Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala 2026 red carpet look has a controversial history
When it comes to Met Monday, Kim Kardashian isn’t afraid to break (or make) the mold.
The reality superstar stepped onto the Met Gala 2026 red carpet in New York City on Monday, wearing a sculptural Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem ensemble for this year’s “Costume Art” theme.
The daring design featured a metallic orange bodysuit hugging her curves, plus an open-front leather skirt.
The look pays homage to Jones’ poster for “Maîtresse,” an explicit 1975 film about a leather-clad dominatrix, which was controversial for its time.
Kim Kardashian hit the Met Gala 2026 red carpet in a sculptural leather look. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
She debuted the look on Instagram before even hitting the red carpet. Getty Images
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Jones and Malem have designed similarly sculptural leather looks for everything from “Aquaman” to “Wonder Woman.” Getty Images
Since the movie’s release, the British pop artist has continued to be inspired by its subject, even creating a series of eight paintings featuring the same fiery color palette as Kardashian’s gown.
The bodysuit part of the look is also a nod to his earlier “Body Armour” work, which he created in 1978 originally for an unreleased film. (Kardashian isn’t the only star linked to the look, as Kate Moss was famously photographed in it in 2013.)
Experience the Met Gala through the eyes of the front row — follow Page Six on Instagram to watch us capture every red carpet detail with Ray-Ban Meta glasses, then shop the look to start filming your own POV.
The Skims founder let the distinctive dress do all the talking for the red carpet, wearing her platinum-dyed hair down in tousled waves and pairing the look with nude heels.
She used her own Instagram to debut the look before she even hit the carpet, sharing several photos of the style and crediting the designer duo.
The star’s no stranger to going viral with her Met looks. Getty Images
She paired the look with nude heels. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
It seems breastplates were a trend for her famous family this year, as her sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner also arrived in similarly sculptural looks.
The gala’s theme is certainly on brand for Kardashian, as it examines the relationship between bodies in all their shapes and form throughout fashion and art history. Family friends Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos are serving as sponsors and honorary co-chairs of the night while Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams are the night’s co-hosts.
It’s the latest chapter in Kardashian’s long and memeworthy Met Gala history, which began in 2013 when she attended as then-husband Kanye West’s plus-one. She hit the carpet pregnant with her first child, North West, wearing a gloved floral Givenchy gown that social media quickly compared to a grandmother’s couch.
Kardashian is now a regular at the fashion-filled evening. Getty Images
“I didn’t know anyone & I’m sure no one wanted me there,” she later tweeted of her debut.
That has certainly changed in the years since. The Skims founder has famously donned everything from Marilyn Monroe’s actual “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” gown in 2022 — losing 16 pounds in three weeks to squeeze into it — to a fully masked Balenciaga catsuit in 2021.
It seems Katy Perry may have been inspired by the latter look, as she arrived at this year’s Met Gala wearing her own futuristic face mask — and carrying a tarot card seemingly depicting Kardashian’s now-famous outfit.
The look has a long history in the art and entertainment world. Getty Images
Last year, the Skims founder nearly bared her backside in a corseted Chrome Hearts leather set she said was inspired by Lenny Kravitz.
Her toughest critic? Daughter North West, 12, who told her mom ahead of last year’s gala that “people hate” her outfits “every year” — then handed her flowers and told her to “just go.”
Off the carpet, Kardashian recently auctioned off her wardrobe from Hulu’s “All’s Fair” — in which she plays a powerhouse divorce attorney — donating proceeds to fund free legal services for women.
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