Dree Hemingway leaned into drama with a Valentino couture look by Alessandro Michele. The oversized Elizabethan collar and fluid silhouette gave it a theatrical, almost regal feel, while still staying rooted in the theme.
Karan Johar made his Met Gala debut and kept it rooted in Indian art. Dressed in a custom look by Manish Malhotra, titled Framed in Eternity, his outfit drew inspiration from the work of Raja Ravi Varma. The base was a structured black ensemble with a high neck and sharp shoulders, giving it a strong, defined shape. What really stood out was the six foot hand painted cape layered on top, filled with detailed scenes inspired by Ravi Varma’s paintings, from draped figures to classical compositions. It felt like carrying a moving canvas on the carpet.
Kendall Jenner’s look had a sculptural quality, inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Designed by Zac Posen, it played with structure and form, almost like wearable architecture.
Hunter Schafer’s Prada look took inspiration from Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Mäda Primavesi. The soft, flowing silhouette and delicate detailing gave it a dreamlike, painterly vibe.
Gracie Abrams also drew from Klimt, this time referencing Adele Bloch-Bauer I. Her gold Chanel dress captured that richness and depth, turning a famous painting into something wearable.
Anne Hathaway brought a poetic touch with her Michael Kors gown, hand-painted by Peter McGough. Inspired by John Keats’s Ode on a Grecian Urn, the look felt like a moving piece of classical art.
Naomi Watts closed things on a softer note. Her Dior gown took cues from Rachel Ruysch’s floral still-life paintings, with delicate 3D flowers adding texture right down to her manicure.
All in all, this year’s Met Gala felt less like a red carpet and more like walking through an art exhibition, where fashion wasn’t just worn, it was experienced.
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