The Met Gala rarely shows up without a reference or two, but this year’s stone-garden carpet called for more. Fashion, indeed, is art, for the evening’s best-dressed at least (menswear included). Yet the references didn’t stop there, paintings, sculptures, and everything in between didn’t stay in their frames or pedestals. Τhey walked alongside them, like history deciding to show up in person for once.
Hailey Bieber
Corsets were a favourite this time around, but they had their moment back in 1969 too. Mrs. Bieber drew inspiration from Saint Laurent’s then couture collection, a collaboration with French artist Claude Lalanne, who sculpted two bodices so beautiful that Saint Laurent chose to revisit them. She arrived wrapped in 24-karat gold, paired with a royal blue silk chiffon skirt and scarf trailing behind.
Cardi B
To Cardi B, “Fashion Is Art” means Marc Jacobs, and to Marc Jacobs, it means Hans Bellmer. A 1930s surrealist’s unsettling dolls still hold influence over 2026 design. A sheer black floral lace layer sat over a nude base, while flesh-toned padding reshaped the silhouette entirely, with peekaboo pops of pink and purple coming through.
Hunter Schafer
Schafer looked like a doll herself, one of the sweeter kinds. The actress drew from Gustav Klimt’s 1912/1913 painting Mäda Primavesi, arriving in an empire silhouette traced with roses. The look, however, was deconstructed and layered over a floral dress close to the painting’s palette. All Prada, all rosy cheeks.
Gracie Abrams
Abrams also turned to Gustav Klimt, specifically The Kiss. Αs did Matthieu Blazy. The singer showed up in a custom Chanel gown channelling that same golden tone and geometric pattern. The Chanel High Jewelry collection, of course, couldn’t miss it.
