyone else has ever gotten! I overheard someone saying they spoke with her team, and even though they tried to negotiate, Rihanna’s people wouldn’t budge at all. She’s worth every penny, obviously, but still! It’s just…wow. She’s a queen!

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.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say the jewelry is where the real security focus needs to be at these events! We’re talking serious investment pieces. For example, Blake Lively once wore over $3.5 million in jewels, and Karlie Kloss stunned everyone with $2.5 million worth of Forevermark diamonds – it’s breathtaking, but definitely requires top-notch protection!

Because the diamonds are extremely valuable, Forevermark keeps the details of its security process confidential. However, a security guard is always present until the diamonds are returned safely. They also use extra security like RFID trackers and video surveillance, according to a Forevermark representative who spoke with TopMob News.

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 for their own records.

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, guests had to wear masks and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This led rapper Nicki Minaj to decide against attending.

Nicki Minaj shared on Twitter that she’s being encouraged to get vaccinated so she can attend the Met Gala. However, she clarified that if she does get the vaccine, it won’t be because of the event. She wants to do her own research first and is currently working on that. She also reminded her fans to stay safe and wear well-fitted masks with secure head and face straps, rather than loose-fitting ones.

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2026-05-04 15:49