Met Gala 2026: Fashion Is Art

Each year, on the first Monday of May, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are taken over by a curious line up: A-list actors, the ever-present cohort of nepo babies and those celebrities whose faces are instantly familiar yet names remain out of reach. Together, they transform the evening into one of the most heavily dissected fashion events of the year, the Met Gala. For people like me, it becomes less of a glamorous occasion and more of a personal sport; scrolling through Instagram from bed and passing judgement on this like I may be a stylist myself. As tradition demands, it all leads to the final ritual: a Bubble article featuring only the ‘best’ looks (according entirely to me – a completely unbiased authority whose opinions are, for legal reasons, entirely subjective). The theme of this year’s charity event, ‘costume art’, challenged guests to treat fashion as a performance – delivering looks that ranged from museum-worthy to mildly school-play adjacent.

Emma Chamberlain:

Over the past few years, Emma has quietly cemented herself as one of the Met’s most reliable attendees – and this year was no different. Her look felt like stepping into a living portrait. Drawing on archival Mugler couture, the outfit played with bold proportions, creating a silhouette that nodded to history while still feeling current.

Anok Yai:

If the brief was ‘fashion is art’, then Anok Yai understood it completely. Her look was less an outfit and more a moving sculpture, featuring structured almost architectural layers that seemed to defy gravity. The metallic finish truly added to this effect, making her appear almost otherworldly. Perhaps not the most ‘wearable’ look of the evening, (not that that matters at the Met), but certainly one of the most visually arresting.

Kylie and Kendall Jenner:

The Jenners approached the theme from entirely different angles which, in my opinion, made their joint appearance all the more interesting. Kendall opted for a refined, almost minimalist take – her GapStudio gown displaying subtle draping and classical references to the “Winged Victory of Samothrace.” It was elegant, yes, but perhaps played a little safe for Kendall.

Kylie, on the other hand, embraced drama. To sum up her Schiaparelli look, I’ll use three words: chic, surreal, illusion. With exaggerated shapes and intricate embellishments, her ‘Venus de Milo’ inspired piece leaned far more heavily into the ‘costume’ side of the theme. Whether it worked is debatable – but it certainly got people talking, which is arguably the point.

Sabrina Carpenter:

Sabrina Carpenter’s ensemble was a carefully crafted homage to classic cinema, drawing clear inspiration from Sabrina and the timeless elegance of Audrey Hepburn. The structured corsetry and softly layered textures of film tape certainly gave the outfit a vintage feel, while her delicate, fool-like aesthetic added a sense of playfulness that kept it from feeling too referential.

SZA:

SZA offered one of the evening’s most atmospheric interpretations, leaning into fluidity rather than structure. Crafted from an impressive 100 yards of material from eBay by Emily Adams Bode Aujla, the yellow dress felt intentionally expansive; its flowing layers and draping creating movement which mirrored water. Overall, the combination of soft tones and sweeping fabric came together to create a look that felt unified and quietly striking without trying too hard.

A quick (but very necessary) mention goes to Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams on their Met Gala debut. While not commanding the same level of attention as some of the evening’s biggest names, their appearances signalled something equally important: the next generation stepping into fashion’s most scrutinised spotlight. (Bonus points to them for also not wearing the usual black suit that every male seems to sport for the evening!)