“Fashion is Art”: The French Masterpieces We Dream of Seeing at the 2026 Met Gala Final bets are in just hours before the "Super Bowl of Fashion"

The steps of New York’s iconic museum will take on a whole new look tonight. Carpeted in red for the occasion, they will welcome one of the most exclusive guest lists of the year. Among the confirmed names: the return of Beyoncé after several years of absence, and the iconic duo Rihanna & A$AP Rocky. Another highly anticipated figure is billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and honorary chair of this edition, which he reportedly funded to the tune of $10 million.

It is an involvement that has sparked a debate so heated it is dividing the stars. New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani declined the invitation, stating he was focusing on "making the most expensive city in the U.S. affordable." Similarly, Zendaya, co-chair of the 2024 edition, will not be treading the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year. But beyond the controversies, it is the dress code that is electrifying the fashion sphere: “Fashion is Art.” Anna Wintour has finally settled the age-old debate—fashion is a major art form. Here are the French creations we hope to see on the red carpet to honor this vision.

Yves Saint Laurent: A Dialogue Between the Masters of Painting

The 1965 collection, where Piet Mondrian’s geometric lines were transformed into A-line dresses, needs no introduction—it marked fashion history forever. But Saint Laurent went much further in this pictorial exploration. We secretly hope to see pieces from the Spring-Summer 1988 collection emerge from the archives, where Van Gogh’s Irises and Sunflowers exploded in vibrant embroidery on impeccably tailored jackets. These pieces, true heritage treasures created in collaboration with Maison Lesage, required over 600 hours of handwork per garment. Here, fashion does not merely imitate art; it becomes the product of such meticulous craftsmanship that it rises to the rank of a priceless masterpiece.

Thierry Mugler: For Spectacular Mythology

In a more theatrical vein, the world of Thierry Mugler seems an obvious choice for this theme. One can’t help but dream of seeing the iconic “Birth of Venus” silhouette from the monumental 1995-1996 Haute Couture show. Taking direct inspiration from Botticelli’s masterpiece, Mugler imagined a sheath dress from which the woman seems to hatch like a pearl from a shell of satin and mother-of-pearl. This approach, less literal than that of his contemporaries, uses volume as a modern crinoline to transform the wearer into a museum deity. Rapper Cardi B has already worn several gowns from this monumental collection. Will she opt for another archival piece for tonight’s gala? We will have the answer shortly.

Ashi Studio: The Will to Sculpt the Body

More contemporary but equally demanding, Ashi Studio—now a pillar of Parisian Haute Couture—offers an architectural interpretation of clothing. With his “Sculpted Clouds” collection for the 2025-2026 season, the designer moves away from pictorial narrative to focus on pure form. Here, the influence is no longer painting, but the "second art": sculpture. The founder’s intention is clear: to elevate couture to the status of a monumental structure. It is a subtler message, where references are less obvious because they do not cite a specific artist, but rather invoke the discipline of carving and modeling as a whole—an option that will perfectly suit the more understated personalities of the evening.

Schiaparelli: The Legacy of Surrealism

It is impossible not to mention Schiaparelli, whose DNA is intrinsically linked to the Surrealist movement. Last year, French influencer Léna Mahfouf made a sensational entrance at the gala in a creation by the house—a crowning achievement for the content creator who had previously interviewed Anna Wintour for her podcast. For 2026, the collaboration between Léna Situations and Creative Director Daniel Roseberry could once again spark magic. To wear Schiaparelli is to honor the dress code while delivering an art history lesson. We recall the poetic faces drawn by Jean Cocteau or the famous “Skeleton” dress designed with Salvador Dalí. As Ghislaine Wood noted: “In Surrealism as in fashion, the body is woven with fantasy and literally reimagined.” By choosing this house, guests transform the red carpet into a living exhibition where the ghosts of André Breton and Leonora Carrington linger.

Dior Lady Art: The Handbag as a Master’s Canvas

Finally, the House of Dior could surprise us through its “Dior Lady Art” project. Since 2016, the brand has transformed its iconic bag into a blank canvas, inviting international artists to express their sensibility. For this ninth edition, artist Danielle Mckinney has transposed her melancholic female characters—often captured in the intimacy of a bedroom—onto the leather of the bag. Here, embroidery replaces paint to become a daily companion. While the Met Gala often favors mile-long trains, it is sometimes these accessories, true artistic mediums, that seal the union between luxury and plastic creation.

Will these creations cross the threshold of the Met tonight? One thing is certain: in the hands of French designers, the theme “Fashion is Art” finds its greatest nobility, proving that fashion is never more powerful than when it allows itself to be contemplated as a work of art.