At The Met Gala, Fashion’s Past Became the Main Event

At this year’s Met Gala, the most memorable looks weren’t entirely new. They were resurrected.

Under the night’s “Costume Art” theme, guests explored the intersection of fashion and fine art. The corresponding dress code, “Fashion is Art,” showcased guests and stylists drawing on runway history, couture mythology, and iconic collaborations from decades past. The result was a carpet shaped not by trend-chasing, but by recognition.

Emma Chamberlin in Mugler

The evening kicked off with influencer Emma Chamberlain breezing up the Met stairs in a custom Mugler gown by Miguel Castro Freitas. The dress was a clear reference to Thierry Mugler’s legendary “La Chimère” gown from the Fall/Winter 1997 collection, which was a collaboration with artist Jean-Jacques Urcun and corset maker Mr. Pearl. Featuring thousands of hand-painted scales, Swarovski crystals, feathers, and horsehair, as well as a gold-plated corset, the gown is a true masterpiece.

Chamberlain and Castro Freitas paying homage to the “La Chimère” gown for this year’s gala was a stroke of true genius. Thierry Mugler is renowned for creating some of the most dramatic, fabulous, and sculptural pieces to grace the runway. In essence, he is seen as both a designer and an artist. By referencing one of his greatest creations, Chamberlain honored his legacy as a pioneer of the “fashion is art” message.

Charli XCX in Saint Laurent

Later in the evening, Charli XCX made her way down the carpet in a black Saint Laurent gown, designed by Anthony Vaccarello. The dress not only appeared to reference the house’s archives, but also the artistic preferences of its namesake. Specifically, for his Spring/Summer 1988 couture collection, Yves Saint Laurent sought to explore the works of the great Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. 

This saw him take inspiration from Van Gogh’s 1889 and 1890 pieces, both called Irises. He sent a jacket embroidered with the 1889 iteration down the runway, as well as a black velvet gown with a single iris stitched down the front. Later, Vaccarello himself paid homage to this black dress, presenting a mini version for his Fall/Winter 2017 show.

Charli’s referential gown highlighted the relationship that exists between fashion and fine art. Whether through collaboration or, in this case, inspiration, there is a constant, ongoing conversation between the two mediums that opens up new channels for their experimental and creative processes. 

Hailey Bieber in Saint Laurent

One of the most discussed looks of the evening was Hailey Bieber, who arrived in a Saint Laurent gown designed by Anthony Vaccarello.

The look was a clear reference to Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary Fall/Winter 1969 collection, which he created in collaboration with French sculptor Claude Lalanne. In particular, the collection featured two dresses, one black and one blue, for which Lalanne created gold body casts of the models’ torsos.

This collection was significant, marking one of the first times a designer and artist combined media. Specifically, in the fashion world, it marked an important shift in the way fashion could be viewed; no longer just a practical entity, but wearable art.

Bieber’s homage to these archival looks taught the Met Gala audience an important historical fashion lesson. In choosing those dresses to reference, it highlighted the fact that fashion has been actively engaged with the fine art world for decades. And, as Saint Laurent and Lalanne proved, the runway can be a showcase for media beyond the fashion realm.

At the 2026 Met Gala, originality wasn’t about creating something entirely new. It was about knowing exactly what deserved to be remembered.