The 2026 Met Gala dress code was “Fashion is Art”. As we know, art is subjective, just like the appeal of some of these outfits. Alongside SLT members Emily Sanderson and Chloe Hook, we decided on the top five looks that deserve to be front and centre in our own WHS gallery, and some that would serve better in a reception classroom.
- Coming in at number one, we have Emma Chamberlain’s trailblazing look which emulates artwork from Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch. It is perfectly on theme, with the intricacies on the dress, meticulous brush strokes designed to look like a ‘living canvas’, being a testament to the designer Miguel Castro Freitas’ attention to detail. The gown was hand-painted by artist Anna Deller-Yee and took forty hours to paint (although we reckon we could have got it done in thirty-nine). This glowing opinion of Chamberlain’s look is rather unanimous online and here at Wimbledon High we agree.
2. In second place we have Anok Yai’s incredible dress, inspired by a different facet of art to Emma Chamberlain. Rather than watercolour or paint-based art, this Balenciaga look was centred around ‘living statue’ iconography. The puffed hood was designed to make her head and bust appear like a standalone sculpture. The bronze metallic hairstyling ties together the statue styling. This look also contains religious symbolism, as golden ‘tears’ reference the grieving Virgin Mary. This monochrome look is a perfect way to show art is more than just paintings and it can be interpreted in other ways too. 10/10 from us!
3. In third we have Chase Infiniti, star of Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another, and her colourful look. Her iconic dress was designed to mimic the Venus de Milo sculpture in the Louvre. It was designed through embroidery of 1.5 million sequins, layered in more than 600 colours! The result was a stunning ‘living painting’ effect. Hand-sewn silk fringes mimicked dripping paint, tying in to the “Fashion is Art” dress code. This look took over 800 hours to perfect.
4. Our fourth and final prize goes to Joe Burrow. As an NFL quarterback, Burrow defies sporting stereotypes with his refined look. Focusing on the “Costume Art” theme, Burrow came in a custom navy and black suit with braided closures across the front. This gives a regal aesthetic, and discreet Cartier jewellery adds to the elegance of this look. His look was centred on historical tailoring techniques, abiding more the Met Gala’s theme of “Costume Art” than the dress code of “Fashion is Art”. While the bar is quite low, considering a lot of male guests turn up in slightly different variations of a black suit, Burrow’s look impressed us.
Finally, it’s time for our biggest flop. Some looks don’t quite hit right, and Nicole Phelps’ was one of them. As global fashion news and features director of Vogue, we were disappointed to see this look. It features a bright yellow, embroidered top, with patterns inspired by Spanish matador costumes, and a fluid sheer mesh skirt. The boxy proportions of this look leave her with an awkward silhouette that certainly doesn’t match other people’s sleeker looks. The texture clash between lace and embroidery also makes the look feel fragmented. Finally, the shoes. They completely take away from the dress. Some looks are better left in the sketchbook, we’ll put it that way.
Overall, the Met Gala is always an interesting event to cover. Although our collective fashion expertise as a trio goes about as far as GCSE DT coursework, we still feel qualified to judge from the comfort of our laptops. See you next year!
