Unveiling the Secrets: The Met Gala’s Most Daring Red Carpet Inspirations

The Met Gala is renowned not only for its extravagant themes but also for the notorious tendency of celebrity guests to flout the dress code. However, the 2026 gala was a departure from this norm, as a notable number of stars embraced the “Fashion Is Art” theme with remarkable fidelity, channeling inspiration from some of the globe’s most celebrated artworks.

At the forefront of this artistic homage was Kylie Jenner, who captivated attention in a Schiaparelli creation that was a nod to classical art. Her ensemble featured a flesh-toned bodysuit with faux nipples, elegantly draped with a cream satin gown gathered around her hips.

Kylie Jenner: Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch

Kylie’s outfit was one of the evening’s highlights, though its artistic reference was not immediately apparent. It was only later that fans recognized its inspiration from Alexandros of Antioch’s iconic Venus de Milo sculpture.

Meanwhile, Cardi B found herself at the center of a social media frenzy over her unusual Marc Jacobs gown. The outfit drew mixed reactions, with some humorously likening it to a colon, sparking a lively online debate.

Kylie Jenner’s Schiaparelli gown a the 2026 Met Gala was inspired by Alexandros of Antioch’s famous Venus de Milo sculpture

Cardi B: The Doll by Hans Bellmer

Cardi B meanwhile was ripped on social media over her bizarre Marc Jacobs gown, which many compared to a colon.

The rapper told reporters that her giant sheer Marc Jacobs dress with black lace overlay was actually inspired by The Doll – seemingly referring to The Doll by Hans Bellmer, a series of photographs centering on a distorted female body. 

Cardi B was ripped on social media over her bizarre Marc Jacobs gown. The rapper told reporters that her giant sheer Marc Jacobs dress was inspired by The Doll by Hans Bellmer

Madonna: The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Leonora Carrington

Madonna also chose a lesser known artwork to reference. 

The superstar took over the blue carpet in her look from Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello, which evoked a painting by British-Mexican surrealist painter Leonora Carrington titled The Temptation of Saint Anthony.

The gothic black lace dress was accessorised with a striking ship headpiece and she carried a gold horn, a direct copy of the woman depicted in Carrington’s piece.

Madonna took over the blue carpet in her look from Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello which evoked a painting by British-Mexican surrealist painter Leonora Carrington titled The Temptation of Saint Anthony

Heidi Klum: Vestal Virgin by Raffaelle Monti

Heidi Klum leaned all the way into the theme, arriving in a look that could only be described as a living statue.

The Mike Marino costume was most reminiscent of Raffaelle Monti’s 1847 Vestal Virgin marble. 

Heidi Klum leaned all the way into the theme, arriving in a look that could only be described as a living statue

Kim Kardashian: Maîtresse by Allen Jones

Kim Kardashian put on a leggy display in an orange metallic bodysuit by British artist Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem that had a custom-molded breast plate on the front. 

Leather material fell down behind her and contained hues of both tan and vibrant orange. 

The outfit took inspiration from Jones’ poster for the 1975 French erotic film Maîtresse and was controversial in both the U.S. and U.K. upon its release. 

Kim Kardashian’s inspiration for her sculpted fembot look that she donned at the 2026 Met Gala has been revealed

Kendall Jenner:  Winged Victory of Samothrace

Kim’s sister Kendall Jenner’s Zac Posen for GapStudio look was inspired by Winged Victory of Samothrace, the second-century Greek statue of the goddess of victory that currently takes pride of place in the Louvre.

Posen used Gap’s staple of a classic white T-shirt as a starting point for his design, telling Vgue: ‘I took a white Gap T-shirt off of my back in my studio and started pulling it and tweaking it and figuring out how – in a contemporary way, in a glamorous way -to interpret the sculpture that influenced humanity and our modern culture.’

Draped chiffon and a custom leather corset from Abel Cepeda Ljoka and Will Kowall of the New York brand Seks as a base completed the look. 

