Rihanna, Heidi Klum and A$AP Rocky

I realize you cannot really see anyone's outfits here but I could not resist this photo. It is SO cute. I feel like Rihanna has never seen anything this funny in her life and is about to fall over laughing. I love them all. There is also something so funny about Heidi being FULLY in costume as a sculpture but also carrying a little glitzy clutch.

Heidi Klum in custom Mike Marino

I believe she made this in concert with her usual Halloween-costume creative director and it ABSOLUTELY feels like something Heidi, who is famously obsessed with Halloween and refreshingly non-vain about it, would wear for said holiday. (She also claims it's very soft and comfy but also hot.) This is very silly and weird, but I really appreciate it when Heidi goes Silly and Weird. It's one of the most endearing things about her.

Heidi Klum in custom Mike Marino

This is honestly amazing workmanship -- and it also makes me laugh, thinking about Anna Wintour looking across the room to see Heidi wearing this and shoving a passed app into her face.

Rihanna in Maison Margiela

Rihanna looks like a beautiful whirlpool, as promised, but mostly this photo is great because ASAP Rocky back there seems SO smitten -- which of course he is, as he is her beloved and also it's Rihanna. I feel like almost everyone looks at Rihanna like this when she shows up places. This is why she gets away with being late all the time!

Madonna in Saint Laurent

I am entertained. This is absurd and I didn't hear the reasoning behind it -- I sincerely hope Madonna is in costume as her favorite Rembrandt -- but it's more fun than her usual Gaultier schtick. If anyone should have a posse of handmaidens while she carries around a French horn (????) it is Madonna. (In the interest of truthiness, it's actually inspired by this painting, and it's perfect.)

Madonna in Saint Laurent

I told you someone had a ship on her head!!!! Would you have guessed Madonna? (Cher was also present and I hope Madge let Cher try on her ship.)

Bad Bunny in custom Zara

I don't know! I hope he and Heidi Klum got together to talk about how they keep busy during lengthy old-age makeup sessions, as she once did this for, yes, Halloween.

Sarah Paulson in Matieres Fecales

Ahem, per the brand's Instagram, a post liked by Sarah's stylist, Karla Welch: "She is wearing the 'Blinded by Money' leather mask and the Destroyed Tulle Debutante Ballgown. The collection was a reflection of the greed and corruption that comes with extreme power." Good for her!

Sarah Paulson in Matieres Fecales

I appreciate that. (Karla is probably the most vocally political A-list stylist, so I am not surprised she pulled this look, but I'm happy it was actually deployed.)

Sabrina Carpenter in Dior

Tonal change klaxon, but this is also cool although in a very different way: This entire dress is made of film, and the film it is made of is Sabrina. Very apt, certainly. Not for nothing but this is also the best her makeup has ever looked.

Hudson Williams in Balenciaga

I am scared of the Heated Rivalry stans but I have to confess that I am not sure this totally hangs together, as much as I love a big swing. He told the Vogue red carpet that his makeup was inspired by Black Swan and now that he's said that, I can see it.

Russell Wilson and Ciara

Meanwhile, Ciara was inspired by, per Ciara, Nefertiti and Grace Jones and I can see both of those references in this look. She looks, frankly, incredible. (Russell looks fine but who is even looking at him over there.)

Ciara

Amazing!

Cardi B in Marc Jacobs

I do love seeing Marc Jacobs at the Met Gala and this seems like it would be easy to take a little nap in, should the evening turn to the dull.

Janelle Monae in custom Siriano

This is very charming -- she had metallic butterflies on this that moved -- but it also really reminded me of this amazing Schiaparelli dress which I personally thought was more successfully collaged, although that one was not animatronic.

Emma Chamberlain in custo Mugler

Well, is this isn't "Fashion Is Art," then what is? It's literally art.

Emma Chamberlain in Mugler

Isn't this cool?

Gwendoline Christie in Giles Deacon

This was partially inspired by Sargent -- as were many looks, we saw at least three Madame Xes (Madames X?). I really appreciate the swing and I LOVE that her fan has her own face on it, but the hat might be a feather too far for me? (There were a lot of feathers last night.)

Christian Cowan and Sam Smith

But this is DELIGHTFUL.

Sam Smith in Christian Cowan

Delightful, I tell you!

Kim Kardashian in custom Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem

Honestly, I have no reaction to anything Kim does anymore and it would be more interesting if she'd take a couple of years off from this.

Kim Kardashian in custom Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem

Even she appears to be totally disassociating.

Jeremy Pope in Vivienne Westwood

This is fun. I kind of wish it were a jumpsuit and not just a shirt.

Naomi Osaka in Robert Wun

Are you ready for the promised reveal?

Naomi Osaka in Robert Wun

Voila! This will be MUCH easier to party in.

SZA in Bode

This is so bright and charming and was also one of the many looks partially sponsored by eBay, because she mentioned how much of it was sourced on eBay many times during her interview. Sure! Who hasn't turned to eBay in times of creative need.

Eileen Gu in Iris Van Herpen

From afar, this looks cute enough -- more people need to go short for the Met Gala -- and then you notice...

Eileen Gu

It's made of little bubbles AND little bubbles are EMERGING from it. This is beyond charming to me. For once, this is something I haven't seen before. (I guess I haven't seen Madonna with a ship on her head before either, but you know what I mean.)

Odessa A'zion in Valentino

I DO think the Met Gala could do with some more thigh-high boots.

Devyn Garcia

Compared to some of the looks in this collection, this feels almost understated. (It is perfectly on theme.)

Lena Mahfouf in Burc Akyol

Speaking of things I haven't typed previously: Welcome to the portion of the evening with all the extra hands.

Lisa in Robert Wun

Robert Wun had a very busy evening. He made a LOT of artistic limbs for people. This, I must confess, was one of the less successful ones for me. It's giving mosquito netting.

Jordan Roth in Robert Wun

But this, frankly, amazing. It is perfectly creepy and weird and arty and memorable. Also, probably fun to take photos with inside.

Sabine Getty in custom Ashi Studio

I think these shoes are wrong. But this feels like the better version of that Burc Akyol Hands Bra.

Nichapat Suphap in Robert Wun

Did someone say, "hands"?

Ananya Birla in Robert Wun

It's that person with the ladles all over her face!

Met Gala 2026: The Big, the Sculptural, and the Hard to Quantify

This post has an unusual amount of extra limbs.