Jisoo debuts, Rihanna rules: 2026 Met Gala beauty—from prosthetic hair to crystal lids—channels wearable art

Jisoo of Blackpink made her 2026 Met Gala debut in a custom Dior gown blending pale pink and purple pastels, fully sequined with a strapless, backless column silhouette from gazar fabric. An embroidered garden motif covered the piece, finished with a fabric-flower headpiece and Cartier high jewellery including a Grain Café necklace. This nodded to Dior’s Impressionist heritage, suiting the “Fashion Is Art” dress code.

Her hair and makeup embodied her “Princess Jisoo” moniker perfectly, featuring dewy, light coverage in soft pink tones: shimmery eyeshadow, winged liner and a low bun with loose framing strands. The overall look works well for her debut on the Met Gala red carpet, allowing the K-pop superstar to stay true to her personal style while embracing the theme.

Alex Consani commanded the 2026 Met Gala red carpet in a Gucci gown initially appearing as pristine white, revealing a dramatic black feather train that evoked a black swan—channeling Botticelli’s “Primavera” and the film “Black Swan”. The “Fashion Is Art” dress code inspired this high-glamour piece, complete with feathers, tinsel and bold energy, marking Demna’s debut Met creation for the house. Her makeup gave full-on Elven, Tilda Swinton energy, with bleached brows and strong facial contours anchoring the look.

SZA returned to the 2026 Met Gala after 2022, channelling a gilded garden fairy in Emily Adams Bode Aujla’s golden yellow corset dress by Bode. The tiered, embroidered skirt used 100 yards of eBay-sourced vintage material for a textured, upcycled effect. A sheer butterfly cape unfurled from beaded bracelets on her arms, revealing swirling floral patterns.

Her standout headpiece—her self-proclaimed favourite—crowned the look with yellow pincushion protea, moth orchids and calla lilies, plus cowrie shell chains and champagne jewels for organic sparkle. Cowrie shells and additional blooms accessorised further. Makeup embraced sun-kissed radiance: bronzed cheeks glowed with terracotta warmth, glossy lids shimmered in honey tones, and terracotta lips offered a juicy, blurred finish to evoke a fairy-tale bloom amid the botanical drama.

Alexa Chung wore a flowing chartreuse gown by Jonathan Anderson for Dior, inspired by his Fall 2026 collection shown in the Tuileries Garden. The low-backed silk dress featured a single lily motif and a sensual, whimsical silhouette that contrasted her usual structured preferences. She prepared with stylist Danielle, hairstylist Matt Be, and joined Jonathan Anderson in her team—her first time using a stylist for the Met Gala.

To ensure flawlessness for the strappy gown, Chung prioritised a gym routine, back-foliation, hydration and a reliable beauty regimen: She embraced statement accessories, proving her knack for trendsetting once more. The beauty look is low-stress yet high impact—memorable and quirky in true Alexa Chung fashion.

Audrey Nuna debuted at the 2026 Met Gala in Robert Wun’s sculptural white coat dress, styled by Danyul Brown with Messika jewellery. Black paint splatters adorned the two-dimensional silhouette and matching hat, creating an abstract canvas that embodied the dress code’s artistic spirit. The avant-garde form recalled modern art installations, with clean lines and monochromatic drama.

Beauty echoed the gown’s sharp architecture and her own personal aesthetic: sculpted contours and glassy skin, graphic eyeliner on the lower lash line and black, jewel-encrusted lips. Its cohesiveness makes it one of the best beauty looks of the evening, effortlessly straddling costume art and contemporary edge.

Don’t miss: Robert Wun, the first designer to show at Paris Haute Couture Week, on the Met Gala, Wong Kar-wai and staying true to himself

Anne Hathaway arrived at the 2026 Met Gala in a custom Michael Kors Collection gown hand-painted by artist Peter McGough, following her Devil Wears Prada sequel press tour. Crafted from black-and-white silk, the gown depicted a hand extending towards a dove on the front, with the back unveiling the Goddess of Peace amid flowing drapery. Bulgari high jewellery—including serpenti necklaces and earrings—complemented the tailored silhouette, aligning with the theme through symbolic Western iconography.

Beauty delivered timeless red-carpet polish: smoky taupe eyeshadow created depth via blended mattes and subtle shimmer; precise rose lipstick offered enduring vibrancy; and a sleek low chignon secured with pins provided architectural poise.

Rihanna closed the 2026 Met Gala red carpet with A$AP Rocky, arriving fashionably late in Maison Margiela Couture Fall 2025 by Glenn Martens. The gown featured a jewel-encrusted long-sleeve turtleneck base under a metallic bronze shroud that draped into a column skirt, encircling her shoulders and torso. Hundreds of hand-set gems, crystals and stones created a liquid-metal effect, amplified by Briony Raymond and Dyne jewellery: stacked diamond bracelets, statement rings, bejewelled ear cuffs and eye-corner gems. Strappy gold sandals grounded the opulence.

Hair took a futuristic slicked-back mullet with golden curl-cue pins and metallic swirls mimicking the gown’s lines. Makeup blended metallics and cool purples: shimmering eyeshadow, fluttery lashes, peach blush and frosty neutral lips.

NOW READ

Met Gala 2025: the eastern avant-garde—how Asian designers reimagined fashion’s biggest night

2026 Met Gala: 10 Asian celebrities who nailed the ‘Fashion Is Art’ dress code

The Met team on bringing rare jewellery to Hong Kong, the Met Gala and why everybody loves gold