The 2026 Met Gala theme — "Threads of Time: Fashion and Nostalgia" — inspired looks ranging from breathtaking to bewildering. Here are the standouts from fashion's most important red carpet.
Best Dressed
Zendaya: A show-stopping vintage Mugler gown reimagined with modern technology — embedded LEDs that shifted color throughout the evening. Fashion critics called it the best Met Gala look in a decade.
Bad Bunny: A custom Balenciaga suit made entirely from recycled concert tour materials. Meaningful, fashionable, and perfectly on theme.
Florence Pugh: A Valentino gown inspired by 1920s flapper culture with contemporary volume. Elegant risk-taking.
Worst Dressed
- Jared Leto: Dressed as a literal clock. Too literal an interpretation of the theme.
- Influencer contingent: Multiple TikTok creators wore nearly identical "safe" designer gowns that missed the theme entirely.
Controversy
Debate erupted over the number of influencer invitations (now 15% of the guest list) versus fashion industry professionals. Anna Wintour defended the mix as "reflecting modern culture."
