Met Gala 2026: Major Pussy Slay or a Federal Crime Against Fashion?

Hello, my name is Pey Pey and welcome back to Drunk on Couture. Today we are finally entering the couture side of the blog, and unfortunately for some celebrities, I have thoughts. One of my favourite things about fashion is that everyone is entitled to an opinion… some people’s are just deeply wrong. So naturally, we need to discuss this year’s Met Gala. Was it art? Was it just another carpet? Was it a cry for help? The theme this year was Costume Art, meaning celebrities could reference famous paintings, sculptures, archival fashion, or literally anything as long as it had some sort of meaning. And yet… some still showed up looking like they got dressed in the dark at H&M five minutes before the carpet.

Nothing pisses me off more than celebrities having unlimited access to the greatest designers in the world and then refusing to participate in the theme. IT IS THE MET GALA. Not a kris Jenners 70th birthday party. Grow up.

So let’s get into my favourite looks of the night, followed by the ones I would rather be waterboarded with Dom Perignon than see again.

THE SLAYS

1. Gracie Abrams in Chanel 

Reference: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

Gracie… sweetie… you made me feel things. Referencing one of the most beautiful paintings ever created by Gustav Klimt AND wearing Matthieu Blazy Chanel? That’s what we call a masterpussy. Gold, shimmer, elegance, drama. Everything screamed art without looking like a literal Halloween costume. Accessories stayed minimal because the dress WAS the moment. Usually shes Meh on the carpet, but this? Wet wet.

2. Rachel Zegler in Prabal Gurung 

Reference: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey

At first glance I was like “okay… nice dress for milking the cows.” THEN I found out she was referencing Lady Jane Grey and suddenly I was SAT. As a deeply unserious person with an extremely serious obsession with British royal history, this absolutely flicked my bean. Lady Jane Grey ruled England for 9 days before Queen Mary said “absolutely not” and had her executed. What a lethal moment.

3. Hunter Schafer in Prada 

Reference: Mäda Primavesi

As you can tell, I would let Gustav Klimt ruin my life. Hunter looked STUNNING. Soft, doll-like, haunting in the best way possible. The floral detailing under the bust mirrored the original painting while still making it feel modern and couture. Also the train? Gorgeous. I am and always will be a complete slut for a dramatic train.

4. Emma Chamberlain in Mugler 

Reference: Archival Mugler + Sunflowers

Emma NEVER misses at the Met. Ever. This look referenced Mugler’s iconic butterfly look mixed with Van Gogh inspired watercolour detailing and honestly? Art. Real art. More people should have paid homage to legendary designers instead of just showing up hot and confused.

5. Kendall Jenner in Zac Posen 

Reference: Winged Victory of Samothrace

Walking in, I was whelmed. Pretty? Yes. Revolutionary? No. THEN she posed at the top of the staircase with the wings fully spread and suddenly I understood the vision. The original sculpture sits atop a marble staircase at the Louvre which I HAVE seen by the way, thank you for asking and recreating that moment at the Met was genius. People are annoyed she slayed this hard, I’m not.

6. Jeremy Pope in Vivenne Weswood 

Reference: 1996 Vivienne Westwood menswear corsetry

Best dressed man. End of discussion. Corset, pearls, tailoring, drama. If I got married tomorrow, this is exactly what I’d wear. To who? God knows. But Jeremy Pope looked unbelievable. Referencing the great Vivenne Westwood’s corset artistry. 

7. Kylie Jenner in Schiaperilli 

Reference: Venus de Milo

Daniel Roseberry understands the female form in a way that feels borderline spiritual. This corseted nude gown draped around Kylie’s body exactly like the sculpture she referenced. Also this took 11,000 hours to make. ELEVEN. THOUSAND. That’s not fashion anymore, that’s Haute Couture at its finest.

8. Sabrina Carpenter in Dior 

Reference: Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn

This was adorable and clever. The gown was made using film strips from Sabrina, tying back to Audrey Hepburn herself. The met Gala was on may 4th Audrey Hepburn’s birthday? May 4th coincidence maybe? Cute, artistic, thoughtful. HOWEVER… those shoes belonged in the Barneys closing sale.

THE CRIMES

1. Lauren Sánchez in Schiaparelli 

Reference: Madame X

This was my least favourite look of the night and unfortunately not even close. You have Law Roach. You have custom Schiaparelli. You have infinite money. And THIS is what we landed on? It looked tacky. Expensive tacky, but tacky nonetheless.

2. Stevie Nicks in Zara by John Galliano

Reference: unclear unfortunately

First of all, Zara and John Galliano in the same sentence made me clench. She looked very Stevie, which I appreciate, but where was the art? Where was the tailoring? Where was literally anything?

 3. Connor Storrie in Saint Laurent 

Reference: none apparently

Hot? Extremely. On theme? Not even remotely. This is the issue with pretty men they think face card alone will save them. Sometimes it does. Tonight it did not. He is one of the biggest names in fashion right now. Don’t disappoint us!

4. Cher in Burberry

Reference: her iconic 1974 Bob Mackie naked dress

I love Cher deeply. But this looked like tights with emotional support tulle attached to them. If you’re referencing one of the most iconic dresses in fashion history, maybe make it look… remotely similar?

5. Doja Cat in Saint Laurent 

Reference: honestly your guess is as good as mine

Doja usually commits to the bit. The Karl Lagerfeld cat moment? Genius. This? Brown latex sadness.

6. Charli XCX in Saint Laurent

Reference: Sunflowers

I understand the reference. I just don’t care. It’s a flower on a black dress. Next.

7. Bad Bunny in Zara

Reference: aging and the human body

Benito… what happened. Last year you served. This year you looked like an exhausted anthropology professor. I miss when he played with masculinity and fashion in a fun way instead of whatever the fuck this was. Id still smash though….

8. Zac Posen in Zac Posen

Reference: apparently denim

Anna Wintour has like three rules for the Met Gala and one of them is DO NOT WEAR JEANS. You are literally a designer. Stand up.

And there you have it. Eight works of art, eight crimes against humanity. Until next time my darlings, stay overdressed and slightly judgemental.

XX,
Pey Pey