Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala wardrobe never fails to surprise — and her 2026 red carpet look perfectly was on theme.
The reality star, 45, strutted her stuff in an ensemble fit for the “Costume Art” theme of the Monday, May 4, fundraiser at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Kardashian teamed up with British artist Allen Jones for several looks created alongside Whitaker Malem Creative, a duo consisting of Patrick Whitaker and Keir Malem, who produce leather garments for several fashion designers. The duo have also worked in the film industry, creating costumes for films like The Dark Knight, Captain America: First Avenger and 300: Rise of an Empire, among others.
While Kardashian opted for a sculptural copper look when walking the red carpet on Monday, she shared a photo shoot via Instagram showcasing several other looks that went along with the theme. As for her glam? Hairstylist Chris Appleton helped Kardashian go back to blonde for the night.
Kardashian has been the center of attention on fashion’s biggest night more than once during her time in the spotlight. She made her debut at the annual event in 2013, showing off her baby bump in a floral Givenchy gown while pregnant with daughter North. She has returned to the gala every year since, with her designer looks often making headlines.
In 2021, Kardashian baffled many with her polarizing black Balenciaga outfit, which covered her entire body including her face and head. The following February, she revealed that even she was resistant to the ensemble at first.
“I fought against it,” she told Vogue. “I was like, ‘I don’t know how I could wear the mask. Why would I want to cover my face?’”
Kardashian eventually gave in after Balenciaga creative director Demna explained how his vision tied into the theme of “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”
“Demna and the team were like, ‘This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. There’s a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look,’” she recounted.
Meanwhile, Demna explained why the face covering was “quite important” to Kardashian’s fashion statement.
“People would know instantly it was Kim because of her silhouette,” he pointed out. “They wouldn’t even need to see her face, you know? I think that’s the whole power of her celebrity, that people wouldn’t need to see her face to know it’s her.”
In 2022, Kardashian returned to the Met Gala in another highly scrutinized look, wearing one of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dresses that had been on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Orlando, Florida. The dazzling piece is valued at over $4.8 million.
“It is 60 years old and she wore this when she sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy in 1962,” Kardashian told Vogue correspondent La La Anthony on the red carpet at the time. “I had this idea to try it on and then they came with armed guards and gloves.”
She added, “I tried it on and it didn’t fit me. I said, ‘Give me three weeks.’ I had to lose 16 pounds down [by] today.”
While Kardashian confessed her rapid weight loss was “such a challenge,” she treated the process like preparing for a film role.
In addition to being criticized for shedding pounds for the red carpet moment, Kardashian received backlash for wearing the fragile vintage dress. Although speculation ran rampant that she damaged the gown at the gala, Ripley’s denied the allegations.
