With Beyoncé’s outfit labeled the “WORST” by Met Gala fans, which looks received the “BEST”? 😨 60+ photos highlighting the most memorable looks of the night are waiting in the comments. ⬇️

Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Nicole Kidman attend the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Nicole Kidman attend the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The other protocol breach was considerably more sartorial. Troye Sivan and model Bhavitha Mandava both arrived wearing jeans, a choice that carries a specific weight in Wintour’s orbit.

In a recent Vogue podcast, three former Wintour assistants described the unspoken dress code of her office. “It was never explicitly said, but in Anna’s office, there are no jeans or sneakers,” one said. Another added, “When I graduated out of Anna’s office, the first thing I did was start wearing jeans to work, and it was amazing.”

Troye Sivan attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Troye Sivan attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Advertisement
Wintour herself addressed the topic of jeans in a 2019 interview. Although she liked them in general, the former Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue said, “I also think there are times when you need to be respectful. You should definitely not wear jeans to Buckingham Palace.” Whether the Met Gala red carpet clears that bar is, apparently, open to interpretation.

Bhavitha Mandava attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Bhavitha Mandava attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The Ladies Who Went Solo
Several high-profile attendees walked the carpet without their partners. One of them was Blake Lively, who arrived without her husband, Ryan Reynolds, despite his joining her at past galas.

Still, she looked amazing in an archival Atelier Versace dress from spring 2006, built from powdery pinks, lemon yellows, corals, soft peaches, and frothy lilacs, colors drawn from a sunset palette.

Advertisement
Blake Lively attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Blake Lively attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Another solo lady was Kylie Jenner, who is dating Timothée Chalamet. She walked the cream carpet in Schiaparelli, wearing a gown which appeared to be falling open to reveal a nude illusion corset with faux nipples and a heavily embellished pearl-covered train.

Kylie Jenner attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Kylie Jenner attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Advertisement
Surprisingly, Sánchez Bezos, despite co-sponsoring the event alongside her husband, walked alone in an off-the-shoulder Schiaparelli couture gown with pearl and crystal straps and a corset bodice, a silhouette that drew clear comparisons to the Met’s own Madame X painting by John Singer Sargent.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Lauren Sánchez Bezos attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Another solo act was Hailey Bieber, married to Justin Bieber, who stepped out in a custom Saint Laurent dress featuring a sculpted bodice made entirely of 24-karat gold, with a long blue silk chiffon skirt that moved to reveal metallic leather sandals beneath.

Hailey Bieber attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Hailey Bieber attends the Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City | Source: Getty Images