Art that transcends fashion at the Met Gala 2026
Isha Ambani’s Met Gala look was inspired by the works of the legendary Kerala artist, Raja Ravi Varma. The costume, designed by Gaurav Gupta, was inspired by the much lauded Ravi Varma painting titled ‘Padmini the Lotus Lady’. The gown was reputedly treated as a living canvas, and crafted in gold. The gown had an upright pallu as referenced in the painting. The sculptural gown was embellished with ethnic embroidery in pure gold. Pichwai inspired motifs in muted tones and gold enhanced the refinement of the saree. The blouse was crafted from diamonds.
Karan Johar continued with the Ravi Varma narrative in a 6 feet long cape designed by Manish Malhotra. The Ravi Varma painting ‘woman holding the fruit’ was featured on his blazer along with scenes from other famous paintings like ‘Hamsa Damayanti’ and ‘Kadambari’. It was a patchwork of multiple images, each brilliant and, expounding a rich cultural legacy.
Creator Emma Chamberlain continued the theme of fashion as art with her Met Gala look. She wore a custom water colour Mugler gown inspired by the design house’s iconic La Chimere gown. Emma’s look was inspired by her own relationship with art and her life long appreciation of art. Her gown was a confluence of colours and textures, all melting into a beautiful canvass. Her colour splash gown took on a more sinister feel with added elements, giving definition to her interpretation.
Skepta’s custom Thom Browne design for Met Gala was artistically rich and personally relevant. A tailored suit decorated with embroidery referenced by his won tattoos made the outfit details stand out. The messages where in tune with his musical heritage. The craftsmanship of the suit was highlighted by the simplicity of his sharp tailoring.
Another Thom Browne design was picked by Chase Infiniti for her maiden outing at the Met. The outfit was inspired by Alecandros of Antioch’s Venue de Milo statue. In over 600 colours, 1.5 millions sequins were tiered in silk fringes to create perfect brushstrokes.
Tennis star, Naomi Osaka wore a two-piece Robert Wun gown. Her ivory coat was highlighted with the red crystallized gown with thousands of intricate embroidered bead work and crystals. The overall effect was stunning splashes of red in a white canvass. Scarlet feathers emerged from the gown.
Naomi Watt wore a beautiful black Dior gown by Jonathan Anderson, with three dimensional hand-painted 3D floral appliqués. Designer Jonathan Anderson created the gown inspired by the still-life work of artist Jan Davidsz de Heem.
Anne Hathaway hand-painted the goddess of peace on her gown. In a custom Michael Kors black silk and wool strapless gown with a plunging neckline, Anne crafted a message for peach and harmony.