Kendall Jenner’s GapStudio look was inspired by Winged Victory of Samothrace

Lauren Sánchez Bezos:  Madame X by John Singer Sargent

The gala’s honory chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos couldn’t ignore the theme, enlisting Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry.

‘The theme is Costume Art, and that’s exactly what Elsa Schiaparelli was doing 100 years ago,’ Lauren told Vogue. ‘She wasn’t just decorating bodies—she was making art on bodies.’  

Her black gown is a reference to one of the most famous portraits in The Met’s collection: Madame X by John Singer Sargent. 

The 1883 masterpiece depicting French socialite Madame Pierre Gautreau has a controversial history.

The artist’s choice to include one strap subtly slipping off Gautreau’s shoulder caused such an uproar that he repainted the strap upright and  hid the painting for three decades, eventually selling it directly to The Met. 

Sanchez explained has she was inspired by the tale, and the idea that ‘a small detail once sparked such a strong public reaction. When you stand in front of it now, you see a beautiful woman. For me, the image represents how fashion and cultural standards can shift over time.’

Sanchez wasn’t the only one to take inspiration from Madame X though. Brit actress Claire Foy’s Erdem Moralıoğlu gown was a more direct copy of the dress in the painting, with the added twist of a Barbour jacket.

The gala’s honory chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos couldn’t ignore the theme, enlisting Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry

Sanchez wasn’t the only one to take inspiration from Madame X though. Brit actress Claire Foy’s Erdem Moralıoğlu gown was a more direct copy of the dress in the painting

Emma Chamberlain: Ploughman by Vincent Van Gogh

Emma Chamberlain was inspired by both famous works of art and her personal connection to painting.

The star wowed in a custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas dress hand painted by artist Anna Deller-Yee.

The colourful gown’s print was inspired by works by Van Gogh and Munch, but Emma gushed that her dad’s work as an oil and watercolour painter also played its part in her look’s creation. 

Emma Chamberlain was inspired by both famous works of art and her personal connection to painting

Rachel Zegler: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche

Rachel Zegler made a statement about her controversial career trajectory with her 2026 Met Gala ensemble, as well as sticking to the Fashion is Art dress code. 

The Snow White actress made her third appearance at the annual event in a stunning Atelier Prabal Gurung gown.

The pearl silk dress was accessorised with a Jennifer Behr custom silk mask.

Rachel, 25, later confirmed that the blindfold referenced Paul Delaroche’s famous 1833 painting The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded in 1554 for high treason.

Fans applauded the reference, musing that Rachel’s own experience with ‘scapegoating’ and ‘cancel culture’ could be linked back to the painting’s subject. 

‘rachel zegler referencing the execution of lady jane grey who was wrongfully scapegoated and executed when she was just a teen girl, thinking thoughts,’ pointed out one fan on X. 

Rachel Zegler made a statement about her controversial career trajectory with her Atelier Prabal Gurung gown, as well as sticking to the Fashion is Art dress code

Gracie Abrams: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt

Gracie Abrams chose golden Chanel for her second year at the Met. Working with Matthieu Blazy they created a gown inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt.

The Austrian painter, was known for his groundbreaking use of gold leaf during his ‘Golden Period’. 

Gracie Abrams chose golden Chanel for her second year at the Met. Working with Matthieu Blazy they created a gown inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt

Hunter Schafer: Mäda Primavesi by Gustav Klimt

Hunter Schafer’s custom empire-waist Prada look was also directly inspired by Klimt, and specifically his seven-foot painting Mäda Primavesi. 

The 1912/1913 portrait, which hangs in The Met, depicts the nine-year-old girl wearing a white dress by Klimt’s friend, couture designer Emilie Flöge, decorated with flowers. 

Hunter Schafer’s custom empire-waist Prada look was also directly inspired by Gustav Klimt, and specifically his seven-foot painting Mäda Primavesi

Ben Platt: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

Ben Platt represented the men, with his custom hand-painted and embroidered Tanner Fletcher suit inspired by the work of post-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Ben Platt represented the men, with his custom hand-painted and embroidered Tanner Fletcher suit inspired by the work of post-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte