Models at the 2026 Met Gala
Here is a look at the models who graced the red carpet at the 2026 Met Gala.
Sacred Iconography Reframed
Anok Yai’s Balenciaga gown drew on the visual language of the Black Madonna, but the impact extended far beyond the silhouette.
Her metallic, gilded makeup, inspired by the Weeping Statues of Sicily, introduced a devotional element that tied directly into the night’s exploration of the body as both vessel and symbol. The result felt ceremonial, where fashion, art, and spirituality intersect, and where the body itself became a site of storytelling rather than simply a base for the garment.
Precision In Restraint
Vittoria Ceretti wore a Carolina Herrera dress styled with Boucheron jewels, delivering a look that leaned into clean lines and controlled elegance, which she does so well.
Sleek With A Graphic Edge
Cara Delevingne’s Ralph Lauren gown, paired with De Beers jewels, followed a similar path of streamlined dressing, but with a sharper visual impact. The contrast elements within the design gave the look definition, ensuring it held its own on a carpet filled with more elaborate statements.
Veiled Illusion
Heidi Klum paid homage to Raffaelle Monti’s 1847 sculpture The Veiled Vestal, with a look created alongside prosthetic make-up designer Mike Marino. The illusion of a sheer veil sculpted over the face and body connects directly to the theme, where the body is both concealed and revealed. It’s a literal translation of the idea, but one that lands because of its technical execution and historical reference. A rare win for Heidi, but we all know this was easy for her, as she is the queen of Halloween.
Devotion Worn Close
Georgina RodrÃguez wore a custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin look inspired by the Virgin of Fátima. The inclusion of hand-embroidered phrases hidden within the garment adds a deeply personal layer, turning the piece into something intimate rather than purely visual. The custom rosary and Chopard jewels reinforce the devotional aspect, keeping the narrative focused and clear.
Art History In Motion
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Burberry gown referenced John Singer Sargent’s Madame X, translating the painting’s sense of scandal and elegance into a modern red carpet context. The heart-shaped bodice and draped silk tulle skirt keep the look rooted in the idea of the dressed body as art, aligning seamlessly with the evening’s framework.
Painterly Form
Paloma Elsesser in Bureau of Imagination brought a painterly quality to the carpet, with pastel tones, metallic appliqués, and layered textures giving the gown the feel of colour worked across a canvas. The draped silhouette kept the focus on the body, while the train extended the idea outward, like paint spreading beyond the frame.
Refined Glamour
Jasmine Tookes wore Sophie Couture, delivering a look that balanced embellishment with a clean silhouette.
A Missed Opportunity
I was underwhelmed by both Gigi Hadid and Miu Miu. Granted, this does hit the theme in terms of being artistic, but it feels like sheer for sheer’s sake. Jessica McCormack jewellery completed her look.
Familiar Territory
Irina Shayk wore a custom Alexander Wang look that feels like something I’ve seen many times before, despite it being new.
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