Body as a Masterpiece: Nipples, Skeletons and Tattoos Take Over at Record-Breaking Met Gala
The opening of the “Dressed Body” exhibition at the Met Gala brought together some of the world’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé, the Kardashians, and Skepta. The event mixed fashion, art, and celebrity culture, creating a night full of bold looks and creative ideas. It also raised a record $42 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Major sponsors Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos reportedly donated $10 million, while some guests paid as much as $1 million just to attend. As always, final approval came from Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
The official dress code for the night was “Fashion Is Art.” However, as often happens at the Met Gala, guests interpreted this theme in their own way. Many followed the idea by dressing like famous artworks or referencing fashion history. Others focused more on celebrating the human body itself, treating it as a modern piece of art.
The second approach gained the most attention. As usual, the red carpet received more interest than the exhibition inside. Outfits featuring bold elements like visible nipples, skeleton designs, and dramatic cleavage became the main topic of conversation. This year’s gala was one of the most visually striking in recent years. Many celebrities showed off carefully sculpted bodies, creating a look that felt almost like wax figures at Madame Tussauds, but with added glamour and creativity.
Still, beyond the attention-grabbing outfits, there were also thoughtful interpretations of the theme. Designers and celebrities explored the idea of whether fashion can truly be considered art. Many looks were inspired by famous paintings and artistic styles, turning the red carpet into something like a living art gallery.
Beyoncé stood out as one of the most memorable appearances of the night. She wore a sheer, skin-colored dress covered with sparkling crystal bones, giving her the look of a glamorous skeleton. The outfit was created in collaboration with designer Olivier Rousteing and covered her from collarbone to ankle.
The Kardashian family also made a strong impact with their bold fashion choices. Kim, Kylie, and Kendall all wore outfits that highlighted the chest area. Kim Kardashian’s look featured structured, shiny details that made her figure appear almost sculpted. Her design was inspired by the work of British pop artist Allen Jones. Kylie Jenner wore a nude corset with artificial body details, including sculpted breasts and a belly button. Her dress looked as if it was slipping off her body, referencing the famous statue Venus de Milo. The design was a tribute to the fashion house Schiaparelli.
There were many other unusual and creative looks throughout the night. Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink wore a gown that included two extra arms, created using 3D scans of her own body. The design, by Robert Wun, was inspired by traditional Thai dance. Skepta’s outfit also stood out. His suit, designed by Thom Browne, featured embroidery that copied the tattoos on his body, bringing a very personal touch to his look.
A popular reference at the event was the famous painting “Madame X” by John Singer Sargent. Several celebrities, including Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Julianne Moore, and Claire Foy, wore outfits inspired by this artwork. The original painting caused controversy when it was first shown because of its bold and sensual style. Sánchez Bezos embraced this idea, wearing a gown that highlighted her figure while also nodding to the painting’s dramatic design. Like the original artwork, her dress featured a strap falling off one shoulder. Moore and Foy also included this detail in their looks.
Other guests drew inspiration from well-known artworks as well. Chloe Malle wore a bright mango-colored dress inspired by Frederic Leighton’s painting “Flaming June.” Angela Bassett chose a soft pink look similar to Laura Wheeler Waring’s “Girl in Pink Dress.” Singer Gracie Abrams wore a gold embroidered gown inspired by Gustav Klimt’s famous portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer.
Some outfits went even deeper into artistic storytelling. Lena Dunham wore a dramatic red feathered dress inspired by the painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The color choice referenced a detail from Gentileschi’s painting “Judith Slaying Holofernes.” Madonna also made a strong impression with a gothic-style headpiece inspired by surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. This was not the first time Madonna has referenced Carrington’s work, as she had done so in her 1995 music video “Bedtime Story.”
Despite the excitement, the event was not without criticism. Some people expressed concern about the growing influence of wealthy tech figures in cultural institutions like the Met. The involvement of Jeff Bezos and other billionaires has raised questions about how money and power shape the world of art and fashion.
On the night itself, however, many of these tech leaders kept a low profile. Sergey Brin attended in a simple navy suit with artistic embroidery. Jeff Bezos avoided the red carpet entirely and joined his wife inside the event. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, also entered quietly, although they were seated at Anna Wintour’s table.
Overall, the 2026 Met Gala was a mix of spectacle, creativity, and debate. It showed how fashion can act as both personal expression and a form of art. While some looks focused on shock value and physical beauty, others offered deeper artistic meaning. Together, they turned the red carpet into a powerful display of modern culture, where art, fashion, and identity all came together.
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