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- Melissa Rivers crowns a surprising Met Gala trend: the nipple as accessory
- How the Kardashian-Jenner clan fared under Rivers’ spotlight
- Red carpet highlights and headline-making couture
- Fashion trends that defined the 2026 Met Gala carpet
- Who missed the mark: moments that drew criticism
- More Met Gala analysis coming on Melissa Rivers’ podcast
The 2026 Met Gala delivered another night of headline-making styles, and Melissa Rivers had a pithy verdict on the evening’s most pervasive motif. Her takeaway zeroed in on one recurring detail that dominated many red carpet looks, while she weighed in on family fashion showdowns and which stars rose above the gala’s ambitious theme.
Melissa Rivers crowns a surprising Met Gala trend: the nipple as accessory
Speaking to the press after the gala, Melissa Rivers singled out a small but bold element that kept appearing on gowns and corsetry. She suggested that exposed nipples — or garments that mimic skin — emerged as the evening’s strongest accessory.
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Rivers framed the look as a deliberate fashion move, pointing to the way designers toyed with nudity and illusion to blur the line between body and garment. She noted that the theme, “Costume Art,” encouraged experimentation with the human form as a canvas.
How the Kardashian-Jenner clan fared under Rivers’ spotlight
The Kardashian-Jenner family dominated headlines on the Met Gala carpet. Melissa Rivers parsed their choices and offered a clear ranking.
- Kylie Jenner: Rivers praised a sculptural Schiaparelli gown that used nude tones to merge body and dress.
- Kendall Jenner: A classic couture moment in Zac Posen earned Rivers’ second-place nod.
- Kris Jenner: The matriarch made a statement that Rivers appreciated for aligning with the theme.
- Kim Kardashian: Despite big attention, Rivers placed Kim lower in her tally.
Rivers also wondered whether some skin-like elements on Kylie and Kendall’s gowns were literal fabric mimicking flesh — a detail she said merits closer inspection.
Red carpet highlights and headline-making couture
The Met Gala’s “Fashion Is Art” dress code pushed attendees toward theatrical and sculptural choices. Several looks left critics talking.
Standouts that stole the show
- Beyoncé and Blue Ivy: A coordinated appearance that impressed many onlookers.
- Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade: A polished, paired presentation that made Rivers’ best-dressed list.
- Anne Hathaway and Sabrina Carpenter: Notable for their elegant interpretations of the costume-art premise.
Transformative makeup and unusual silhouettes
- Heidi Klum: Rendered nearly unrecognizable, she presented as a veiled statue.
- Bad Bunny: Old-age makeup and dramatic prosthetics altered his profile.
- Madonna and veiled looks: A recurring motif across multiple attendees, reinforcing a trend.
Fashion trends that defined the 2026 Met Gala carpet
Observers noticed a handful of recurring motifs across many outfits. Rivers summarized the palette and textures she saw most.
- Mermaid hair: Waves and long, glossy styles were a frequent choice.
- Color cues: Red and white appeared often, creating strong visual currents.
- Draping and Grecian silhouettes: Many looks favored classical lines to echo the Costume Art theme.
Rivers acknowledged that the theme steered many attendees toward softer, draped aesthetics, but she also flagged the expected “over-the-top” moments that keep the Met Gala unpredictable.
Who missed the mark: moments that drew criticism
Not every decision resonated. Rivers called out a few ensembles that, in her view, fell short.
- Katy Perry: A silver mirrored mask and a Stella McCartney gown drew mixed reactions. Rivers likened the train’s edge to a scorched finish.
- Heidi Klum’s statue look: While ambitious, it divided opinion and earned criticism for being too literal.
Rivers used humor to soften critiques, quipping about space-travel allusions and imagined heat shields when describing Perry’s look.
More Met Gala analysis coming on Melissa Rivers’ podcast
Rivers intends to dig deeper into the night’s fashions on an upcoming episode of her podcast, “Melissa Rivers’ Group Text.” Listeners can expect extended commentary and a closer look at construction, designers, and those fine line decisions between skin and garment.
