At this year’s Met Gala, feathers stole the spotlight as the night’s defining texture. Rather than full-on plumage, designers used them in precise, deliberate placements—turning what could be mere decoration into a statement of technique and artistry. The theme, “Costume Art,” with a “Fashion Is Art” dress code, gave guests permission to treat feathers as a sculptural tool, not just a costume shortcut.
Nicole Kidman, a co-chair and Chanel ambassador, arrived in a long-sleeved red paillette gown with a fitted bodice and a floor-skimming straight skirt. Chanel added dense red plumes around her waist like a boa, repeating the effect at the cuffs.
Lena Dunham also went red, wearing a Valentino sequined gown with a thigh-high slit and a dramatic feather collar that traced the neckline before cascading down one side into a long train.
Anna Wintour chose cooler tones in Chanel: a turquoise feather jacket over a turquoise-and-black embroidered gown. The airy plumes covered most of the jacket, with darker feathers at the cuffs and hem for contrast.
Gwendoline Christie took a theatrical turn in a red gown with a fitted bodice and tulle skirt. Deep red plumes circled the dropped waist, while a towering headpiece exploded in pink, white, purple, green, and blue feathers. She held a handheld mask for added drama.
Sam Smith, in Christian Cowan, kept it dark with an all-black embellished cape and a plush collar. A tall black feather rose from the headpiece, adding a clean vertical line.
Naomi Osaka, in a custom Robert Wun two-piece, used feathers as punctuation. A sculptural white hat featured red featherlike sprigs, echoed by delicate red details extending from her shoulders. Matching red gloves tied the palette together.
The 2026 Met Gala, held Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raised funds for the Costume Institute. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos served as honorary chairs.
Originally reported by WWD