Art came to life at the fashion event of the year.
The Met Gala, an annual fundraising festival held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, took place Monday and saw a star-studded line of actors, models and celebrities in show-stopping looks. This year’s theme was “Costume Art,” and the dress code “Fashion is Art” inspired many attendees to collaborate with famous designers to bring iconic paintings and art pieces to life with their outfits.
Read on to learn more about the Daily Bruin’s top looks of the night.
Beyoncé
After a ten-year hiatus from the Met Gala, Beyoncé returned to the cobblestone carpet in a costume fit for a queen. Building on her longstanding partnership with the former Balmain creative director, Olivier Rousteing, Beyoncé arrived near the end of the evening in custom couture with her family in tow. In a body-clutching skin-tone mesh dress, a radiant, solar shaped tiara and a cascading opera gown composed of silver and tawny feathers, Beyoncé was the proverbial show-stopper.
But the queen wasn’t there to rule nor to perform, but to bare her bones. Embossed along the front of the dress was a jewel-encrusted skeleton that dripped down the length of the dress from the ribcage to the spinal column to the pelvis. Not only does Rousteing echo the theme of this year’s Met Gala, as the very structure of Beyoncé’s being rendered as a priceless work of art, but he draws on his muse’s costume history as well. The metallic key notes of Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour wardrobe – many looks from which Rousteing designed – and her previous use of headpieces that reference Yoruban deities manifest in this dazzling Met Gala look.
Beyoncé has won this night – bones and all.
– Mya Ward
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain owned the 2026 Met Gala with the unearthly beauty of a watercolor painting.
The influencer – who will mark a decade since the launch of her career-spawning YouTube page next month – returned to the Met Gala for the sixth year in a row as a guest as well as a special correspondent for Vogue. The 24-year-old has brought some dynamic looks to the carpet before, but she exceeded every expectation this year in a graceful, multicolor gown that encapsulated this year’s dress code of “Fashion Is Art.” The custom Mugler dress by Miguel Castro Freitas was the product of a collaboration with Chamberlain and her stylist Jared Ellner, pulling inspiration from archival Mugler looks and Vincent Van Gogh to craft a mesmerizing look immediately worth adding to the Met Gala history books.
The California local’s father is a painter, and naturally her Met Gala ensemble was hand-painted over the course of 40 hours by Anna Deller-Yee. The dress required 30 base colors and four days to dry, but the result was nothing short of magical – the gentle slope of yellow and green brushstrokes cascaded across Chamberlain’s body and down her side before flaring out into a wide skirt enriched by several shades of blue and indigo. The gossamer nature of the fringe-adorned sleeves and the complimentary make up in mauve and yellow added the extra touch to make Chamberlain appear like a canvas painting come to life.
By having the forethought to create a one-of-a-kind piece, Chamberlain crushed the Met Gala as the embodiment of an enchanting watercolor.
– Reid Sperisen
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams graced the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this Monday dipped in gold.
At her first Met Gala appearance since her 2024 debut at the event, the American singer wore the “Costume Art” theme like a second skin, bringing Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” to life in real time. Nearly 300 hours and 5,150 crystals, chains and sequins were used by designer Matthieu Blazy with Chanel to fashion the embroidered nude chiffon and golden lace gown. The off-the-shoulder sleeves and adorned halter-neck strap, paired with an artfully styled bixie cut, framed the canvas for Abrams’ signature minimalistic glam. The singer accompanied the look with dangling earrings, statement rings and strappy stilettos to animate the golden lover from the portrait.
The homage borrows Klimt’s signature assemblage-esque mosaic patterns with its glistening multicolored embellishments, and the gilded honey color palette emulates the painter’s iconic use of gold leaf. Cascading chains at the waist echo the painting’s fluid intimacy, translating Klimt’s ornamental embrace into a kinetic red carpet standout.
No “I’m sorry” necessary – Gracie Abrams delivered a look worth loving.
– Emily Berkowitz
Chase Infiniti
Met Gala first-timer Chase Infiniti gave the event’s veterans a run for their money on Monday.
Ever since Infiniti’s breakout performance in the Best Picture-winning film “One Battle After Another” last September, the young actress has been commanding red carpets worldwide. After turning heads with her glamorous looks throughout the last awards season, it’s no surprise that her gala debut was among the best of the night. Infiniti dazzled in a vibrant, form-fitting Thom Browne dress with over 1.5 million sequins, completing the look with silver jewelry and voluminous curls.
The sequin stacks and trailing layers of fringe on Infiniti’s gown employed a trompe l’oeil technique to give the illusion of displaying her nude figure in mesmerizing shades of red, blue and yellow. Beyond its visual beauty, the dress also rose above the rest because of its intelligent embrace of the night’s “Fashion Is Art” theme. The look was inspired by Alexandros of Antioch’s renowned Venus de Milo sculpture, and its design in primary colors made it appear hand-painted, turning Infiniti into a moving work of art.
With such a successful start, it seems likely that Infiniti will be shining at the gala for many years to come.
– Victoria Munck
Lisa
With her show-stopping look, Lisa did not just lift a veil – she elevated fashion into an art form.
Made out of 66,960 white Swarovski crystals, Lisa’s a one-of-a-kind Robert Wun creation was grounded in both extravagance and cultural significance. Known as “The Veil,” the look features a sheer, crystalized veil draping over her torso that is held up by two arms that are not only 3D prints of Lisa’s arms but also posed to mirror Thai dance positions. Inspired by Wun’s fall 2025 collection, this look features a matching white gown that shines with each step up the carpet. The ensemble was completed with glass-like makeup, sapphire Bulgari jewelry and an icy manicure inspired by the frozen brilliance of her accessories.
Taking the role as a member of the host committee of the Met Gala this year, Lisa not only organized the event, but also brought its theme of the intersection between fashion and art to life. With her sculptural, icy look, the actor and singer proved that fashion does not just reflect art – it performs it. As Lisa prepares for her recently announced Las Vegas residency, she will continue to transform performance into unprecedented artwork.
– Daniela Fogliano
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