Beneath the spectacle of diamonds, corsets and carefully curated red carpet moments lies something more complicated: a cultural event that exists at the intersection of art, wealth, celebrity and performance.

This year’s theme, “Costume Art”, asked attendees to treat clothing as a form of artistic expression rather than simple luxury. Inspired by the Costume Institute’s exhibition of the same name, the theme explored the relationship between fashion, identity and the body through history, pushing celebrities to think beyond simply looking glamorous.

Unlike some past Met Gala themes that felt vague or impossible to interpret, this year’s concept actually encouraged creativity. The best looks felt dramatic, sculptural and intentional. Some celebrities fully committed to the assignment, while others clearly played it safe.

Best dressed list

Some of my favourite ensembles of the night came from Emma Chamberlain, Kendall Jenner, Gracie Abrams, Lily-Rose Depp, Lila Moss and Laura Harrier, whose looks felt effortlessly elegant while still fitting the artistic direction of the night.

Kendall Jenner’s structured silhouette, dressed by designer Zac Posen for Gap Inc., was inspired by the Greek sculpture the Winged Victory of Samothrace (in the Louvre, Paris). It reflected the idea that fashion can become art through precision, the body’s shape and craftsmanship rather than pure extravagance or painted colours.

 

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In contrast, Emma Chamberlain took an entirely different path, but still perfectly captured the theme. Her Mugler dress, hand-painted by artist Anna Deller-Yee, directly interpreted the “fashion is art” theme by turning her into a literal painting. Chamberlain’s look balanced vintage glamour with sculptural tailoring in a way that felt both modern and museum-worthy.

My personal favourite was Gracie Abrams, dressed by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel. She wore a custom golden gown that functioned as a tribute to the work of Gustav Klimt. The primary inspiration for this gown was Klimt’s 1907 masterpiece, the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer – also known as “The Woman in Gold”. Gracie proved that softer, romantic fashion could still feel artistic and intentional rather than overly theatrical.

Criticism and contradictions

The night also exposed the contradictions of the event itself. Much of the criticism centred around the growing sense of elitism surrounding the Met Gala, especially during a time of economic and foreign anxieties and ongoing inequalities.

Social media quickly filled with comparisons to The Hunger Games, criticising the event as an extravagant display of wealth disconnected from the reality most Americans face.

That criticism intensified with the highly visible presence of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, as lead sponsors of this year’s Gala and the exhibition, and honorary co-chairs. For many viewers, placing one of the richest couples in the world at the centre of an event supposedly celebrating artistic expression reinforced the idea that over time, the Met Gala has become less about art and more about exclusivity, status and billionaire influence.

There were calls for a boycott in the days before the Gala. On the night, protesters gathered outside the event, and critics questioned whether an evening focused on custom couture, multimillion-dollar jewellery and invitation-only luxury could ever truly present itself as culturally meaningful rather than commercially performative.

Part of what keeps people so invested in the Met Gala is the emotional attachment audiences form with the celebrities themselves. People were devastated that Zendaya – arguably one of the few celebrities who constantly understands the assignment every single year – was absent from the carpet. Her Met Gala appearances have become events of their own; she approaches fashion like storytelling rather than branding.